Cancer researcher wins top Alumni award
A science graduate researching the genetics of melanoma cancer at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) has won the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Outstanding Alumni Award for 2008.
This award, which recognises a graduate who has attained significant achievement in their field of endeavour, will be presented to Dr Elke Hacker at a ceremony at the USC Art Gallery on Wednesday 19 November.
Elke, 27, grew up near Cooroy and completed her Bachelor of Science in 2002 followed by a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in 2003 at USC.
Her research into schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting people in developing countries, earned her first-class honours from USC and a Queensland Cancer Fund and QIMR PhD scholarship.
After three years of research into the role of UV in melanoma development and the publication of three papers, Elke received her PhD from the University of Queensland — all before the age of 25.
“I grew up on the Sunshine Coast and spent a lot of time in the sun, so I find skin cancer research very interesting,” she said. “Skin cancer affects the lives of almost everyone in Australia. One in three people are likely to develop skin cancer during their lifetime.”
Elke’s research career has taken her to prestigious institutions around the world, including Yale and Harvard universities in the United States and the Marie Curie Research Institute in London.
She plans to continue working on preventative strategies to reduce skin cancer, including developing what she describes as “super sunscreens”.
“We are interested in developing sunscreens that, in addition to shielding the skin from sun exposure, also contain active compounds that function to prevent melanoma development,” she said.
“We’re looking at putting DNA repair enzymes into the sunscreen, as well as antioxidant compounds and cell cycle inhibitors that inhibit cell proliferation.
“We aim to develop lotions that prevent the initiation of melanocytes into early stage cancerous cells, because prevention is the best cure for melanoma.”
Elke said she was thrilled to be receiving USC’s 2008 Outstanding Alumni Award.
“It is very humbling to see that the University has kept an eye on my career and that it sees my career outcomes as being successful outcomes from my degree at USC,” she said.
All USC graduates are encouraged to attend the 2008 Outstanding Alumni Award ceremony.
For more details, contact USC Alumni Relations Officer Anita Edmonds on <+61 7 5459 4564> or email <aedmonds@usc.edu.au>.