About me
I have a dual appointment as Head of Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Research within Murdoch’s Personalised Medicine Centre (formerly Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics) and Perron Institute. I received my PhD from the University of Queensland after completing my MSc degree from Griffith University. I'm an expert in the field of RNA targeting therapies. We are using nucleic acid-based biotechnologies as potential drug therapies for a range of neurological diseases, genetic disorders, and cancers. I have over 16 years’ experience in basic and translational research in the field of oligonucleotide therapeutic development and have published >100 articles in reputed journals.
My research is focused on developing novel oligonucleotide-based drugs and diagnostics for tackling rare inherited and acquired diseases including solid cancers and Psoriasis. My McCusker fellowship was focused on contributing new treatments for Alzheimer’s and other neuromuscular diseases by establishing a ‘smart oligonucleotides synthesis facility’ – the first of its kind in Australia.
I am the Founder and Director of SynGenis Pty Ltd and ProGenis Pharmaceuticals.