My Expertise
Precision oncology
Cancer drug development
Cancer supportive care
Professional wellbeing and burnout
Keywords
Biography
As the Translational Lead of Early Phase Drug Development at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, I oversee and manage the design and execution of clinical trials for novel cancer therapeutics, with a focus on early phase drug development, investigator-led studies, and head and neck cancer. I have over 10 years of experience in oncology research and practice, and hold an MD, a PhD in Oncology and Cancer Biology, and a Fellowship of the Royal...view more
As the Translational Lead of Early Phase Drug Development at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, I oversee and manage the design and execution of clinical trials for novel cancer therapeutics, with a focus on early phase drug development, investigator-led studies, and head and neck cancer. I have over 10 years of experience in oncology research and practice, and hold an MD, a PhD in Oncology and Cancer Biology, and a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).
My mission is to advance the understanding and treatment of cancer by applying cutting-edge proteomics technologies and biomarker discovery methods to rationally designed, patient-centric early phase trials. I collaborate with leading researchers and institutions nationally and internationally, such as the Garvan Institute and the Children's Medical Research Institute, as well as international drug development consortia, to identify molecular signatures and pathways that predict response and outcome in various cancer cohorts. I also have active research interests in supportive care, such as developing interventions to address fear of cancer recurrence in cancer survivors.
My Qualifications
BSc(Med) Hons (Class1), BMed (Dist), MD (Dist, University Medal) PhD FRACP
My Awards
|
2022 |
Best of the best young researcher Award |
Medical Oncology Group of Australia |
|
2018 |
Runner Up, NSW Trainee Research Awards |
Royal Australian College of Physicians |
|
2018 |
Best Poster by Trainee Award |
Medical Oncology Group of Australia |
|
2018 |
Rob Sutherland Travel Grant |
Sydney Catalyst |
|
2015 |
Travel Award and Scholarship for RANZCR Conference |
Chris O’Brien Lifehouse |
|
2015 |
Travel Award and Scholarship for Basic Sciences of Oncology Course |
UNSW |
|
2014 |
RPA Patron’s Prize Finalist |
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital |
|
2013 |
University Medal (Medicine) |
UNSW |
|
2013 |
The Frank Rundle Prize for Surgery in Years 5-6 |
UNSW |
|
2013 |
The Prize for Phase 3 (Years 5-6) Portfolio |
UNSW |
|
2013 |
The Australian Medical Association Prize for General Practice |
UNSW |
|
2013 |
John Coleman Prize for Surgery |
Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW |
|
2013 |
Graham McDonald Prize for Medicine |
Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW |
|
2013 |
Max Thorpe Prize Best Overall Performance |
Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW |
|
2012 |
Dean's List Award for Outstanding Contribution to Medical Research |
UNSW |
|
2011 |
Oral Presentation Winner |
Open Senior Division, Coast Association TOW Research Awards, UNSW |
|
2011 |
Winner – UNSW 3 Minute Thesis Competition |
UNSW |
|
2011 |
Oral Presentation Winner |
International Conference on Science of Nutrition in Medicine and Healthcare |
|
2011 |
NHMRC Student Research Competition |
Australian Medical Student’s Association Convention |
|
2010 |
Oral Presentation Winner |
Australian Epigenetics Alliance |
|
2010 |
Poster Prize Winner |
Coast Association TOW Research Awards, UNSW |
|
2009 |
Poster Prize |
St Vincent’s and Mater Health Research Symposium |
|
2008 |
Prize for Best Overall Performance in Years 3-4 Medicine |
UNSW |
|
2008 |
Prize for Best Performance Written Exam in Years 3-4 Medicine |
UNSW |
|
2006 |
Prize for Best Overall Performance in Years 1-2 Medicine |
UNSW |
|
2005 |
Prize for Best Performance in First Year Medicine |
UNSW |
|
2005-08 |
Scholar Award |
UNSW |
My Research Activities
- early phase clinical trials leadership (investigator on >30 early phase trials) including multiple investigator-led studies in collaboration with NSW Early Phase Trials Network (NECTA) and research institutes (Garvan Institute)
- quantitative proteomics as prognostic and predictive biomarkers, for identification of cancers of unknown primary and as biomarkers for drug development
- clinician intervention to address fear of recurrence (CIFeR) in cancer survivors
- mentorship programs and their impact on clinician wellbeing, burnout and professional fulfilment
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
Cancer drug development
Early phase clinical trials
Epigenetics and proteomics as biomarkers
Cancer supportive care
Currently supervising
Fear of cancer recurrence in advanced cancer patients: adaption of CIFeR intervention
Epigenetic therapies to resensitise prostate cancer to androgen deprivation therapy
Proteomics in identifying cancers of unknown primary and biomarkers for novel cancer therapeutics
Regional/rural access to early phase clinical trials utilising decentralised clinical trial models
Exercise interventions in patients receiving cancer therapy
My Teaching
University of NSW Medicine Undergraduate (tutorials, vivas, examination assessments)
Basic Physician Trainees (oncology department supervisor for BPTs rotating to St Vincent's Hospital oncology term)
Former Chair of Medical Oncology AT Trainee Program NSW (2021-2023)
Supervisor and mentor to oncology trainees and early phase drug development fellows
Publications
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4442-6516