Brainchild Fellow; Co-Head, Brain Tumour Research
BSc (Hons) PhD
Raelene was awarded her PhD in 2003 from the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research (under the supervision of Peter Klinken), undertook postdoctoral training in the Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program at St Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA (under the supervision of Suzanne Baker), and was awarded a Fellowship in 2011 to return to Australia to establish the Brain Tumour Research Program at the Telethon Kids Institute which she co-leads with Nick Gottardo. This collaborative group of clinicians, neurosurgeons and laboratory scientists uses a suite of in vivo models to understand the effects of paediatric brain tumour mutations on normal brain development and tumorigenesis. Her team also investigates potential therapeutic targets and uses in vivo model systems to evaluate novel treatments prior to clinical trial.
Raelene is a passionate advocate for science and actively encourages young scientists to get involved in medical research. She has mentored high school students, undergrads, Honours, Masters and PhD students in her lab. Raelene has also chaired the Telethon Kids Institute Postdoctoral Council and been on the executive committee for the Australian Academy of Science Early-Mid Career Researchers Forum.
Find Raelene on ORCID.
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Projects
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Publications
January 2021
The Role of Cannabinoids as Anticancer Agents in Pediatric Oncology
Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals that bind to receptors in the human body and, in turn, modulate the endocannabinoid system (ECS). They can be endogenously produced, synthetic, or derived from the plant Cannabis sativa L. Research over the past several decades has shown that the ECS is a cellular communication network essential to maintain multiple biological functions and the homeostasis of the body. Indeed, cannabinoids have been shown to influence a wide variety of biological effects, including memory, pain, reproduction, bone remodeling or immunity, to name a few. Unsurprisingly, given these broad physiological effects, alterations of the ECS have been found in different diseases, including cancer.
Children's Cancers Published research Subsite: CancerJanuary 2021Assessment of Cannabidiol and Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabiol in Mouse Models of Medulloblastoma and Ependymoma
Children with medulloblastoma and ependymoma are treated with a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy; however, overall survival rates for patients with high-risk disease remain unsatisfactory. Data indicate that plant-derived cannabinoids are effective against adult glioblastoma; however, preclinical evidence supporting their use in pediatric brain cancers is lacking. Here we investigated the potential role for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in medulloblastoma and ependymoma. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity of medulloblastoma and ependymoma cells was induced by THC and CBD in vitro, and a synergistic reduction in viability was observed when both drugs were combined.
Children's Cancers Published research Subsite: CancerJanuary 2021Small-molecule screen reveals synergy of cell cycle checkpoint kinase inhibitors with DNA-damaging chemotherapies in medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma (MB) consists of four core molecular subgroups with distinct clinical features and prognoses. Treatment consists of surgery, followed by radiotherapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Despite this intensive approach, outcome remains dismal for patients with certain subtypes of MB, namely, MYC-amplified Group 3 and TP53-mutated SHH. Using high-throughput assays, six human MB cell lines were screened against a library of 3208 unique compounds. We identified 45 effective compounds from the screen and found that cell cycle checkpoint kinase (CHK1/2) inhibition synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic activity of clinically used chemotherapeutics cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and gemcitabine.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Brain Tumour Research Subsite: CancerOctober 2020RAD51-Mediated DNA Homologous Recombination Is Independent of PTEN Mutational Status
PTEN mutation occurs in a variety of aggressive cancers and is associated with poor patient outcomes. Recent studies have linked mutational loss of PTEN to reduced RAD51 expression and function, a key factor involved in the homologous recombination (HR) pathway. However, these studies remain controversial, as they fail to establish a definitive causal link to RAD51 expression that is PTEN-dependent, while other studies have not been able to recapitulate the relationship between the PTEN expression and the RAD51/HR function.
Published research Brain Tumour Research Subsite: CancerApril 2019Most clinical anti-EGFR antibodies do not neutralize both wtEGFR and EGFRvIII activation in glioma
We discovered a previously unknown major resistance mechanism in glioma in that most EGFR domain III-targeting antibodies do not neutralize EGFRvIII
Children's Cancers Published research Brain Tumour Research Oncogenic Signalling LaboratoryApril 2018Unusual paediatric spinal myxopapillary ependymomas: Unique molecular entities or pathological variations on a theme?
We describe two unusual cases of MPE and use DNA methylation analyses to compare their signatures to try and distinguish if these represent a unique subset.
Published research Brain Tumour ResearchMarch 2018A Pre-Clinical Assessment of the Pan-ERBB Inhibitor Dacomitinib in Pediatric and Adult Brain Tumors
Glioblastoma in adults, and medulloblastoma and pineoblastoma that mainly affect children, are aggressive brain tumors.
Published research Brain Tumour Research Oncogenic Signalling LaboratoryJanuary 2018The case for DNA methylation based molecular profiling to improve diagnostic accuracy for central nervous system embryonal tumors (not otherwise specified) in adults
We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a NOS based on immunohistochemical analysis of the patient's tumor at diagnosis.
Children's Cancers Published research Brain Tumour ResearchApril 2017A novel technique of serial biopsy in mouse brain tumour models
Here we describe a method by which serial biopsy can be used to validate response to dacomitinib treatment in vivo using a mouse glioblastoma model
Children's Cancers Published research Brain Tumour ResearchFebruary 2015Novel peptide-based drugs for the treatment of sonic hedgehog-dependent medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric malignant brain tumor, consists of at least four distinct molecular subgroups.
Children's Cancers Published research Brain Tumour Research Drug Discovery UnitNovember 2014Ultraviolet radiation suppresses obesity and symptoms of metabolic syndrome independently of vitamin D
UVR or sunlight exposure may be an effective means of suppressing the development of obesity and MetS, through mechanisms that are independent of vitamin D
Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Inflammation Brain Tumour Research Cardiometabolic SunhealthFebruary 2014Comparative drug screening in NUT midline carcinoma
The NUT midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rare but fatal cancer for which systematic testing of therapy options has never been performed.
Children's Cancers Published research Brain Tumour Research Leukaemia Translational ResearchNovember 2013Medulloblastoma Down Under 2013: a report from the third annual meeting of the International Medulloblastoma Working Group
Medulloblastoma is curable in approximately 70 % of patients. Over the past decade, progress in improving survival using conventional therapies has stalled...
Children's Cancers Published research Brain Tumour ResearchOctober 2013Novel oncogenic PDGFRA mutations in pediatric high-grade gliomas
The outcome for children with high-grade gliomas (HGG) remains dismal, with a 2-year survival rate of only 10% to 30%.
Children's Cancers Published research Brain Tumour Research -
Education and Qualifications
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Awards/Honours
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Active Collaborations