OzMRS Committee

Meet the OzMRS committee

Associate Professor Philip Gregory

President, Consumer Liaison

A/Prof Philip Gregory’s research aims to understand how breast and prostate cancer cells gain aggressive features that causes them to resist treatments and spread more rapidly through the body. With this information, his lab aspires to uncover better treatments to help patients with aggressive forms of these cancers. As OzMRS president, I hope to improve awareness of the importance of metastasis research in Australasia and strengthen connections between researchers and patient advocates.

Dr Ann-Katrin Piper

Vice President

As a member of the OzMRS conference organizing committee, I aim to connect researchers and facilitate collaboration and the sharing of research findings. Through collaboration I hope advancements in our understanding of cancer can be accelerated and contribute to the collective effort to combat this disease.

Moganalaxmi (Mogana) Reckdharajkumar

Secretary

My research focuses on understanding how breast cancer cells that have spread to the lungs and the brain interact with and reprogram cells in their tumour microenvironment (TME), promoting cancer growth. I am particularly interested in a cell type called fibroblasts, which are the cells that produce one of the matrix components, collagen, that maintains our skin’s elasticity. These fibroblasts, under the influence of cancer cells, can produce excessive collagen/matrix components, this creates a mesh trapping the cancer cells and hinders the clearance of cancer cells by immune cells. My research aims to understand the process of what and how these fibroblasts are reprogrammed which will be key to developing new therapies

Dr Aadya Nagpal

Treasurer, Consumer Liaison

My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying cancer metastasis to specific organs and identifying the key factors that influence responses to anti-cancer therapies. As an active member of the OzMRS committee, I want to contribute towards providing support and opportunities for other researchers whose work seeks to advance the prevention and treatment of metastasis. I hope to contribute to organising metastasis-centric scientific events that foster collaboration between laboratory and clinical researchers in this field and promote engagement with consumers and advocacy groups to raise awareness about the importance of metastasis research.

Professor Delphine Merino

Consumer Liaison chair (Immediate Past President)

As a laboratory head of the ‘Tumour Progression and Heterogeneity’ laboratory at ONJCRI, my research program focuses on studying the biological features of the breast cancer cells that are most likely to form lethal metastases in specific tumour microenvironments. As Consumer Liaison chair, I hope to strengthen the network of scientists, patient advocates, and clinicians dedicated to accelerating metastasis research in Australasia to improve patient outcomes.

Fred_Hollande_small - Frederic Hollande.

Professor Frederic Hollande

Consumer Liaison Member

Expertise in the analysis of tumour heterogeneity and mechanisms of treatment resistance in colorectal and pancreatic cancer, using a combination of phenotypic/functional assays and multi-omics on ex vivo patient-derived and preclinical mouse models. As an OzMRS committee member I wish to promote collaboration within the metastasis research network

Professor Thomas Cox

Executive Board Member of International Metastasis Research Society (MRS)

Professor Thomas Cox is a cancer cell biologist specialising in extracellular matrix and matrix remodelling in solid tumours. His research combines matrix biology with precision oncology, focusing on understanding and targeting the matrix in cancer. His lab develops new matrix-targeted approaches and evaluates their effectiveness in pre-clinical cancer models (breast, pancreatic, lung, bowel) to personalise anti-cancer treatments.

Associate Professor Kevin Spring

Member

Professor Belinda Parker

Translational Research Engagement lead, Consumer Liaison member

Prof. Belinda Parker is co-Head of the Cancer Evolution and Metastasis program and Head of the Cancer Metastasis and Precision Immunotherapy laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She is currently an NHMRC Investigator Fellow. After postdoctoral training in the Department of Oncology at Johns Hopkins University, USA in 2002 and at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Dr Parker moved to La Trobe University as a group leader in 2013 where she was Leader of the Cancer Theme until her return to Peter Mac in 2019. Prof. Parker has extensive expertise in cancer biology, combination immunotherapy trials, preclinical metastasis models, bone metastasis, and biomarker discovery. Her patented biomarkers are currently being tested in partnership with a range of pharmaceutical companies for precision radiotherapy and immunotherapy approaches and her work on type I interferons in cancer immunogenicity has informed the design of neoadjuvant clinical trials using IFN inducers in breast and prostate cancer.

Dr Sharissa Latham

Digital Content Co-Manager

My research investigates metastasis-targeting therapies in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), focused on: 1) understanding the biology that underpins metastatic relapse, and 2) identifying treatment strategies that can inhibit the growth of disseminated tumour cells and established metastases. Whilst my team remain heavily focused on TNBC, our research has also expanded to High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancers and rare Appendiceal Cancers, two highly aggressive malignancies where poor patient outcomes are underpinned by metastatic relapse and limited treatment options.

Dr Diana Schuhmacher

Digital Content Co-Manager

My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms driving metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and use of novel small molecule inhibitors and anti-fibrotic treatments to inhibit this metastasis. I am passionate about the communication of science, especially to the wider community and consumers. I hope that during my time as an OzMRS committee member, I can communicate the best of Australasia’s metastasis research in a way that is accessible to all.

Dr Vaibhavi Joshi

Digital Content Co-Manager

My research investigates clinically relevant biomarkers in metastatic breast cancer, with a focus on brain metastases—an incurable and life-altering stage of the disease. I use matched primary and brain metastatic tumours to identify markers that can predict risk or serve as therapeutic targets. Additionally, I am studying the genomic landscape of breast cancer in young women, a group often affected by aggressive disease but underrepresented in screening and research. Ultimately, my work aims to improve early detection and guide the development of personalised therapies for patients with high-risk and metastatic disease.

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Associate Professor David Croucher

Member

Associate Professor David Croucher is Laboratory Head at Garvan Institute of Medical Research. After establishing a research group at Systems Biology Ireland, David received a Future Research Leader grant from Cancer Institute NSW and returned to Garvan as head of the Network Biology group. His research group now focuses on combining computational modelling with novel proteomic and single-cell technologies to investigate how alterations in dynamic signalling networks can lead to tumour progression and therapeutic resistance