The Cancer Genetics Laboratory studies cancers of endocrine organs, many of which develop as a result of hereditary syndromes.
Our research team has expertise in cancer biology, diagnostic genetic testing, family counselling, and targeted surveillance programs.
Our research translates discoveries in genetic research to improved clinical care for patients with endocrine cancers.
Team Lead
Professor Roderick Clifton-Bligh
Head, Cancer Genetics Laboratory
Department of Endocrinology, Royal North Shore Hospital
Professor Bruce Robinson
Co-Head, Cancer Genetics Laboratory
Professor Stan Sidhu
Co-Head, Cancer Genetics Laboratory
Team Members
Dr Diana (Dindy) Benn PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Dr Martyn Bullock PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Dr Catherine Luxford PhD
Laboratory Manager
Dr Ying Zhu
Hospital Scientist
Rozelle Harvie
Research Assistant
Marthe Chehade
PhD Student
Dr Amanda Seabrook
PhD Student
Dr Ayanthi Wijewardene
PhD Student
Dr Dahlia Davidoff
PhD Student
Dr Christopher Muir
PhD Student
Nanette Lacson
Clinical Trials Manager
Sumathy Perampalam
PhD Student
Adwoa Sey
Research Scientist
Shejil Kumar
PhD Student
Eleanor White
PhD Student
Linh Nguyen
PhD Student
Eline Jager
Visiting Research Student
Liza Nery
Clinical Research Manager
Benjamin Decooman
Visiting Student
Anika Humaira
Research Placement Student
Annabelle Hayes
PhD Student
Stephen Ludgate
Thyroid Cancer Fellow
Bin Wang
Senior Scientist
We perform NATA-accredited genetic testing for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, Hereditary Phaeochromocytoma/Paraganglioma syndromes, hereditary hyperparathyroidism disorders and hereditary thyroid disorders.
Studying hereditary mutations in key genes associated with phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Our research has made several discoveries that link mitochondrial dysfunction with a predisposition to these and other cancers. These biomarker discoveries have been translated into routine pathology practice.
Studying tumour or hereditary DNA mutations that predispose people to thyroid cancers. Our ground breaking work has included discovery of fusion chromosomes in particular subtypes of thyroid cancer. It has also examined the role of the BRAF oncogene in cancer metastasis and the specific role of a thyroid developmental transcription factor FOXE1 with thyroid cancer predisposition, a finding that links disruption in an early developmental gene with cancer development in adult life.
In this program, we study the microRNA changes associated with the highly malignant cancer of the adrenal cortex.
Studying the genetic and epigenetic changes of pituitary neoplasms.
Key intramural partnerships include:
- Professor Anthony Gill and A/Prof Angela Chou (Department of Anatomical Pathology): genetic testing in endocrine cancers.
- A/Prof Mark Sywak, Professor Stan Sidhu and Dr Alex Papachristos (Department of Endocrine Surgery): clinical research in endocrine cancers.
- Professor Jas Samra (Department of Surgery): clinical research in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1.
- Professor Dale Bailey, Dr Paul Roach, Dr Elizabeth Bailey, Dr Edward Hsiao and Dr Jeremy Huang (Department of Nuclear Medicine): PET imaging in endocrine cancers.
- Professor Nick Pavlakis, A/Prof Alex Guminski and Dr David Chan (Department of Medical Oncology): clinical research in neuroendocrine tumours.
- Professor Tom Eade (Department of Radiation Oncology): clinical research in Endocrine cancers.
Our national collaborations include:
- Professor Kathy Tucker and Dr Minmin Li (Prince of Wales Hospital): clinical research in hereditary endocrine cancers.
- Professor Richard De Abreu Lourenco (UTS): health economic modellling .
- Professor Richard Tothill (University of Melbourne) and Dr Emma Boehm (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre): basic research in Neuroendocrine tumours.
- Dr Amanda Love (Queensland Health), Professor John Burgess (University of Tasmania): clinical collaborators in hereditary endocrine cancer syndromes.
Our international collaborations include:
- Professor Susan Richter (University of Auckland): basic research in SDHx associated phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma syndromes.
- Professor Scott Akker (St Bartholomew Hospital, London): clinical research on SDHx related hereditary phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma syndromes.
- Professor Karel Pacak (Prague): clinical research on SDHx syndromes.
- Professor Rodrigo Toledo (Spain): clinical research on hereditary endocrine cancer syndromes.
- Professor Tobias Else (University of Michigan): co-chair (with RCB) of ClinGen Hereditary Endocrine Cancer Variant Curation Expert Panel.
- Professor Lauren Fishbein (University of Colorado): clinical and genetic research in hereditary phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma syndromes.
- Professor Jean-Pierre Bayley (Leiden University Medical Center): clinical and genetic research in hereditary phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma syndromes.
- Professor Lori Wirth (Massachussetts General Hospital, Boston): clinical research in thyroid cancer.
