Researcher

Professor Richard John Epstein

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Cancer Cell Biology, Cancer Genetics, Cancer Therapy (excl. Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy)

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Biography

I am a Visiting Scientist in the Garvan Institute of Medical Research where my research centres on the molecular evolution of human cancers, and a Conjoint Professor of the UNSW Clinical School, St Vincent's Hospital.

In my clinical work, since 2018 I have been the Medical Director and Department Chair of Oncology, New Hope Cancer Centre, Beijing United Hospital, China.  We have a close working relationship with Peking University Cancer...view more

I am a Visiting Scientist in the Garvan Institute of Medical Research where my research centres on the molecular evolution of human cancers, and a Conjoint Professor of the UNSW Clinical School, St Vincent's Hospital.

In my clinical work, since 2018 I have been the Medical Director and Department Chair of Oncology, New Hope Cancer Centre, Beijing United Hospital, China.  We have a close working relationship with Peking University Cancer Hospital, and are GCP-accredited for recruiting patient to clinical trials. 

Before returning in 2009 to Sydney, where I helped to set up The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, I had helped to set up major new Cancer Centres in Singapore and The University of Hong Kong.

In 1996 I patented the invention of phosphorylation-state-specific antibodies, which invention has since earned approximately US$20m royalties for Harvard University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and led to development of a number of successful diagnostic reagent companies.

 

 


My Grants

Over my career I have been awarded approximately A$10m in grants and research support. These grants included two single-applicant NIH grants, one R29 and one R01.


My Qualifications

MBBS (Syd)

MBA (Dur)

MD (Lond)

PhD (Cantab)

FRACP

FRCP (Lond)


My Awards

1985-88 Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Scholarship in Medicine, to Cambridge University

1988-93 Lucille P. Markey Visiting Fellowship in Biomedical Research, to Harvard University

1993-98 Cancer Research Campaign Senior Clinical Fellowship, to Imperial College London

2003 Richard Asher Prize, Royal Society of Medicine

 


My Research Activities

Research Interests:
Cancer is a microevolutionary disorder which we see to be defined by two key parameters: genetic instability and apoptotic resistance. From a species viewpoint, genetic instability permits adaptive evolution, while acquisition of apoptotic resistance may limit teratogenesis during embryonic development. This laboratory focuses on how methylation-dependent mutation influences the molecular evolution of genetic instability and/or apoptotic resistance in human cancers. To this end we have created transgenic mice which express TP53 genes (the major human tumor suppressor) containing variant CpG content which does not affect the accuracy of initial protein encodement.

Broad Research Areas:
Cancer, Genetics - Genome Analysis, Cell Biology and Gene Regulation, Clinical Research, Global Health

Specific Research Keywords:
Targeted Therapy, Translational Research, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Theoretical Biology, Molecular Evolution


My Teaching

I currently participate in many teaching activities in China, including both clinical and basic cancer research topics.

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