Sarah-Jane Dawson FAHMS is an Australian clinician-scientist. She is a consultant medical oncologist and head of the Molecular Biomarkers and Translational Genomics Laboratory[1] at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. Her current research interests are focused on the development of noninvasive blood-based biomarkers ('liquid biopsies')[2] for clinical application, including early detection, risk stratification and disease monitoring in cancer management.

Education

Dawson obtained her medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 1998, and trained as a medical oncologist in Melbourne, Australia. She completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge and performed postdoctoral studies at the Cambridge Research Institute, UK. She returned to Melbourne in 2014 to lead a research laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.[1] Dawson was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2020.[3]

Scientific profile

Dawson has international recognition for her contributions to translational cancer research. A major focus of her current research involves the study of cell-free circulating tumour DNA in patients with cancer.[4] Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (called circulating tumour DNA) into the patient's bloodstream which can be measured for clinical applications in cancer management. Dawson's recent research has shown the application of circulating tumour DNA testing for disease monitoring in various cancer types. She has received ongoing support from high-profile Australian organisations including the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), National Breast Cancer Foundation, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society and Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson works with her husband Professor Mark Dawson and the clinician team to develop a simple blood test which is a liquid biopsy to monitor blood cancers and it is the alternative way to the traditional biopsies which can be invasive bone marrow or lymph node tissue biopsies.[5] Sarah-Jane with her husband Prof. Dawson and the clinician team have also identified the evidence that the cancer stem cells develops resistance to therapies which helps the development of the effectiveness of new drugs.[6]

Awards

  1. Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson was awarded AAHMS Jian Zhou Medal in 2020.[7]
  2. Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson has won 2018 CSL Centenary Fellow.[8]

Selected publications

2013 Dawson SJ, Tsui D, Murtaza M, Biggs, H, Rueda OM, Chin, SF, Dunning MJ, Gale, D, Forshew T, Mahler-Araujo B, Rajan S, Humphray S, Becq J, Halshall D, Wallis M, Bentley D, Caldas C, Rosenfeld N. Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA to Monitor Metastatic Breast Cancer. March 28, 2013; 368:1199-1209.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sarah-Jane Dawson". Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "World-first liquid biopsy for blood cancers promises less invasive, more precise and effective treatments". Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "Academy elects 28 new Fellows". AAHMS - Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Blood test hope for cancer patients". Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Blood testing to monitor cancer | NHMRC". www.nhmrc.gov.au. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Building a blood cancer treatment from the ground up | 2017 Metcalf Prize winner: Mark Dawson, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre". National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Inaugural Jian Zhou Medal Winner 2020 - Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, retrieved 7 April 2022
  8. ↑ "Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson". www.cslfellowships.com.au. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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