Blood Cancer Research

The focus of the Blood Cancer Research Group is to understand the lymphoma tumour microenvironment. Doing so, will assist in the identification of patients at high-risk of responding poorly to conventional therapies. It will also enable the design of novel immunotherapeutic strategies that are less toxic and more effective.

The group has a strong emphasis on patient material, which it obtains from international and national clinical collaborators. Lymphomas studied include Hodgkin Lymphoma, Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder, Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma and Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphomas. We utilise a broad range of approaches including genomics, molecular techniques and functional immunoassays. Several of our studies have resulted in large national investigator-led clinical trials run through the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group.

Current funding sources include the NHMRC, MRFF and Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The group gratefully receives support to undertake work for the Mark Coghlan Immunobiology of Epstein-Barr Virus Positive Hodgkin Lymphoma Project.

Group Members

  • Dr Jay Gunawardana
  • Dr Soi Law
  • Isabelle Putt
  • Dr Joshua Tobin
  • Anna Pilaar

Clinician Researchers

  • Dr Karthik Nath
  • ​Dr Mohamed Shanavas

Students

  • Muhammed B Sabdia
  • Hennes Tsang

 

Group Leaders