Conjoint Senior Lecturer
Dr Charles de Bock
2006 PhD (Cancer Biology), University of New South Wales, Australia
2000 MSc (Medical Science), First Class, University of Auckland, New Zealand
1998 BSc (Pharmacology), University of Auckland, New Zealand
Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine
My area of specialty lies in the genetics of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I am particularly interested in how different mutations drive and maintain disease with a view to translate these finding into improved patient outcomes
I am primarily a molecular and cellular biologist with over 10 years’ experience performing research on haematological malignancies including 6 years post-doctoral training at the VIB/KU Leuven, Belgium.
I have led innovative research projects generating novel mouse models of leukemia that have resulted in publications within leading international journals (e.g. Cancer Discovery, Blood, Leukemia, Science Translational Medicine and Cancer Cell)
Through my research, teaching, and supervision of students, my aim is to train the next generation of scientists to make a long-lasting impact on paediatric cancer outcomes.
Please feel free to reach out to enquire about potential PhD and Post-doctoral opportunites.
E-mail
Location
Lowy Cancer Research Centre,
UNSW Australia
PO Box 81 Randwick 2031 Australia
- Publications
- Awards
- Research Activities
2017 Technology transfer and the exploitation of research, KU Leuven. Team awarded 1st place for exploitation plan.
2008 New South Wales (NSW) Office of Science and Medical Research Award for Best Postdoctoral Oral Presentation; ASMR NSW Meeting.
2004 St George Hospital Clinical School “Young Investigator of the Year”
1998 Fowlds Memorial Prize for most distinguished student in the Medicine and Health Science Faculty, University of Auckland, New Zealand
1997 Senior Prize in Pharmacology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Personalised anti-cancer therapies have the potential to transform cancer treatments.
We now appreciate that at diagnosis, patients with T-cell leukaemia have more than 10 mutations. Some of these mutations will be sufficient to cause leukaemia, but the role of the majority of these mutations remains unknown.
My research program is focussed on defining the functional role for mutations found in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We utilise a “functional genomics” approach, that is creating in vitro and in vivo mouse models of T-cell leukaemia using clinically relevant mutations, to identify the key proteins and signalling pathways that should be targeted to control the disease.
This knowledge on which proteins and mutations are essential to drive the growth and survival of leukaemia cells will significantly improve our ability to use targeted agents based on an individual’s mutation signature.