Dr Halina Leung
Dr Halina Leung is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Haematology Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW. She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Advanced) (Hons 1) and was a recipient of the Dean’s Merit List Award for academic excellence. She completed her PhD at the Children’s Cancer Institute where her research investigated the role epigenetic regulators in leukaemic stem cells and the effectiveness of epigenetic agents on leukaemogenesis (Blood 2013, Leukaemia 2019). Her postdoctoral research focuses on disrupting mechanisms involved in cell activation leading to blood clots (IJLH 2018, Nature Communications 2019, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2020, Blood Advances 2021, Pathology 2021, Haematologica 2022, Nature Communications 2022). She has contributed to the profession and community through committee activities, professional memberships and peer-reviewing journal and conference submissions. Dr Leung was the recipient of the 2020 Award for Research Excellence (Early Career Academic Staff, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW).
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- Teaching and Supervision
2020 Award for Research Excellence (Early Career Academic Staff), Faculty of Medicine, UNSW
2020 Research Excellence Award, St George and Sutherland Clinical School, UNSW
2020 1st prize in National (Australia) Division, 3rd Prize in Biology, Life Science and Technology Finals International Division, 4th Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition, Shenzhen, China
2019 Promoting High Quality Research Papers Scheme Award, UNSW
2019 Presentation selected for Highlights of International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Congress, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
2019 Early Career Travel Grant Award, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, U.S.A.
2018 Travel Grant Award, Asia-Pacific Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Japan
2017 Young Investigator Award, St George and Sutherland Medical Research Symposium, New South Wales
2014 ASH Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology, San Francisco, U.S.A.
Dr Leung’s research identifies and characterises key drivers involved in pathogenic thrombosis with the aim to develop better therapies. Dr Leung has published 9 research articles in the last 5 years in leading Q1 journals. Her research on immune thrombosis and the role of neutrophil activation such as NETosis in thrombosis has had notable reach and influence both nationally and internationally, as exemplified by her highly cited publications including a top 1% highly cited first author publication in Nature Communications. Dr Leung is also an investigator on 5 successful competitive research grants ($2.5M). As an inventor on 2 patents (covering 9 novel molecules for treatment of thrombotic disorders), she is actively engaged in meetings with UNSW Business Development Manager and pharmaceutical companies to advance her patented molecules to clinical trials.
Since 2017, Dr Leung has been an organising committee member of the Research in Progress Meetings (RIPM) held at the St George & Sutherland Clinical Campus, UNSW. These seminars are a platform for researchers within the clinical school international collaborators and industry leaders, to present their research to an audience consisting of clinicians, medical students, scientists and members of the public.