Australian scientist finds breast cancer cells of origin

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Professor Jane Visvader will describe how her discovery of breast cancer cells of origin has led to the testing of new therapeutic drugs, at the Australian Academy of Science’s annual celebration, Science at the Shine Dome, being held from 2 to 4 May.

Professor Jane Visvader is one of four women amongst the 21 top scientists being admitted as new Fellows of the Academy. She will speak during the New Fellows seminar being held on 2 May.

Other Australian researchers will also present their ground-breaking research during the day, including:

• Professor Paul Leslie Burn from the University of Queensland who will discuss detection of explosives using light-emitting molecules.
• Dr Peter Dodds from CSIRO Plant Industry, who will speak about harnessing plant immune receptors for crop protection.
• Professor Timothy Flannery from Macquarie University who will give a presentation on communicating science effectively.
• Professor Francis Carbone from the University of Melbourne who will speak on generating immune protection on the surface of the body.

The Fellowship of the Academy comprises around 450 of Australia's top scientists. Each year, scientists judged by their peers to have made an exceptional contribution to their field are elected into the Fellowship.