The lab was awarded an NHMRC Synergy Grant to develop new treatments for ALT cancers

Our lab is part of a multidisciplinary research team awarded a $5 million NHMRC Synergy Grant to develop new precision therapies for aggressive, difficult-to-treat cancers.

Led by Professor Hilda Pickett at Children’s Medical Research Institute, the project brings together researchers from CMRI, St Vincent’s Institute, the University of Wollongong and the University of Sydney. The research focuses on cancers that use Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT), a pathway that allows cancer cells to maintain their telomeres and continue proliferating. ALT is particularly prevalent in several difficult-to-treat cancers, including bone and soft tissue sarcomas and aggressive brain tumours.

Dr Lisanne Spenkelink and Dr Jacob Lewis are part of the multidisciplinary team, contributing their expertise in DNA metabolism and single-molecule approaches to help uncover vulnerabilities in the ALT pathway. The ultimate goal of the project is to identify new precision therapies for ALT-dependent cancers and improve treatment options for patients with these challenging malignancies.