My research interests focus on utilising new molecular genetic technologies to improve the diagnosis, risk classification and treatment of childhood cancer. My team was the first to develop and implement a unique PCR-based technology for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), providing highly sensitive early detection of impending relapse. This doubled survival rates of children with high-risk ALL from 35% to over 70% and led to MRD testing becoming “standard of care” for all Australian children with ALL.
As an international expert in paediatric cancer research, particularly with regards to the molecular analysis of genes and their relationship with clinical variables, I have undertaken extensive research into the characterisation of genes involved in mediating resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in paediatric leukaemia and neuroblastoma. My research is increasingly focused on understanding the regulation of the MYCN oncogene and its downstream targets, with the goal of developing molecular targeted therapies. My team and I have also pioneered several novel therapeutic strategies for the most aggressive child cancers, with many of these now translated into early phase clinical trials.