We caught up with breast cancer researcher Dr Bill Panagopoulos who previously received funding through Australian Breast Cancer Research and The Hospital Research Foundation Group*. Dr Panagopoulos shares an exciting research update, including an approved human clinical trial that could be lifesaving!
“I’m in my second year of my NHMRC (federal) research fellowship with Adelaide University’s Myeloma Research Laboratory based at SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute) within Adelaide’s BioMed Precinct.
We had an exciting progressive year in 2019 as my lab and I worked closely with a UK-based pharmacy company developing a new therapeutic antibody. This antibody targets a specific protein found to be overexpressed within the tumour microenvironment of breast cancer that has spread to the bone.
We were able to show that this antibody was effective in eliminating tumour growth in pre-clinical trials, and it’s now approved to progress to human clinical trials! We have also applied for a patent for the potential new therapy.
I am also continuing my passionate work investigating the role of peroxidase enzymes in tumour development and progression which was initially funded by ABCR and THRF in 2017.
I also volunteer my time to lecture third year Health and Medical Science students at Adelaide University and currently supervise PhD and honour students while working collaboratively with my previous lab at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research.”
We look forward to updating you on Dr Panagopoulos’s lifesaving research as it develops!
*ABCR is a charity part of The Hospital Research Foundation Group
