Olga Kondrashova
Dr | Team Head
+61 7 3845 3966olga.kondrashova@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Dr Olga Kondrashova received her PhD on molecular profiling of ovarian cancer from the University of Melbourne in 2016. As part of her PhD project, she was involved in the establishment of the ALLOCATE study, a pilot demonstrating feasibility of genomic profiling patients with recurrent ovarian cancer for allocating patients to targeted therapies.
Following this, Olga commenced postdoctoral studies in Professor Clare Scott’s Laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, on the mechanisms of PARPi sensitivity and resistance in ovarian cancer. In 2019, she joined Dr Nic Waddell’s Group at QIMR Berghofer to further develop her bioinformatic skills and expertise in cancer genomics.
Currently, she is a NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and leads the Molecular Oncology team. Her team focuses on identifying most suitable cancer treatment strategies and treatment biomarkers to enable precision oncology.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
2023-current: Team Head, Molecular Oncology Team
2019-current: Adjunct Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology
2019-current: Honorary Fellow, University of Queensland
2019-current: Honorary Appointment, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
2021-2022: Senior Research Officer, Medical Genomics Group
2021-2022: Associate Lecturer (part-time), University of Queensland
2019-2021: Research Officer, Medical Genomics Group
2016-2018: Post-doctoral Fellow, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
ORCID NUMBER
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Dr Kondrashova’s team uses bioinformatic and machine learning approaches to analyse cancer molecular profiling data to link it with treatment responses and patient outcomes, The research spans multiple solid cancer types, including ovarian, endometrial and lung cancers.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Post-doctoral research led to the identification of novel mechanisms of resistance to PARP inhibitors: secondary mutations in RAD51C/D genes and heterozygous BRCA1 or RAD51C These findings provide information that will help to better match ovarian cancer patients with the appropriate therapy for their cancer.
- Dr Kondrashova conducted comprehensive genomic analysis of endometrial cancer patient-derived xenograft models. The analysis showed that the models can capture intra-tumoural heterogeneity of the original primary tumor and represent all four molecular subtypes of the disease. The analysis also showed that PARP inhibitors may be applied in endometrial cancer, but deep and durable responses will likely require PARPi combination strategy.
- As part of her PhD studies, she coordinated the optimisation, validation and accreditation of the diagnostic assays used in the study ALLOCATE, designed to implement molecular profiling of ovarian cancer into clinical practice in Victoria.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2021-current:
- member of the Basic and Translational Focus Working Group of EDEN (Endometrial Cancer society – part of ANZGOG)
2020-current:
- member of The Australasian Genomic Technologies Association (AGTA)
2021-2023:
- chair of Postdoctoral Association of QIMR Berghofer (PAQ)
2019-2021:
- member of Postdoctoral Association of QIMR Berghofer (PAQ)
- co-organiser of QIMR Berghofer Early Career Research Seminar Series
2016-current:
- member of Australian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Society (ABACBS)
2015-current:
- member of Australian and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
2016: PhD, Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne
2012: Bachelor of Forensic Science (Honours), Bond University