The Gordon and Jessie Gilmour Leukaemia Research Laboratory is researching myeloid blood cancers that include acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) as part of its translational leukaemia research work. These very aggressive and rapidly fatal blood cancers are among the most common types of cancer affecting Australians.
The laboratory’s efforts concentrate on understanding how leukaemia stem cells in AML and MPN are able to regenerate leukaemia (or cause relapse in patients), even after cytotoxic chemotherapy. Research has focused on generating robust models of leukaemia and dissecting the pathways of self-renewal in leukaemia stem cells and normal blood stem cells. The group aims to tailor treatments for individual patients, identify new drug pathways and explore repurposing existing drugs to target resistant leukaemia types.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following funding agencies:
The laboratory proudly bears the family name of the Gilmour-Peacock family, who have supported medical research over many decades. Rae Peacock, together with her brothers Ian and Grahame, decided to invest in medical research at QIMR Berghofer to continue their parents’ legacy. Rae’s parents were strong supporters of leukaemia research from the early 1970s, and the Gordon and Jessie Gilmour Trust was established through their will.
Researchers congratulate Rae Peacock, recipient of the 2016 Clive Berghofer Humanitarian Award in recognition of outstanding support for research. Rae is pictured with researchers Amy Porter, Axia Song, Joanne Sutton and Emma Dishington of the Gordon and Jessie Gilmour Leukaemia Research laboratory.