Nic Waddell
Dr | Group Leader | Coordinator of Cancer Program
+61 7 3845 3538nic.waddell@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Dr Nic Waddell obtained her PhD in molecular biology from the University of Leicester in the UK. She is head of the Medical Genomics group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. Prior to that she has been a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Queensland and QIMR Berghofer. She is a cancer researcher and collaborative bioinformatician who is an expert in the interpretation of next generation sequence data. She has also played a key role in the Australian International Cancer Genome Consortia (ICGC) projects (PIs Grimmond, Biankin and Bowtell) and the Australian Melanoma Genome Project (AMGP).
Her team focuses on the genomics of several cancers including oesophageal, melanoma, mesothelioma and lung cancer. She has received over 10 million AUD of funding as a CI. With an H-index of over 45, she has consistently published in high impact journals including multiple articles in Nature. She is co-founder of precision analytics company, genomiQa. This company specialises in in whole genome data analysis. Dr Waddell is a member of the Queensland Genomics Community Group where she contributes to a variety of projects in community engagement and the development of guidelines to enable the clinical use of genomics.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
2014-current: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
2018-current: Coordinator of the Cancer Program
2016-current: Group Leader, Medical Genomics
2019-current: Adjunct Professor: QUT, Australia
2014-now: Adjunct Fellow: IMB, University of Queensland, Australia
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
2016-2018: Deputy Coordinator of the Genetics and Computational Biology Department
2015-2016: Team Head: Medical Genomics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
2009-2014: Senior Post-doctoral Researcher, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of QLD, Australia
2005-2009: Post-doctoral Researcher, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane Australia
2003-2005: Post-doctoral Researcher, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane Australia
ORCID NUMBER
RESEARCHER ID
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Dr Waddell’s research group focuses on the analysis of next generation sequence data to address clinical challenges in a variety of diseases.
The approaches taken include:
- charactering cancer genomes with short and long read sequencing
- classification of tumours into significant subtypes
- identification of mutational processes that underlie tumour development
- determining genomic and transcriptomic features associated with immune response
Ultimately, the aim is to take steps towards ‘personalised medicine’ to enable the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- NHMRC SRF-B fellow
- Identified mutational signatures in pancreatic cancer that are linked to germline variants and treatment response, this work was published in Nature and has been cited over 1000 times.
- Co-founder of genomiQa a start-up company from QIMR Berghofer
- Part of the team which analysed the first whole genome from a cancer patient in Australia and played a prominent role in the Australian International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) projects
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2020-current
- Australian Institute of Company Directors (member)
- Cancer Institute NSW research committee (member)
2020
- The Genome Institute (MNHHS) research working group (member)
2019-current
- Cancer Special Interest Group (a subcommittee for HGSA, member)
- Executive Committee of AGTA (Australian Genomic Technologies Association)
2019
- MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission Scientific Committee (member)
2018-2019
- Genetic Health Queensland Statewide Service Plan: Workforce Strategy Working Group (member)
- GenetiQs steering group (member)
2017-current
- genomiQa Pty Ltd Board (member)
- Cure Cancer Australia, Research committee (member)
- QGHA Community Representative Advisory Group (member)
2017-2018
- Queensland Genomics ELSI group (co-lead)
- Queensland Genomics operational committee (member)
2016-2021
- Australian Genomics Health Alliance (AGHA) (member)
2016-current
- Australian Melanoma Genome Project (AMGP) (co-lead)
2013-2019
- Executive of Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative (APGI) (member)
2010-2020
- International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) (member)
2010-2015
- ICGC benchmarking and validation working group (member)
AWARDS RECOGNITION
2017: Inaugural QIMR Berghofer ACRF Prize for Cancer Research Excellence
2014: QIMR Berghofer Travel Award
2008: QIMR Berghofer Travel Award
2005: UICC International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowship
2003: MRC PhD Scholarship & Special Training Fellowship in Bioinformatics
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
2000-2003: PhD (Thesis Title: Gene expression and breast cancer phenotype), University of Leicester, UK
1995-1999: BSc Hons (Biochemistry), University Surrey, UK