Stacey Edwards
Professor | Senior Group Leader
+61 7 3845 3029stacey.edwards@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Professor Stacey Edwards is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Functional Cancer Genomics Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer. She completed her PhD in 2002 at the University of Queensland (UQ). Her postdoctoral training was carried out at the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre in London, funded by an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship. She returned to UQ in 2010 and was awarded a National Breast Cancer Foundation Fellowship to identify new mutation targets in breast cancer. She was recruited to QIMR Berghofer in 2013, where she established a multidisciplinary group focused on understanding how genetic variation in the non-coding genome contributes to cancer development.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
2023-current: Senior Group Leader, Functional Cancer Genomics Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
2023-current: Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology
2016-current: Honorary Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
2018-2022: Group Leader, Functional Cancer Genomics Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
2018-2022: NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
2013-2017: Team Head, Functional Cancer Genomics Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
2009-2012: National Breast Cancer Foundation Fellow and Lecturer, The University of Queensland
2005-2008: Research Officer, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Institute, London, UK
ORCID NUMBER
RESEARCHER ID
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Professor Stacey Edward’s research focuses on understanding how genetic variation contributes to cancer risk and progression. Her laboratory is particularly interested in translating the findings of cancer genome-wide association studies (GWAS), particularly breast cancer. This includes identification of functional risk variants, connecting these variants to their target genes and understanding how these genes contribute to cancer development. Identification of the key genes and the pathways responsible for risk will increase our understanding of the biology underpinning cancer aetiology and provide key targets suitable for future drug repositioning or drug development. These outcomes will pave the way for future clinical trials for cancer prevention or treatment.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- using Capture Hi-C chromatin interaction technology we have identified more than 600 candidate breast cancer genes
- using a targeted RNA sequencing approach we have identified more than 3000 long non-coding RNAs, many of which may be involved in driving breast cancer development
- identification and evaluation of two novel long-noncoding RNAs that contribute to breast cancer through modulation of DNA repair pathways
- elucidation of the causal variants, target genes and underlying molecular mechanism at 15 breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer risk regions
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2018-current: American Association for Cancer Research
2011-current: American Society of Human Genetics
2008-current: Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Familial Breast Cancer
2012-2016: Lorne Cancer Conference Organising Committee
AWARDS RECOGNITION
2018-2022: NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
2010-2015: National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Early Career Fellowship
2009-2012: University of Queensland ResTeach Award
2005-2009: NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Fellowship
1999-2001: Queensland Cancer Fund PhD Scholarship
1999-2001: John Earnshaw Scholarship (highest ranked PhD candidate)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
1998-2002: PhD, University of Queensland
1994-1997: BSc (Honours), Queensland University of Technology