Dr M Shackleton
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
One of the most important discoveries in cancer over the past decade has been revelation of the extent of disease heterogeneity within individual patients. Indeed, this heterogeneity is seen on multiple levels – cellular, genetic, epigenetic – and even within single tumors. Elucidating the basis and consequences of cancer heterogeneity is one of the highest priorities in research, as cancer heterogeneity likely impacts disease outcomes in patients, such as the propensities to relapse and metastasize, the development of therapy resistance and responsiveness to immunotherapy.
This project will examine the origins and consequences of intra-patient heterogeneity in melanoma, linking these to features of disease biology and therapy response, using exceptional resources and world-leading technologies for clinically relevant laboratory modelling of human melanoma. It is anticipated that the work will provide fundamental insights into the nature and implications of heterogeneity in melanoma and other cancers.
Techniques used will include working with human tumor specimens and linked clinical data, mouse handing, in vivo drug treatment, immunostaining, flow cytometry, NextGen sequencing and molecular biology assays.
In the Shackleton laboratory, researchers study mechanisms of cancer initiation and development, with specific focus on: characterising and understanding cancer heterogeneity; key molecular signalling pathways that drive cancer progression; in vivo modeling of cancer development; and melanocyte development and melanomagenesis.
Funding Notes
All PhD students at Peter Mac must have a scholarship from The University of Melbourne or through another government, trust or philanthropic organisation. Before applying for a scholarship, you must have agreed on a project with an institute supervisor.
For further information about the university application process, see:
https://www.petermac.org/education/research-education/postgraduate-program
For further information regarding scholarships (both local and international), see:
http://research.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships
Closing dates for applications for scholarships to commence in 2017: Round 1 -31 October 2016; Round 2 - 18 Dec 2016.
References
Nature 456:593, Cancer Cell 18:510,
Sci Transl Med 4:159ra149