Translational Research Laboratory

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Translational Research Laboratory - Research at Peter Mac

As part of the Centre for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, the Translational Research Laboratory investigates the application of new targeted therapies for cancer by integrating cell biology, molecular biology, functional imaging and clinical trials.

Research Focus

Investigation of inhibitors of protein and lipid kinases using laboratory and clinical studies. Identification and validation of biomarkers to predict response to targeted therapeutics. Mechanism of action of therapeutics targeting signalling, cell cycle and cell surface receptors. The role of hypoxia in responses to cancer therapies.

Laboratory Overview

Our research program brings together functional imaging and powerful tools in cell and molecular biology to understand and predict responses to targeted therapies. Our work focuses on four main lines of investigation: developing specific strategies to provide proof-of-mechanism for the activity of targeted cancer therapies in early phase clinical trials with a strong focus on functional imaging; investigation of biomarkers of tumour hypoxia to predict response to targeted and traditional cancer therapies; investigation of molecular mechanisms of response to small molecule inhibitors of protein and lipid kinases; and combining novel targeted therapies with conventional radiation therapy or cytotoxic chemotherapy. We utilise a range of technologies to interrogate these processes, including transgenic and gene targeted models of cancer, PET imaging, functional ultrasound, genetic modification of cancer cell lines, cell imaging using fluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy and quantitative protein analyses.