Currently the major hurdle facing the successful treatment of solid cancers is the development of metastases (tumour spread), and our lack of understanding of what controls this process.
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2018
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2017
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2016
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2016
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2015
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2014
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2014
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2014
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2014
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2011
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2011
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My research uses experimental models to identify biological markers that can be used to predict cancer patient outcome at diagnosis. In particular I aim to find a marker or series of markers that can be identified from a blood or saliva sample to reduce the impact of biopsies on patients.
Currently we are looking for markers that can be used for breast and prostate cancer patients. At the same time we are using these studies to identify new ways in which to treat these cancers as there is currently limited success to treating metastatic breast or prostate cancer and the current treatments have major impacts on quality of life.
My interest in medical research started as a teenager when I realised that one of my best friends had the genetic condition Cystic Fibrosis. Spending time with her in and out of hospital fueled my drive to not only identify the cause of medical conditions so as to offer a curative treatment, but also to improve the quality of life of patients whilst they were treated.
More recently I experienced the devastating effects of cancer on both the patient and the family as my father underwent treatment and then succumbed to mesothelioma. From this I was determined to find treatments for cancer that preserve patient independence and dignity.
The vision for my research is to identify a means to treat cancer primarily outside of hospitals, as this will offer greater quality of life to patients and families (particularly those in remote areas). In the short term I envisage finding a marker that can be used to identify men that do not require radical surgical intervention for prostate cancer to survive from those that do. This will allow all men to survive this disease and maintain the greatest quality of life possible.
Dr Weidenhofer is a lecturer in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy based at the campus at Ourimbah. Working within the cancer research hub at Ourimbah in association with the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance (HCRA) she uses cutting-edge approaches to identify new treatment approaches for cancer.
Dr Weidenhofer has a particular interest in prostate and breast cancer as these are two of the highest incident cancers in Australia and affect many families. She completed her PhD in Medical Biochemistry at the University of Newcastle after undertaking honours in Biotechnology at Charles Sturt University.
Since 2011 she has led her own research group investigating the regulation of the expression of tetraspanin proteins in breast and prostate cancers as well as the role of CD151 in glomerular disease.
She has presented her work both nationally and internationally, trained post-graduate research students and continues to publish her work. Dr Weidenhofer also speaks to community groups about medical research, organises scientific meetings and events and is actively involved with scientific organisations such as the Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Dr Weidenhofer continues to strive to find means to improve quality of life, care and treatment of cancer patients through identify biological markers that are either predictive of treatment response and therefore indicative of treatment approaches or targets that new treatments can be designed for.
Dr Judith Weidenhofer, Dr Kathryn Skelding, Dr Matt Dun, Ms Belinda Goldie, Ms Danielle Bond
Currently the major hurdle facing the successful treatment of solid cancers is the development of metastases (tumour spread), and our lack of understanding of what controls this process.
moreDr Judith Weidenhofer, Dr Kathryn Skelding, Dr Matt Dun, Ms Belinda Goldie, Ms Danielle Bond
Currently the major hurdle facing the successful treatment of solid cancers is the development of metastases (tumour spread), and our lack of understanding of what controls this process.
moreMetastatic pancreatic cancer has a low survival rate and even with the best existing therapies the survival is less than a year. Despite advances in treatments and outcomes for other cancers, this has not happened for pancreatic cancer with no advances in mortality reduction observed over the past decade. This grim outlook drives our research, which focuses on developing novel diagnostic strategies for pancreatic cancer.
moreDr Judith Weidenhofer, Dr Kathryn Skelding, Dr Matt Dun, Ms Belinda Goldie, Dr Danielle Bond
Currently the major hurdle facing the successful treatment of solid cancers is the development of metastases (tumour spread), and our lack of understanding of what controls this process.
moreDr Judith Weidenhofer, Dr Kathryn Skelding, Dr Matt Dun, Ms Belinda Goldie, Ms Danielle Bond
Currently the major hurdle facing the successful treatment of solid cancers is the development of metastases (tumour spread), and our lack of understanding of what controls this process.
more
Mr Joshua Brzozowski, Dr Judith Weidenhofer, Dr Kathryn Skelding
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia. Once a prostate cancer begins to spread (metastasise), it becomes very difficult to treat and often results in patient death.
moreThe research team has identified 27 small molecules called micro RNAs that are associated with very aggressive triple negative breast cancer subtype.
moreDr Christopher Scarlett, Dr Quan Vuong, Dr Judith Weidenhofer, Dr Rick Thorne, Assosciate Professor Michael Bowyer, Dr Trou Gaston
Pancreatic Cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related death in the western world and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies.
moreDr Judith Weidenhofer, Dr Kathryn Skelding, Dr Matt Dun, Ms Belinda Goldie, Ms Danielle Bond
Currently the major hurdle facing the successful treatment of solid cancers is the development of metastases (tumour spread), and our lack of understanding of what controls this process.
moreDr Judith Weidenhofer, Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Hubert Hondermarck