David L. Levens, M.D., Ph.D.
Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA
Dr Levens studies fundamental mechanisms of gene regulation, emphasizing the control of MYC function and expression. He and his team showed that MYC is a univesal amplifier of gene expression. This explains much of MYC physiology and pathology, but also defines the needs to control MYC levels precisely in real time. The Levens Lab has shown that torque generated during transcription of MYC modifies DNA structure dynamically at the FUSE element, that together with FUSE Binding Protein and FBP Interacting Repressor is molecular cruise control for MYC. Most recently he is exploring the genome-wide utilization of supercoiled driven changes in DNA to regulate genes in health and disease.
Professor Susan Clark, FAA
Garvan Institute of Medical Research NSW Australia
Professor Susan Clark has a highly acclaimed international reputation for her work in cancer epigenetics. Susan is a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow and Director of the Genome and Epigenetics Division at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia. She graduated in 1982 with a PhD in Biochemistry, University of Adelaide. Her molecular studies over her career have addressed profound questions about the importance of epigenetics in early development and in disease, especially in cancer. The techniques she pioneered in the early 1990s, including bisulphite methylation sequencing, helped to revolutionise epigenomic research. Susan was a founding member of IHEC (International Human Epigenome Consortium) and led the formation of the AEpiA (Australian Epigenetics Alliance).
Dr Leonie Quinn
John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, ACT, Austraila
After completing her PhD studies in Adelaide (1999) and conducting postdoctoral research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (2000-2007), Dr Quinn established her laboratory at the University of Melbourne in 2007. In 2016 Dr Quinn relocated to The John Curtin School of Medical Research (ANU, Canberra) to establish the Quinn Group - Cancer Models in the ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics.
Professor Ed Seto
George Washington Cancer Center, Washington, USA
Professor Ed Seto is the Associate Center Director for Basic Sciences in the GW Cancer Center and a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the George Washington University Medical School. Dr. Seto’s research interest focuses on understanding gene regulation with a particular emphasis on studying the functions, mechanisms of action, and regulation of histone deacetylases (HDACs). The ultimate goal of his lab is to obtain a thorough understanding of HDACs in order to provide not only tremendous insights into transcription, epigenetics, and gene regulation, but also potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.
