Prestigious Department of Defense Grant Awarded to APCRC–Q’s Dr Carolina Soekmadji
Dr Soekmadji won the US$115,000 United States Army funded grant for her project Exosome biomarkers: Defining prognosis for drug and castrate-resistant prostate cancer.
Dr Soekmadji’s research investigates the use of exosomes, tiny vesicles secreted by tumor cells into the blood or urine that contain a set of proteins and RNA resembling the cells of origin. These can be used as biomarkers to predict whether patients will respond or be resistant to certain treatment, avoiding therapy where it is unlikely to work. Success in this area of research would allow for a non-invasive characterization of a patient cancer progression or treatment response through a simple blood test.
“This study will allow for the discovery and characterization of potential novel biomarkers which will help to predict the response of prostate cancer patients, allowing patients and clinicians to make better informed decisions in regards to treatment options,” Dr Soekmadji said.
Media Release Contact:
Melissa Raassina
Communications Coordinator
Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre – Queensland
Level 1, Building 1, Princess Alexandra Hospital
199 Ipswich Rd, Brisbane QLD 4102
t: 07 3176 1894
f: 07 3176 7440
e: melissa.raassina@qut.edu.au
