Professor Elgene Lim
03/10 |
Post Doctorate |
Cancer Biology |
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA |
02/10 |
PhD |
Molecular Biology |
Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Melbourne University, Australia |
12/06 |
FRACP |
Internal Medicine & Medical Oncology |
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Australia |
12/95 |
MBBS |
Medicine & Surgery |
Melbourne University, Victoria, Australia |
Elgene was awarded his medical degree from the University of Melbourne. He obtained his medical oncology fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2006, and subsequently embarked on a PhD as a National Breast Cancer Foundation Scholar at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute with eminent Australian breast cancer researchers Professors Jane Visvader & Geoffrey Lindemann. His research identified the aberrant cells in carriers of the BRCA1 mutant gene, a hereditary breast cancer syndrome, which are the likely culprit cells giving rise to breast cancer. He furthered his research and clinical training at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School under the mentorship of internationally acclaimed leaders in breast cancer research Professors Eric Winer & Myles Brown, through fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia, and Royal Australasian College of Physicians.He was awarded the National Breast Cancer Foundation Practitioner Fellowship in 2014 and returned from Boston to Australia. In 2017, he was awarded the inaugural National Breast Cancer Foundation Endowed Chair.
Elgenecurrentlyheads the breast oncology services at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.He also heads the Connie Johnson breast cancer research laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. His laboratory performs clinically focused laboratory research, including the establishment of patient-derived breast tumour xenografts in mice, the evaluation of novel therapies in these preclinical breast cancer models and the comparative study between normal and breast cancer tissue. Another major focus of my group is hormone receptors (such as the estrogen and androgen receptors) in breast tumours, specifically to identify ways to sensitize these cancer cells to endocrine therapies.Their research is funded through Cancer Australia, NHMRC, Cancer Council NSW,the National Breast Cancer, Love Your Sister, St Vincent's Curran, Balnaves and Garvan foundations.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2017-27 |
NBCF Endowed Chair (Co funded by Garvan Institute) ($5,000,000). Role CIA |
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2019-21 |
Therapeutic targeting of dual CDK4/6 inhibitor and endocrine resistant breast cancer. APP IIRS-19-054. NBCF (CIA Caldon). ($582,432) Role: CIB |
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2018-21 |
Transforming endocrine therapy for breast and prostate cancer. MNBCF Collaborative Research Initiative (CIA Tilley) ($2,500,000). Role: CID |
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2018-21 |
Pushing AR toward better outcomes in breast and prostate cancers. APP 1145777. NHMRC Project Grant (CIA Tilley) (A$1,000,000). Role: CIE |
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2018-21 |
Reactivating p53 to combat CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in ER positive Breast Cancer. St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation ($40,000) Role: CIA. |
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2019-20 |
Targeting the p53 pathway in the age of CDK4/6 inhibitor resistant ER+ breast cancer. APP IIRS-19-053. NBCF (CIA Portman). ($197,825). Role: CIB. |
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2017-20 |
Targeting the Oncoprotein MDMX as a Novel Treatment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. APP 1123057. NHMRC Project Grant (CIA Haupt) (A$800,000). Role: CIC |
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2017-20 |
Four dimensional epigenome remodelling: implications for endocrine resistance in breast cancer. APP 1128916. NHMRC Project Grant (CIA Clark) (A$828,559.50). Role: CIC |
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2017-20 |
The clinical significance of sex hormone crosstalk in ER+ breast cancer. APP 1130077. NHMRC Project Grant (CIA Tilley) (A$1,009,006). Role: CIC |
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2017-9 |
Evaluating ODM201, an AR degrader, in breast cancer. Bayer Pharm (A$200,000). Role CIA. |
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2017-9 |
Progesterone as an anticancer therapy in early breast cancer. RG 17-08. Cancer Council of New South Wales Project Grant (A$450,000). Role: CIA |
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Past |
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2017-8 2016-8 |
Metabolic effects of exercise on breast cancer. Thelma Greig Cancer Grant. St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation (A$50,000). Role: CIA. A novel approach to overcome therapy-resistance in breast cancer. APP 1107170. Cancer Australia. (A$600,000). Role: CIA. |
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2016-7 |
Identification of breast cancer subtype-specific tumour antigens using the local immune response. NBCF (A$200,000). Role: CIA. |
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2016-7 |
Evaluating MDM2 inhibitors in breast cancer. Novartis Australia (A$51,000). Role: CIA. |
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2014-7 |
Sensitizing breast cancers to hormone receptor-directed therapies. NBCF & Victorian Cancer Agency Practitioner Fellowship (A$800,000). Role: CIA |
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2015-6 |
Targeting the p53 pathway in ER-positive breast cancer. Australia New Zealand Breast Cancer Trialist Group (A$91,600). Role: CIA. |
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2014-5 |
Evaluation of concurrent chemoendocrine therapy and predictive biomarkers for HR+ breast cancer. Ramaciotti Award, Perpetual Trustees Australia (A$75,000). Role: CIA. |
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2013-4 |
Exploiting DNA repair deficits in non BRCA mutation associated breast cancer.Cancer Research Grant, Pfizer Australia (A$50,000). Role: CIA. |
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2011-4 |
The identification of novel treatments for poor prognosis subgroups of breast cancer.NHMRC Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship (A$360,000). Role: CIA. |
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2010 |
Fulbright Victoria Fellowship. (A$25,000). Role: CIA. |
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2006-9 |
White/Zaal PhD scholarship. NBCF (A$105,000). Role: CIA. |
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2008 |
Characterization of human mammary stem and progenitor cells. Postgraduate Research award, GlaxoSmithKline Australia (A$25,000) Role: CIA. |
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2007 |
Characterization of human mammary stem and progenitor cells. Career development award, Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (A$50,000) Role: CIA. |
2017 |
NBCF Endowed Chair |
National Breast Cancer Foundation |
Breast Cancer Research |
2015 |
Connie Johnson Award |
Garvan Institute |
Breast Cancer Research |
2014 |
Ramaciotti Award |
Perpetual Trustees |
Translational Research |
2014 |
NBCF Practitioner Fellowship |
NBCF/ Victorian Cancer Agency |
Translational Research |
2013 |
Claudia Adams Barr Fellowship |
Claudia Adams Barr Foundation |
Post doctoral research |
2012 |
AACR Scholar-In-Training Award |
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® |
SABCS Poster ppt |
2011 |
Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship |
NHMRC |
Post doctoral research |
2010 |
Fulbright Victoria Scholarship |
US Department of State |
Post doctoral research |
2009 |
JJ Billings Overseas Fellowship |
RACP |
Post doctoral research |
2009 |
Edith Moffatt Travel Award |
WEHI |
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2009 |
Best PhD Seminar 2009 |
WEHI |
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2008 |
Best Oral Presentation |
COSA ASM |
Breast stem cells |
2008 |
Early Career Bench & Bedside Collaboration Award |
Victorian Cancer Agency |
Breast cancer xenografts |
2008 |
Best Oral Presentation |
Melbourne Research Week |
Breast stem cells |
2008 |
Post Graduate Research Award |
GlaxoSmithKline Australia |
PhD in breast stem cells |
2007 |
Post Graduate Research Award |
Australian Stem Cell Centre Post Graduate Research |
PhD in breast stem cells |
2007 |
Director’s Art in Science Prize |
WEHI |
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2007 |
Tumour Targeting Fellowship |
COSA |
PhD in breast stem cells |
2006 |
White/Zaal Scholarship |
NBCF, Australia |
PhD in breast stem cells |
My Research Supervision
- Allegra FreelanderPhD student. Targeting the Androgen Receptor in endocrine-resistant breast cancer.
- Dr Sara Wahlroos. PhD student. Defining the role of exercise and systemic therapies in breast cancer.
- Sarah Alexandrou. PhD student. Overcoming resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in breast cancer.
- Dr Julia Chen. PhD Student. Novel therapeutic targeting stromal and epithelial interactions in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)
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Dr Katherine Manakas. PhD Student.MDM2 inhibitors for the treatment of advanced hormone receptor positive Breast Cancer
My Teaching
We supervise PhD, honours and medical students in our laboratory.
I also teach Medical Students and Physician Trainees at St Vincent's Hospital.
Completed PhD students: Dr Kee Ming Chia (2019)
Current PhD students: Allegra Freelander, Sarah Alexandrou, Dr Sarah Wahlroos
Current Oncology Fellow: Dr Julia Chen
Past Medical Students: James Williams (UNDA 2017-8), Christopher Hudson (UNDA 2018)
Past Oncology Fellows: Dr Emma Carson