Quick Facts
Biography
Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson is an Australian clinician-scientist. She is a consultant medical oncologist and head of the Molecular Biomarkers and Translational Genomics Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. Her current research interests are focused on the development of noninvasive blood-based biomarkers ('liquid biopsies') for clinical application, including early detection, risk stratification and disease monitoring in cancer management.
Education
Associate Professor Dawson obtained her medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 1998, and trained as a medical oncologist in Melbourne, Australia. She completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge and performed postdoctoral studies at the Cambridge Research Institute, UK. She returned to Melbourne in 2014 to lead a research laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Scientific Profile
Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson has international recognition for her contributions to translational cancer research. A major focus of her current research involves the study of cell-free circulating tumour DNA in patients with cancer. Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (called circulating tumour DNA) into the patient's bloodstream which can be measured for clinical applications in cancer management. Associate Professor Dawson's recent research has shown the application of circulating tumour DNA testing for disease monitoring in various cancer types. She has received ongoing support from high-profile Australian organisations including the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), National Breast Cancer Foundation, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society and Australian Cancer Research Foundation.
Awards and Honours
- National Breast Cancer Foundation Early Career Fellowship and Victorian Cancer Agency Fellowship (2014-2017)
- RG Menzies Fellowship (2012-2014)
- NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (2012-2014)
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Fellowship (2007-2011)
- Commonwealth Scholarship (2007-2010)
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Foundation New Investigator Award (2005-2006)
- Medical Oncology Group of Australia (MOGA) Advanced Trainee Award (2006)
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Merit Award (2005)