-

About the lab

We are a group of cancer researchers who are trained in cell biology, immunology, developmental biology and molecular oncology. Our team has made major contributions to the discoveries that defects in cell death can cause cancer, autoimmune disease and impair the response of malignant cells to diverse anti-cancer agents.

Our current work aims to reach a detailed understanding of the molecular control of programmed cell death and tumour suppression more generally. We exploit this knowledge to develop novel treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Our mission

The vision of our team is to generate the knowledge that will underpin the development of improved therapies for cancer patients.

Impact

Our early work together with other groups at WEHI showed that defects in apoptotic cell death can cause cancer or autoimmune disease and render malignant cells resistant to diverse anti-cancer agents.

Our discovery of the BH3-only proteins and the demonstration that they are critical for the initiation of apoptotic cell death directly underpinned the development of BH3 mimetic drugs, such as Venetoclax which is approved for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and acute myelooid leukaemia.

Our group also revealed which cellular responses activated by the tumour suppressor p53, encoded by the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer, are critical to prevent the development of cancer.

Lab research projects

Lab team

All students and postdocs in my group have clearly demarcated projects. This helps maximise the areas of research that we can tackle. When work within an area needs to be accelerated, help is provided by other members from the lab, particularly research assistants.

We collaborate closely with the Kelly, Sutherland and Putoczki laboratories as well as with many other laboratories within WEHI and many laboratories elsewhere in Australia and overseas.

Many past members of our group are now directors of medical research institutes in Australia (such as Marco Herold, Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Newton John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne; Marc Pellegrini, Executive Director, Centenary Institute, Sydney), department heads or laboratory heads at WEHI or leading research organisations in Europe or the US.

26 members
Laura Wen
PhD Student
Amelia Zhu
Honours Student
Dr Mengjie Jin
Honorary Research Fellow
Lois Kerswell
PhD Student
PhD Student
AnneMarie Welch
PhD Student
PhD Student
Emeritus Professor Jerry Adams
Honorary Research Fellow
Emeritus Professor Suzanne Cory
Honorary Distinguished Research Fellow
Natalie Coleman
Research Assistant
Research Officer
Dr Eiman Saleh
Research Assistant
Dr Philippe Bouillet
Honorary Research Fellow
Research Assistant
Zilu Wang
Research Officer
Research Officer
Senior Research Officer
Senior Research Officer
Black and white photo of Damian D'Silva
Damian D’Silva
PhD Student
Senior Research Officer
Adrienne Hilton
Research Assistant
Dr Carolyn de Graaf
Senior Research Officer
Bruno Helbert
Research Assistant
Senior Research Officer
Leonie Gibson
Research Assistant
Interested in supporting our research?

Your support will help WEHI’s researchers make discoveries and find treatments to ensure healthier, longer lives for you and your loved ones.

Contact our friendly team to find out how you can help.