RESEARCHER PROFILE
Dr Mark Adams, Senior Research Fellow
School of Biomedical Sciences & Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Dr. Mark Adams is a researcher at Queensland University of Technology, working within the School of Biomedical Sciences and Faculty of Health, as well as the Centre of Genomics and Personalised Health. He has been with the university for the past decade, and his main research focus is on lung cancers. Dr. Adams completed his undergraduate studies at the Queensland University of Technology and then went on to earn his PhD based at the Mater Research Institute at the Mater hospital. His PhD focused on prostate cancer and specifically looked at developing drugs that would stop the metastasis of prostate cancer towards the bone.
After completing his PhD, Dr. Adams returned to Queensland University of Technology to commence a postdoctoral fellowship. During his fellowship, he looked at lung cancer and how our genomes are maintained through a process called DNA repair. Dr. Adams has been successful in attracting funding to support his salary through fellowship support from foundations such as Cure Cancer, National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Queensland government.
Dr. Adams’ research focus is on lung cancer, which is the deadliest of all cancers worldwide. He is working towards developing personalised approaches to pinpoint a therapy that is going to be most effective for the person with that disease. Dr. Adams’ research is focusing on chemotherapy and targeted therapy, and he is trying to identify upfront which of those tumours are likely to be resistant to the therapy. He then identifies strategies that will resensitize or increase the sensitivity of the tumour to the standard of care that is targeted therapy or chemotherapy.
Dr. Adams’ research is driven by his fascination with trying to understand how something works and, in particular, understanding cells and the molecular mechanisms underpinning how those cells work. He has always been interested in biology and was drawn to the problem of cancer and what’s going on in those tumour cells that promote tumorigenesis.
Dr. Adams has a young family with three kids, all in primary school. He enjoys downhill mountain biking in the forest and playing futsal on Monday nights.
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Investigating invasive lobular carcinoma and metaplastic breast cancer sub-types
Assoc Prof McCart Reed is the scientific lead on an MRFF-funded (Medical Research Future Fund) genomics program investigating the potential for the application of Whole Genome Sequencing in the breast cancer care pathway in Australia, ‘Q-IMPROvE’. She applies genomics and spatial transcriptomics methodologies to archival clinical samples to understand the differences between tumour types and their potential for treatment. Amy is passionate about clinical research, biobanking and precision oncology. In addition to her breast cancer research portfolio, she is on the steering committee for the Brisbane Breast Bank and the Scientific Advisory Board for Breast Cancer Trials.
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Next-generation NK cell-based immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers
Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes is an internationally recognised leader in cancer immunotherapy and natural killer (NK) cell biology. Based at The University of Queensland, he leads innovative research focused on developing next-generation NK cell-based immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers, including sarcomas and neuroblastoma.
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Public health and research into Ear, Nose and Throat conditions
Associate Professor Paul Paddle is an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon, head and neck surgeon with fellowship training in Laryngology – Voice, airway and Swallowing disorders. Working at Monash Health and Monash Children’s hospital, Paul has extensive experience managing a wide range of paediatric ENT conditions, from neonates to adolescents. He is also an active researcher in paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea and sleep disorders.
