Fellowship ​

Professor O’Brien is a medical specialist in neurology and clinical pharmacology, with particular expertise in epilepsy and related brain disorders, anti‐epileptic drugs and imaging in animal models and humans.  His research covers both basic and clinical studies related to epilepsy, its neuropsychiatric co‐morbidities and other neurodegenerative brain diseases. He has published more than 290 peer‐reviewed papers, which have been highly cited and influenced clinical practice.  His work has had two primary goals:  First to better understand the determinants of treatment response in epilepsy, identify markers for treatment outcomes, and develop new treatment approaches, and second to investigate the fundamental neurobiological basis, and inter-relationship, of the neuropsychiatric co‐morbidities present in many patients with epilepsy.

Professor McLean directs Anatomical Pathology and the State Neuromuscular Service, Alfred Health.  With expertise in pathology and neuropathology, she has published 300+ research papers in the fields of: dementia and cancer.  As inaugural director of the NHMRC Australian Brain Bank Network she has enabled accurate provision of pathologically characterized tissues to national and international researchers supporting 600+ papers.  She has innovated and implemented an on-line pathology medical curriculum and initiated and developed the post-fellowship neuropathology national curriculum.  She has international, national, state and university awards for: education, research supervision, research and for her contribution to the field of Pathology.

Cell Death is necessary for the normal development and functioning of multi‐cellular animals. Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell suicide, which removes cells that are no longer needed or have become dangerous. Professor Strasser showed that defects in apoptosis cause cancer and autoimmune disease and render tumour cells resistant to anti-cancer therapeutics. He identified many of the critical regulators of apoptosis. His discovery of the BH3-only proteins and their essential role in the initiation of apoptosis, including that triggered by many anti-cancer drugs, forms the basis of the so-called BH3 mimetic drugs. This Includes ABT‐199, Which is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, was recently awarded breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA and is expected to benefit many cancer patients.

Christobel Saunders is a surgeon and cancer researcher, recognised as a leader in both surgical practice and research in Australia and internationally. This is demonstrated through her portfolio of research publications (over 150), successful grants (over $25m), translation of research into practice (such as guideline development and obtaining government funding for new treatments) and executive membership of a large number of professional, governmental and policy groups (e.g. College of Surgeons, Cancer Australia, State government). Moreover, her passion for improving patient outcomes means she is heavily involved with health advocacy via Cancer Councils and Breast Cancer Network Australia.