Simpson Group - Cancer therapy - Frazer Institute

About

Our team works at the intersection of many fields of science. We use cell biology to improve targeted therapy and immunotherapy against cancer. Our research focuses on the temporary inhibition of endocytosis to improve responses to monoclonal antibody therapies and reversal of this inhibition to improve toxin payload delivery to tumours. We are also the scientific leads of clinical trials of combination therapy approaches we have discovered and work closely with surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, medicinal chemists, nuclear medicine professional and pharmacologists to translate basic scientific findings to better outcomes for cancer patients.

Associate Professor Fiona Simpson

Principal Research Fellow

Frazer Institute
Dr Shannon Joseph

Research Fellow

Frazer Institute
Dr Priscila Oliveira de Lima

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Frazer Institute
Ms Lilia Merida de Long

Affiliate Professional Staff

Mater Research Institute-UQ
Research Assistant

Frazer Institute

PhD and Master students

Mr Benedict Lum (PhD student)
Dr Caroline Cooper (Staff Pathologist PAH and MPhil student)
Dr Emma Karlsen (General Surgery PHO and PhD student)
Dr James Nightingale (Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery PHO and PhD student)
Mr Jason Lee (PhD student)
Dr Joan Sia Tan Tefay (General Surgery PHO and MPhil student)

The ins and outs of endocytosis inhibition: providing diverse opportunities for treatment of incurable cancers.
Therapeutic targets and immune therapy for head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Open-label Phase II study investigating the efficacy of Cetuximab and prochlorperazine (Stemetil) combination therapy in patients with metastatic Head and Neck Carcinoma (CESTEM II study).
HER2Stem: Addition of prochlorperazine to paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab for previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: a phase 1 dose de-escalation study.
Solving surgical and therapeutic issues in the treatment of Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Novel Biomarkers and Treatment Approaches in Breast Cancer.
Analysis of markers of progression and recurrence in breast cancer.
Combination therapies to improve delivery of PSMA-targeted therapies.
Novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of cutaneous SCCHN with perineural invasion.
Characterising the protein complexes responsible for immune synapse formation to allow rational drug design to modulate immunity both as increase and decrease.