Mater Researcher secures trio of funding for cancer research

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Dr Seth Cheetham, an early career researcher at Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland (MRI-UQ), has been awarded three grants to fund research projects addressing the role of genomic plasticity in cancer treatment.

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The funding received is from three different early career research grants programs—offered by Mater Foundation, The University of Queensland (UQ) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

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Dr Cheetham’s study will delve into the role of “junk” DNA in cancer, to understand genetic causes of tumour Formation, and to develop targeted Medical Interventions.

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“Cancer is one of the leading causes of Mortality and Morbidity worldwide,” says Dr Cheetham.

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“But we still don’t know a lot about many of the genetic causes of Tumour Initiation, Progression and Metastasis.”

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Dr Cheetham became interested in the role of “junk” DNA when he was completing his undergraduate studies.

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“I remember being amazed and surprised when I learnt in an undergraduate lecture that 98 per cent of our genomes were assumed to be functionless and had been largely unstudied,” says Dr Cheetham.

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“I wondered how it was possible that such a large proportion of our genome was believed not to fulfill a function.”

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This has gone on to inspire much of Dr Cheetham’s career so far, and provided the catalyst for his recent funding success.

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Dr Cheetham’s Early Career Fellowship from NHMRC provides four years of salary funding, while the support from Mater Foundation and UQ will seed fund his research study.

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“I am very grateful to the NHMRC, Mater Foundation and UQ investment in my research," says Dr Cheetham.

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“There is so much we still need to discover concerning “junk” DNA’s role in cancer.”

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