Biography

Thanks for visiting my online portfolio for my research and CV. Just a bit about me…I obtained my PhD in Chemistry from the International Institute for Nano and Molecular Medicine at the University of Missouri in 2014 under the supervision of Professor M. Frederick Hawthorne. Soon after graduating, I joined the Centre for Advanced Imaging and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at the University of Queensland as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Professor Kristofer Thurecht’s lab, where I have applied my expertise in organic chemistry and synthetic design to develop novel nanomaterials towards the assessment and treatment of disease states using molecular imaging. Through the combination of bioorthogonal and responsive systems with a range of multimodal in vivo imaging techniques, my main research aims have been focused on understanding how nanomaterials interact with biological environments and how that information can be used to enhance the efficiency of those nanomaterials.

Current Appointment

  • Present2021

    Postdoctoral Fellow and Facility Manager

Summary

In addition to managing my own research portfolio I am also responsible for the establishment, operations, recruitment and training of users and protocol development for both facilities:

  • ACRF Facility for Targeted Radiometals in Cancer (AFTRiC)
  • CAI Hyperpolarisation Facility

Highlights

  • I was a leading CI (CIE) on the major infrastructure grant for this facility (Grant Announcement)
  • Further development of my independent research program
  • Gain expertise in the handling and experimental use of alpha radiometals
  • Gain expertise in hyperpolarisation techniques

Past Appointments

  • 20212020

    Theme Leader & Postdoctoral Fellow in Radiochemistry

Summary

In this joint appointment through the CPN at AIBIN (UQ) and CSIRO I work with other Theme Leaders and CPN leadership to coordinate, manage and implement projects related to radiochemistry from proof of principle through product development.

Highlights

  • Development of novel radiochemical manufacturing techniques
  • Product development and marketing
  • Clinical radiopharmaceutical pipeline development
  • 20202020

    Research Officer

Summary

Contractual work across two projects with the first for Clarity Pharmaceuticals to prepare, image (with PET-CT) and evaluate radiolabelled peptides as novel radiotracers for prostate and lung cancers.  The second project was for Starpharma Holdings Ltd. to prepare and image (with PET-CT) radiolabelled dendrimers to discover lead candidates for cancer radiotherapeutics.

Highlights

  • Investigating lead candidate for cancer treating dendrimers
  • Investigating lead candidate for peptide-based PET diagnostics for cancer

Summary

BLiSS is a national non-profit incorporation created by and dedicated to early and mid-career researchers (EMCRs). BLiSS aims to remove barriers between research fields and institutions, by enabling the research leaders of tomorrow to jumpstart collaborations and meaningful connections. BLiSS accomplishes these goals by organising events that enables EMCRs from a variety of scientific backgrounds, to meet, share their scientific ideas and expertise and to grow their careers.

Highlights

  • Oversee all finances for all chapters and national organization
  • Develop and implement all technological needs for organisation and technical resources for national organisation and all chapters
  • Responsibilities: Website administration, documentation management, file storage, financial management, and administrative infrastructure.

Affiliations

BLiSS Science and Innovation Inc. (http://www.bliss-ecr.org/)

  • Chief Technology Officer
  • Co-Founding Member
  • National Treasurer
  • Board Member
  • 20202017

    Senior Postdoctoral Fellow

Summary

As a continuation of my postdoctoral career, in this second contract I increased my responsibilities in the group to include management of group, collaborative, and industrial projects relating to radiochemistry and molecular imaging, as well as continuing my independent research focusses in the original contract.

Highlights

  • Discovered that nanomedicines are a potential new treatment for brain cancer by determining the optimal delivery window during tumour progression with simultaneous PET-MRI (Research Info and Key Publication)
  • Clinical translation of aforementioned brain treatment to humans
  • Established protocol for preparation of commercial antibody for the treatment of brain cancer.
  • 20172014

    Postdoctoral Fellow

Summary

During my postdoctoral career have applied my expertise in organic chemistry and molecular imaging to develop novel nanomaterials towards the assessment and treatment of disease. My primary research aims have been focused on understanding how nanomaterials interact with biological environments and how that information can be used to enhance the efficiency of those nanomaterials.

Highlights

  • Gained significant expertise in fluorescent and luminescent imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT).
  • Optimised and evaluated in vivo efficacy of anti-PEG bispecific antibody (BsAb) technology as a modular targeting system for mechanistic study of nanomaterials and personalized medicine (Key Publication)
  • First-in-world use of BsAb technology for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in a canine using a hyperbranched polymer and molecular imaging (MRI & PET-CT) [Press Release]

Education

  • PhD 2014

    PhD in Chemistry (Organic)

    University of Missouri - Columbia, Missouri, USA

  • MSc 2010

    Master of Science (Chemistry)

    University of Missouri - Columbia, Missouri. USA

  • BSc Honours 2006

    Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Nanotechnology (Honours)

    Flinders University - Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Honors, Awards and Grants

  • 2021
    Most Engaged Educational Committee Member
    Honour – Awarded by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent BioNano Science & Technology
  • 2020
    ACRF Facility for Targeted Radiometals in Cancer

    Australian Cancer Research Foundation Facility for Targeted Radiometals in Cancer (AFTRiC).

    AFTRiC will be the first dedicated Australian facility for research in an emerging class of cancer agents – targeted radiometals and targeted alpha therapies. It is complemented by the nation’s most comprehensive suite of preclinical and clinical imaging research instruments, at the Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI), and benefits from the Centre’s state-of-the-art cyclotron facility. The research capabilities provided by AFTRiC will fill a key gap that currently prevents Australian researchers from unlocking the full potential of targeted radiometals as highly specific diagnostic agents and potent treatment modalities for many cancers.

  • 2020
    A Promise to Peter

    “A Promise to Peter”

    Philanthropic fund to support brain cancer research in the Thurecht group. The fund was established due to my work on brain cancer treatments using nanomedicines. All proceeds from the sales of Peter’s poetry go towards our research (more information here).

  • 2018
    UQ Early Career Researcher Grant

    From bench to bedside: shortening the pipeline of new treatments for glioma by building a robust treatment monitoring protocol from mice to dogs.

    Nanomedicines (NMs) have been unsuccessful in treating glioma due in part to inefficient preclinical animal models. Using mice that spontaneously form brain tumours, similarly to humans, we have developed a method using non-invasive imaging to quickly assess tumour progression and the therapeutic efficiency of NMs. By extending this protocol to canines, this project aims to shorten the time it takes for new and more effective treatments to reach the patient (human & canine).

  • 2018
    Postdoctoral Travel Award

    Travel money used to attend WMIC 2017 conference in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

  • 2015
    CAI New Staff Startup Fund

    Scan time funds to support independent research.

  • 2008-2010
    Jennie B. & William D. Nightingale Chemistry PhD Scholarship

    PhD Stipend Scholarship

  • 2008-2010
    Missouri Space Grant Consortium Research Undergraduate Fellowship

    Undergraduate Research Scholarship in Hydrogen storage in nanophase diamond powder.

  • Jan 2000
    Education Scholarship in Optical Design and Engineering
    SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics

    Undergraduate scholarship.

Professional Memberships

Additional Professional Activities

  • Present2019

    CAI Radiochemistry & Molecular Imaging Project Review Committee

    Member of approvals committee, University of Queensland

  • Present2018

    CAI Seminar Organising Committee

    Member of organising committee, University of Queensland

  • Present2019

    Frontiers in Bio-Nano Science Symposium

    Founder, Convenor (2018), Consultant – Australia

  • Present2016

    ARC CoE Small Animal Workshop

    Founder & Organizer – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. (Read More)

  • 20172016

    Brisbane Life Sciences Symposium Steering Committee

    Committee Member (2016) & Co-Chair of Operations (2017) – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  • 20182015

    ARC CoE CBNS – Educational Committee

    UQ Node Member – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  • 20062006

    Australian Universities Quality Agency

    Committee Member, Flinders University – Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

  • 20052005

    Nanotechnology Course Review Committee

    Committee Member, Flinders University – Adelaide, South Australia, Australia