Prof Mark Dawson receives NHMRC funding

Prof Mark Dawson was successful in the latest round of NHMRC funding, receiving an Investigator Grant, Leadership 1, improving outcomes for cancer patients by targeting the epigenome $2,258,892, with Prof Sarah Jane Dawson, veski connected community member, also receiving an Investigator Grant of $1,544,066.

Mark Dawson - Improving outcomes for cancer patients by targeting the epigenome

The most commonly mutated proteins in cancer involve so called epigenetic regulators, a class of proteins that regulate access to our DNA to control gene expression, DNA repair and replication. We and others have recently developed a variety of drugs to help inhibit the aberrant activity of these epigenetic proteins. My research will focus on ways to improve the efficacy of these existing drugs and find new epigenetic therapies to improve the survival of patients with a broad range of cancers.

Sarah-Jane Dawson - Circulating tumour DNA for precision medicine    

Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (circulating tumour DNA or ctDNA) into the patient’s bloodstream. Recent technological advances now allow levels of ctDNA to be accurately measured in the blood. Changes in ctDNA levels have potential to be used as specific markers of disease progression and/or response to cancer therapy. This research will advance the use of ctDNA to serially follow patients and individualise treatment decisions in cancer management across several cancer types.

Source: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

https://www.petermac.org/news/nhmrc-funding-aid-research-better-cancer-detection-prognosis-and-treatment