Our research collaborators

Utilising sophisticated genetic, genomic, imaging and biochemical tools to define the molecular and biological processes that are de-regulated to drive myeloma onset and progression.

Associate Professor Elaine Sanij

Associate Professor Elaine Sanij is co-lead of the Myeloma Aetiology theme within the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers, Laboratory Head at St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and a Victorian Cancer Agency Mid-Career Research Fellow. 

Gaining deep insight into multiple myeloma aetiology

Discovering how and why multiple myeloma (MM) develops is one of the Dalgleish Centre’s three core themes. A/Prof Sanij is a cancer biologist whose work focuses on the investigation of innovative cancer therapeutics that target the ribosome and the DNA damage response, and the development of effective therapies for targeting relapsed multiple myeloma - a condition with poor survival outcomes.

A/Prof Sanij was a key member of the team that conducted the first-in-human study of CX-5461, a drug which has demonstrated anti-tumour activity in early phase clinical trials in patients with relapsed and refractory MM. Her current work is aimed at acquiring new insights into the pathogenesis of MM and discovering novel mediators of disease progression and resistance to therapy.

Associate Professor Edwin Hawkins

Associate Professor Edwin Hawkins is co-lead of the Myeloma Aetiology theme within the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers, an NHMRC Leadership fellow and Laboratory Head (Inflammation Division) at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

A/Prof Hawkins’ work focuses on the study of immune cells and how cancers of the immune system such as myeloma develop when these cells do not function properly.

By employing state-of-the art microscopy techniques and advanced preclinical models of MM, A/Prof Hawkins’ lab is studying the interaction between MM cells and the bone marrow microenvironment that is hijacked in this disease. The techniques used by the lab allow the visualisation of cancer cells directly in living tissue. These studies aim to determine how MM cells use specific sites (niches) within the bone marrow to propagate disease, evade current treatments and remodel bone tissue in their favour. The goal of this work is to identify new therapeutic targets to disrupt this niche and directly kill cancer cells or amplify the effects of existing treatments.

Utilising myeloma models and primary samples to develop new chemical and biological agents and modalities to treat the disease.

Associate Professor Lev Kats

Associate Professor Lev Kats is head of the Targeted Therapeutics Laboratory at Peter Mac, and co-lead of the Myeloma Medicines theme within the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers. A/Prof Kats received his PhD from Monash University in 2009 and competed his postdoctoral training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre/Harvard Medical School and the Peter Mac. He was appointed as a member of the faculty and established his independent laboratory in 2016. A/Prof Kats has held fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Victorian Cancer Agency and his laboratory has been supported by funding from diverse government, philanthropic and industry sources.

Developing new MM medicines and diagnostic tools

Creating new ways to tackle multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the Dalgleish Centre’s three core themes. A/Prof Kats’ areas of interest include epigenetic regulation, metabolism and targeted therapies and, via the utilisation of molecular and functional genomics, his lab aims to identify the genes and molecular pathways that are essential for MM cell growth and survival and develop new therapeutic strategies for this aggressive blood cancer.

Associate Professor Jane Oliaro

Associate Professor Jane Oliaro is co-lead of the Myeloma Medicines theme within the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers, a Group Leader in the Cancer Immunology Program, and Chief Scientist for the Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy Translation Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

As a cancer immunologist, A/Prof Oliaro’s research program uses genetic screening and preclinical models to understand the complex relationship between the immune system and cancer, with a particular focus on how tumours can evade attacks from the immune system (immune evasion) and resistance to immunotherapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. She also leads a preclinical program focused on the development of novel cell-based immunotherapies for translation into pilot clinical trials. A/Prof Oliaro’s current work in the multiple myeloma space includes assessing the effectiveness of adjuvant therapies with CAR-T cell treatment in blood cancers to determine whether combination treatments improve response rates and the durability of response. She is also developing new CAR-T cells for multiple myeloma for translation into pilot clinical trials, and conducting translational studies associated with myeloma CAR-T cell therapy clinical trials to identify biomarkers of response.

Supporting interventional clinical studies, health services and implementation science projects that evaluate quality of life and survival outcomes for myeloma patients.

Associate Professor Amit Khot

Associate Professor Khot is co-lead of the Clinical Research theme within the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers, and a Consultant Haematologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he is the Lead for the Myeloma and Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant service.

Enhancing the prognosis and quality of life of MM patients

Applying and evaluating new ideas to improve patient outcomes and their cancer experiences is one of the Dalgleish Centre’s three core themes. A/Prof Khot’s interests focus on improving outcomes in high risk haematologic malignancies, and the provision of comprehensive care that is both precision-based and person-centred. He is involved in research and clinical trials that evaluate immunotherapies and novel agents in myeloma and other advanced blood cancers.

Professor Hang Quach

Professor Quach is co-lead of the Clinical Research theme within the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers, professor of haematology at the University of Melbourne and the Departmental Head of Clinical Haematology and Clinical Haematology Research at St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.  She is chair of the myeloma working group of the Australasian Leukaemia Lymphoma Group (ALLG), and deputy-chair of the Myeloma Scientific Advisory Group (MSAG) for Myeloma Australia.

Prof Quach’s clinical and research activity is focussed on multiple myeloma. Her translational research focuses on myeloma immunology and the cancer-microenvironment.