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Researcher

Professor David Thomas

My Expertise

Professor Thomas is a medical oncologist specialising in precision medicine, and in sarcomas.

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Genomics, Cancer genetics

SEO tags

Biography

Prof David Thomas is the inaugural Director of the Centre for Molecular Oncology at the University of New South Wales, and Head of the Genomic Cancer Medicine Laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. As a clinician-scientist, his focus is on the application of genomic technologies to the understanding and management of cancer, particularly sarcoma. He established the not-for-profit company, Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine...view more

Prof David Thomas is the inaugural Director of the Centre for Molecular Oncology at the University of New South Wales, and Head of the Genomic Cancer Medicine Laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. As a clinician-scientist, his focus is on the application of genomic technologies to the understanding and management of cancer, particularly sarcoma. He established the not-for-profit company, Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre, trading as Omico, to lead a national precision medicine program for patients with rare and early onset cancers.  Prof Thomas founded the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group, a national research organisation, and established Australia’s leading adolescent and young adult cancer unit at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.  Prof Thomas founded and leads the International Sarcoma Kindred Study, the largest ever conducted study of genetic factors in sarcoma, now recruiting from 23 centres in the US, UK, France, India, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia. He led the first international study of denosumab in Giant Cell Tumor of bone, leading to FDA and TGA approval. He also co-led a meta-analysis of whole body MRI screening for patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, changing clinical practice guidelines from the NCCN, AACR and EviQ in Australia. He has over 250 research publications, including lead or senior author papers in Science, Cancer Cell, Molecular Cell, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Lancet Oncology, JAMA Oncology, and Journal of Clinical Oncology. In 2018, he was President of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society, the peak international body in his field.


My Qualifications

1988: Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (University of Melbourne)

1997: Doctorate of Philosophy (University of Melbourne)

1997: Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.


My Awards

Awards and honours (past 10 years)

2014: Raine Visiting Professorship, University of Western Australia

2016-22: NH&MRC Principal Research Fellow

2018: David Danks Lecturer, Murdoch Children’s Medical Research Institute

         Kidson Lecturer, Queensland Institute of Medical Research

         President, Connective Tissue Oncology Society

         Named honor: Desai Thomas Award for Excellence in Sarcoma Research (inaugurated 2018)

2020: Herman Suit lecturer, Connective Tissue Oncology Society

2021: NHMRC Level 3 Investigator grant

2021/22: PWC Pearls Series: Emerging leaders in Sydney’s business community

2023: Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association, Outstanding Contribution Award

2024: National Press Club address: Cancer: the modern plague 


My Research Activities

As a clinician-scientist, I apply genomic technologies to the understanding and management of cancer. I founded and lead the International Sarcoma Kindred Study, the largest ever conducted study of genetic factors in sarcoma, having recruited from 23 centres in the US, UK, France, India, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia. I established Omico, a Federally-funded national precision oncology platform which focuses on using genomics to develop biomarker-dependent clinical trials infrastructure, and genetically stratified risk management. Omico has enabled more than 15,000 Australians with advanced cancer to access genomic profiling, and also matched targeted therapies through clinical trials. I am also interested in the genetics of early onset cancers, and the derived opportunities for wellness management of survivors. We are also interested in understanding fundamental aspects of cancer biology, for example, the relationship between site of origin and the molecular pathways which are deranged in related cancers. In general, all of these programs are directed towards improving outcomes for cancer patients and their families, and integrating these solutions into routine healthcare.

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Location

Rm 232, Level 2, Wallace Wurth Building.