Justine Marum
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, VIC
Rotary Club of South Melbourne
Gastro Intestinal Cancer, 2009
In 2004 Justine Marum became a member of the Golden Keys International Society (membership offered to the top 15% of academic achievers). She was awarded two third year prizes in 2005 - The Australian Society for Microbiology Prize and the R. D. Schnagl Award; awarded to the top student in Microbiology enrolled in an Honours degree in the Department of Microbiology.
Justine was awarded a BSc Hons (Biological Science) in Microbiology from La Trobe University in 2006. That year she started work at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Tissue Culture laboratory, where she gained skills in tissue culture and experience in a NATA* accredited laboratory.
In 2007 she moved to the Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, to research inherited colon cancer. She was the principal researcher involved in two projects investigating inherited colon cancer.
In 2009 Justine was awarded the Australian Rotary Health/Rotary Club of Melbourne South Funding Partners PhD scholarship to investigate Gastro intestinal Cancer. Her PhD project aims to further develop assays to determine inherited risk of Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, which Justine had worked on in the Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. These assays will be applied to a population screenings for colorectal cancer.
*The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) is Australia's national laboratory accreditation authority. NATA accreditation recognises and promotes facilities competent in specific types of testing, measurement, inspection and calibration
SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
Developing an assay to determine inherited risks in Colorectal Cancer for population screening
Colorectal cancer is Australia’s second most common internal malignancy.
Current screening tests for inherited colorectal cancer only identify existing tumour growth and are therefore not practical for general population screening. There is a great need for a practical clinical assay: a time and cost effective tool to identify potential hereditary colorectal cancer.
Predisposition to colorectal cancer is caused by mutations in a number of different genes. Preliminary data suggests that mutation in a gene for colorectal cancer results in decreased expression (information) of that gene.
Justine Marum’s research involves developing a simple assay to:
• simultaneously test the expression of several genes associated with colorectal cancer
• identify a specific gene for subsequent mutation detection and
• enable early identification of gene mutation carriers
This will allow screening for pre-malignant colonic lesions and provide options of preventive and protective measures to patients.
A parallel assay, targeting genes involved in colorectal cancer, will be refined and developed for population screening. The assay will identify at-risk patients before tumours develop and it will also distinguish between random and inherited colorectal cancer, enabling the identification of at-risk relatives for clinical management.