Project title
Validating the potential of starPEG-heparin hydrogels as an in vitro drug testing system for human breast cancers
Supervisory Team
Principal Supervisor: Dr Laura Bray
Associate Supervisors: Professor Erik Thompson, Associate Professor Larisa Haupt
Project description
Julien’s PhD project utilises a 3D culture model, starPEG-heparin hydrogels, as a physiological relevant tool for breast cancer drug screening, for improved clinical outcomes or novel drug development. This model will also be employed to investigate the effects of different antineoplastic drugs upon breast cancer cell lines, and tissue derived from patients to study cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions. Thereby, it will allow cancer biologists to better elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying this disease, facilitate development of more effective drugs and provide pathologists with a tool for drug screening within the clinical environment.
Short biography
During his undergraduate degree in biomedical science at QUT, Julien undertook additional learning opportunities at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovations under Dr Laura Bray. It was here that Julien further developed his technical and research skills. Following graduation, Dr Bray offered Julien an MPhil position, and one year later he articulated his current MPhil into a PhD.
Education
2019 Bachelor of Biomedical Science from QUT