Dr. Amani Alghalayini is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Technology Sydney's Translational Oncology Group. Her research leverages advanced cellular and molecular biology techniques alongside innovative experimental models to unravel the connections between epigenetic modulation, drug resistance, and cancer progression, with the objective of identifying novel therapeutic targets. Since completing her PhD in Cell Biology and NanoBiotechnology at UTS in 2020, Alghalayini has contributed to translational research projects, including the development of rapid point-of-care testing technology for SARS-CoV-2. Her current research focuses on targeting defective chromatin remodeling in a less common subtype of ovarian cancer, specifically ovarian clear cell carcinoma, using drug repurposing strategies to overcome chemo-resistance. Alghalayini is deeply committed to translational research that addresses real-world problems, striving to develop new therapies that have a significant impact on women's health. She has published several papers in various journals and serves as a reviewer for academic societies, as well as for research projects. Her teaching disciplines include cell biology and biotechnology and her research interests encompass point-of-care development, molecular biology, drug repurposing, cancer biology, and the development of innovative cancer models.
Dr Sarker received a Bachelor of Medical Science majoring in Neuroscience at the University of Sydney, followed by Honours in Anatomy and Histology in 2017. Her Honours studies were conducted at the Children’s Hospital Westmead (CHW) within the Children’s Cancer Research Unit (CCRU). She investigated the relationship between tissue mechanics and treatment resistance in the paediatric brain
cancer Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), receiving First Class Honours and the Discipline of Anatomy and Histology “Dreher’s Prize” for Outstanding Performance in Research. She remained at the CCRU as a Research Assistant before commencing her PhD studies, which she completed in 2023 with the University
of Sydney. Her doctoral research involved a combination of the latest advancements in cell biology, tissue engineering and drug development. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Translational Oncology Group (TOG) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Her research focuses on unveiling therapeutic solutions for aggressive ovarian cancers, emphasising precision medicine approaches, drug repurposing and modelling the unique tumour microenvironment.
Nham Tran is an Associate Professor at the School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney. He received his BSc (Hons) from the University of Sydney and completed his Ph.D. studies in non-coding RNA (ncRNA) biology at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He went on to work as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sydney, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, and The Centenary Institute, before joining the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) as a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow. He leads a research program focused on oral cancers, specifically studying the regulatory role of small RNAs and HPV16-driven viral oncology. He is also interested in using small RNAs in cancer diagnosis and developing affordable molecular point-of-care devices.
Professor Deborah J Marsh is a cancer cell and molecular biologist who, since late 2018, has led the Translational Oncology Group at UTS in the School of Life Sciences (SoLS), Faculty of Science. She is the Discipline Leader for Medical Science in SoLS. She was awarded her PhD from the University of Sydney on the RET proto-oncogene and undertook postdoctoral studies at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute associated with Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA (1996-1999). Here, she was involved in implicating the tumour suppressor gene PTEN in a range of familial and sporadic cancers, with several seminal, highly cited papers, including in Nature Genetics. Today, PTEN is well recognized as the second most frequently mutated gene in human malignancy. After returning to Australia, she established her research group at the Kolling Institute, a medical research institute associated with the University of Sydney (1999-2018). At the Kolling Institute, she worked on a number of familial cancer syndromes, including Hyperparathyroidism Jaw Tumour Syndrome, led bio-banking initiatives, and established her research program on ovarian cancer. She has a broader research interest in all malignancies that affect women, including breast and endometrial cancer. Over 15 years at the Kolling Institute, she held a number of competitive fellowships, including an RD Wright Fellowship (NHMRC), Cancer Institute Career Development Fellowships, an ARC Future Fellowship and a NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship.
