Dr. Mellisa Brown - Cancer Genetics
Understanding the genetic basis of breast cancer ' the most common cause of cancer death among Australian women' may lead to better diagnosis and the development of new preventative drugs.School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences lecturer Dr Melissa Brown's research investigates the cellular and molecular effects of disrupting the function of the Breast Cancer One (or BRCA1) gene, one of several breast cancer susceptibility genes isolated in the last decade.
Around 10 percent of breast cancer cases are due to hereditary factors with up to half of these due to the abnormalities in BRCA1. Breast cancer affects approximately one in 11 women and every day in Australia, 25 women discover they have breast cancer. Currently in Australia, 100,000 women cope with breast cancer diagnoses.
Dr Brown's research is broadly divided into two main areas: investigating the triggers to switching the BRCA1 gene on and off and the actions of the gene's protein product.
She said her award funds would be used to explore some novel approaches to her research outside the bounds of the two National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants and one Queensland Cancer Fund (QCF) grant she currently holds.
'I am delighted with the award and see it as a tangible form of encouragement to persist with this important research area,' she said
