Targeting tumour survival pathways in breast cancer with novel drugs

• PhD
• Graduate Research Masters

Breast cancers can hijack tumour survival proteins from the BCL2 family to induce resistance to therapy. This project will use patient-derived tumours and other preclinical models to explore novel breast cancer therapies, with the goal of identifying promising drugs and combination strategies that can be transferred to the clinic. As part of the project, molecular mechanisms of tumour response and resistance to therapy will be explored.

This project will involve a wide range of experimental techniques including pre-clinical models using cell lines, mouse models, molecular/protein assays and screens and CRISPR-Cas9 genomic editing.

The Visvader/Lindeman Laboratory (ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cells Division) has a strong background in mammary gland biology and translational breast cancer research that has led to clinical trials. Our group’s contributions to the field include definition of the mammary gland hierarchy (e.g. Nature 2006, 2010, 2014; Nature Cell Biol 2007, 2020; Nature Comms 2016, 2017; Cancer Cell 2019; EMBO J 2021); identification of the cell-of-origin of breast cancer (Nature Medicine 2009, 2016); establishment of pre-clinical models and clinical trials (Cancer Cell 2013; Cancer Discovery 2019; Clin Cancer Res 2020, 2022). We routinely exploit in vivo models (including lineage tracing and patient-derived xenograft models), single-cell studies, flow cytometry, CRISPR-Cas9 genomic editing and screens, high resolution 3D imaging and genomics.