Mater Research is delighted to welcome Professor Kum Kum Khanna to Mater. Prof Khanna, who leads Mater Research's newly established Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Research Group, brings with her over three decades of experience in cancer research and will be based at the Translational Research Institute.
Prof Khanna’s research focuses on understanding how our cells respond to sources of DNA damage. This is an area of critical importance to cancer research as defects in mechanisms controlling DNA damage repair are associated with increased cancer susceptibility. Her groundbreaking discoveries have included identifying the ATM gene's role in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation, and uncovering connections between ATM and other cancer-related genes, such as BRCA1 and p53.
Prof Khanna’s research has not only expanded the understanding of cancer biology but has also paved the way for innovative treatment strategies. By exploiting DNA repair deficiencies in cancer cells, she has spearheaded efforts to develop targeted therapies that hold immense promise for improving patient outcomes.
Prof Khanna is looking forward to continuing her work at Mater Research to propel research efforts forward.
“I look forward to close collaborations between my fellow women’s cancer researchers here at Mater Research, including Dr Jodi Saunus, Professor John Hooper, Professor Kristen Radford and Professor Brian Gabrielli,” Prof Khanna said.
“My research will greatly benefit from having access to Mater’s Gynaecological and Breast Cancer Biobank.
"Access to tumour specimens will enable my team and I to study the response of new therapeutics which will benefit patients and, hopefully, enable us to make some groundbreaking discoveries.”
Prof Khanna is committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers, and has an outstanding track-record of in research supervision, mentoring, career development and training of staff. Her trainees have excelled with several holding academic appointments in Australia and overseas.
Prof Khanna’s ultimate goal is to see metastatic cancer become a manageable chronic disease – like diabetes – with improved survival rates and treatments that enable people to live long and healthy lives.
Mater Research Executive Director Professor Maher Gandhi welcomes Prof Khanna and her team to Mater Research, highlighting the wealth of knowledge and expertise that she and her team bring.
“The addition of Prof Khanna and her team will undoubtedly drive groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in our mission to combat cancer,” Prof Gandhi said.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Prof Khanna and her research group.
