Chief Investigators
Professor Lyle Palmer
Genetic Epidemiology
Professor Palmer is an internationally renowned geneticist and epidemiologist with interests in cancer, asthma, CVD, sleep apnea, fetal growth regulation, diabetes and methodological research. He will contribute key genetic epidemiology expertise and guide sample collection, storage and analysis. Professor Palmer's staff will provide core bioinformatics and bioethics support, blood processing, DNA extraction and statistical expertise.
» Professional Summary
Dr Anna Nowak
Medical Oncology
Dr Nowak has an active clinical practice in WA and due to the centralization of neurosurgery for brain tumours at SCGH, sees the majority of patients presenting to medical oncology with high grade glioma and is the site PI for HGG clinical trials. Dr Nowak will provide AGOG with medical oncology expertise, translational and clinical trials expertise, and co-ordinate patient recruitment in WA.
» Professional Summary
Dr Kerrie McDonald
Medical Genetics
Dr McDonald has been instrumental in establishing the Australasian Brain Tumour Bank at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research at the Royal North Shore Hospital / University of Sydney, with the aim of identifying biomarkers to improve diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment in patients with brain tumours. She will drive the biomarker discovery research using genetic and protein profiling of RNA and plasma, and will be responsible for the laboratory experiments and analysis.
» Professional Summary
Dr Helen Wheeler
Medical Oncology
Dr Wheeler is a medical oncologist with a research background and has contributed greatly to the establishment of the ABTB and the SNOG clinical database. Specialising in neuro-oncology since 1989, she treats patients from around the world and recognizes the limited amount of specialty care available to patients with brain tumours. Dr Wheeler will play a critical role in AGOG patient recruitment and will be closely involved in the development of data collection standardization.
» Professional Summary
Dr Charlie Teo
Neurosurgery
Dr Teo has an international reputation in developing pioneering techniques in minimally invasive neurosurgery in both Australia and the United States (where he is also Board Certified). He has a passion for teaching and philanthropy and devotes 3 months per year to teaching and sponsoring neurosurgeons in developing countries such as Bangladesh, Peru, Romania and Vietnam. Dr Teo lives by the principle of treating all his patients as he would a member of his own family. Dr Teo will provide neurosurgical input into this multidisciplinary team and provide key data and biospecimen collection across his clinical sites.
» Professional Summary
Professor David Joseph
Radiation Oncology
Professor Joseph has extensive experience in clinical trials both national and internationally. His major interest is in translational research involving molecular biology and tissue microarrays, in addition to translational research in physics. Professor Joseph will participate in development of treatment data collection and provide radiation oncology expertise as well as links with other radiation oncologists.
» Professional Summary
Professor Bruce Robinson
Molecular Biology
Professor Robinson is a Medical Endocrinologist with a strong molecular science background in tumour formation and gene therapy, and has since made major contributions to genetic research in thyroid, parathyroid, colon and brain cancers. For the AGOG project, his specific project responsibilities will include progress of project objectives; review and approval of protocol design and ethics applications; and the dissemination of project results. He is currently Dean of The University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine.
» Professional Summary
