Improving treatment of blood cancers using targeted therapies

Challenge

Venetoclax, an oral anticancer drug, is highly effective against numerous blood cancers including Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and is now a standard treatment for these blood cancers.

Although Venetoclax has resulted in patients experiencing longer periods of remission, for others, they inevitability relapse with little hope of a cure.

Focus

Current evidence points to sophisticated genetic and epigenetic (cell environment where genes operate) mechanisms cancer cells use to become resistant to Venetoclax.

Eric’s research will discover these mechanisms using new and advanced techniques to find the common factors that drive Venetoclax resistance, and to understand which patients will relapse on Venetoclax and will contribute to identifying ways to overcome drug resistance.

Impact

Eric’s research will change the management of blood cancer on several fronts. Firstly, his research will help other scientists to use the evidence as a roadmap for future discoveries. Secondly, his research will help provide new prognostic tools that can be used throughout the patient’s journey. Importantly, Eric’s research will help to determine optimal treatment dosage for each patient.

Researcher

Eric is a haematologist who completed his haematology specialist training in NSW at Nepean, Concord, and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals.

Eric has personally been touched by blood cancer, which propelled him to pursue a career in haematology.

Eric aspires to build a career as a molecular haematologist, leading a cutting-edge molecular laboratory that can deliver world-class personalised care for patients and support advanced molecular research.