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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Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way. Growing up, I saw several family members and family friends battle cancer. Everyone knows that cancer is bad, and that chemotherapy is toxic. But it isn't until you see someone you love go through this that you realise just how horrible it is.
I have focused my research efforts on developing new drugs for cancer that are not only effective, but that have fewer side effects than our existing treatments.
My ultimate goal is to improve treatments for cancer patients (either by developing new treatments that are less toxic or by identifying factors that better predict patient response). I would love to see a world where cancer becomes a manageable/treatable disease.
Dr Kathryn Skelding's research focuses on examining signal transduction pathways and the role of targeting in regulating cancer cell proliferation, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance, so that new targets for controlling these cellular functions can be identified. Using a variety of molecular, biochemical and cellular techniques, she has identified new pathways involved in these processes.
Additionally, Dr Skelding has developed novel inhibitors that can target these pathways. She is currently examining the efficacy of these new drugs in a range of cancer types, including leukaemia, breast and prostate cancer. She is also investigating novel biomarkers for breast and prostate cancer.
Dr Skelding has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in the field and has presented at numerous conferences. She has been awarded several awards throughout her research career, including Newcastle Innovation's Excellence in Innovation Award (2015), Excellence in Translational Research Award (2014), the International Society for Neurochemistry Travel Award (2011), Best Early Career Researcher Speaker at the Hunter Medical Research Institute Cancer Research Program Symposium (2010), Best Speaker at the University of Newcastle Graduate Student’s Day (2006), University Medal in Biomedical Science (2003), the University of Newcastle Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence (2000), and numerous undergraduate and post-graduate training scholarships.
Due to work completed throughout her PhD, the Hon Roslyn Kelly (Chair of the National Breast Cancer Foundation Board of Trustees) nominated Dr Skelding for a Fresh Science Award in 2006, for which she was short-listed.
Dr Skelding's overarching research aim is improve patient outcomes and quality of life, by translating her research findings into the clinic.
My future focus is to improve the lives of those living with cancer through developing new treatments that are effective and less toxic than existing therapies.
ABC Newcastle interview with Kia Handley - 12 February 2019
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.
more
A very useful and convenient method used in many fields of medical research involves growing cells in the laboratory. Cells are ""cultured"" in plastic dishes in incubators that provide an environment warmed to body temperature, 37 degrees Celsius. Human cells also require carbon dioxide to grow and this is added to the ambient air in the incubator. This kind of cell culture has been used for over a century and has been accepted as the standard way of growing cells in the laboratory. This method is very important and useful in cancer research.
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.
moreCancer is the most common cause of childhood disease-related deaths, with leukaemia the most common childhood cancer in Australia. The two most common forms of leukaemia in children are acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Whilst remission is achievable in over 95% of ALL cases, 1/3 of patients will relapse within 5 to 10 years, and these children will not be long-term survivors. AML accounts for 20% of all childhood leukaemias, and the outlook for children diagnosed with AML is much worse, with only approximately half of children surviving for 5 years post-diagnosis.
moreCancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Brain cancer is the 15th most common cancer in the world, and has one of the worst survival rates of all cancer types, with only approximately half of patients surviving for one year post-diagnosis. This poor survival rate highlights that new treatments for brain cancer are urgently required.
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.
moreCancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Brain cancer is the 15th most common cancer in the world, and has one of the worst survival rates of all cancer types, with only approximately half of patients surviving for one year post-diagnosis. This poor survival rate highlights that new treatments for brain cancer are urgently required.
moreDr Kathryn Skelding, Dr Mengna Chi, Dr Nicole Verrills, Dr Roger Liang
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is the most common acute leukaemia affecting adults, and accounts for ~20% of childhood leukaemias.
moreCancer is the leading cause of death in Australia. Each year over 120,000 Australian’s will be diagnosed with cancer, and tragically, more than 42,000 patients will die from this disease.
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 Gedye’s basic laboratory research within the HMRI Building will focus on ways of targeting these more aggressive kidney cancer cells, and hopefully lead to novel combinations of old and new drugs to work with the medications routinely used in the clinic.
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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.
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.
moreImproving survival from Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with new therapies
moreImproving survival and reducing treatment side effects in childhood leukaemia
moreTesting a new treatment strategy for breast cancer - turning proteins "on" that improve patient survival
moreProfessor John Rostas, Neil Spratt, Kathryn Skelding, Sarah McCann
Dr Kathryn Skelding, Nikki Verrills, John Rostas