Associate Professor
Pamela Pollock

Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences
Biography
Current Affiliations- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, QUT
- Cancer Program, Chronic Disease and Aging Theme, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, QUT
- Translational Research Institute, PA hospital campus, Brisbane.
Professional Training
I completed my BSc at the University of Queensland in 1991 and then travelled to the UK where I worked as a research assistant (RA) at St Mary's hospital, London for 18 months before returning to Brisbane. I then graduated with first class honours from the CMCB (now IMB) in 1994 after which I moved to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) where I worked as an RA before completing my PhD in the lab of Dr Nick Hayward in melanoma genetics in 2000. I received an NHMRC CJ Martin postdoctoral fellowship and finished a three year postdoc at the NIH (NHGRI) in Bethesda, Maryland in the lab of Prof Jeffrey Trent before being recruited as a founding faculty member to the Translational Genomic Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, Arizona. Here I headed a lab focused on both melanoma and endometrial cancer and received excellent training in translational research. I returned to QUT, Australia in 2010 on a Vice Chancellors Fellowship and received an NHMRC CDF2 fellowship from 2012-2016.
My laboratory has a focus on endometrial (uterine) cancer and personalising new anti-cancer therapies based on the underlying molecular aberrations. We are one of the few labs in Australia studying cancer cell biology and evaluating new therapeutic agents for endometrial cancer, an under-researched gynaecological cancer. One of the strengths of our lab is that we are involved in a range of projects that span from the very "basic" (e.g. studies into FGFR receptor function) to the preclinical (e.g. in vitro and in vivo testing of single and combination drugs) and the translational (e.g. identifying predictive biomarkers in patient samples from clinical trials). We utilise a variety of cutting edge technologies including genomics, proteomics, phospho-proteomics as well as high resolution live cell microscopy. Our laboratory has developed a panel of novel patient derived xenograft (PDX) models of endometrial cancer. These novel PDX models have been genomically characterised and the lab is currently optimising the testing of traditional chemotherapies and molecular targeted therapies in organoids derived from these models. Dr Pollock has several ongoing projects in the lab available to potential Honours, Masters and PhD students. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Detailed cell biology studies to understand the molecular mechanisms by which activating mutations in the oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase (FGFR2) drive multiple hallmarks of cancer (proliferation, migration, invasion etc)
- Identification of the various mechanisms underlying intrinsic and acquired resistance to FGFR inhibition in cell line and PDX models
- In vitro and in vivo analyses of the mechanism by which oncogenic FGFR2 activation drives an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment
- Evaluation of new drugs and drug combinations on genomically characterised patient derived organoid cultures and patient derived xenograft mouse models
At QUT, PhD scholarship applications are due at the end of September for a start in Jan-June of the following year. These applications are highly competitive and require an excellant GPA and/or demonstrated research expertise evidenced by publications. Occasionally there might be opportunities outside of this annual scholarship round and so interested potential students are invited to email me with their CV.
Personal details
Positions
- Principal Research Fellow
Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences - Chair, University Biosafety Committee
Academic Division,
Research Portfolio
Keywords
endometrial cancer, Cancer cell biology, Molecularly targeted therapeutics, Genomics, FGFR2, translational research, clinical trial, immuno-oncology, immunosuppression, kinase inhibition
Discipline
Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Oncology and Carcinogenesis
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (University of Queensland)
Professional memberships and associations
- American Academy for Cancer Research 2001 - Present
- Australian and New Zealand Gynecology Oncology Group (ANZGOG) (2011-present)
- ANZGOG Annual Scientific Meeting Organising committee (2015-present)
- ANZGOG Research advisory committee (2013-present)
- Vice Chair of Gordon Conference on FGFs in Development and Disease to be held March 2018
Selected publications
- Jeske Y, Ali S, Byron S, Gao F, Mannel R, Ghebre R, DiSilvestro P, Lele S, Pearl M, Schmidt A, Lankes H, Ramirez N, Rasty G, Powell M, Goodfellow P, Pollock P, (2017) FGFR2 mutations are associated with poor outcomes in endometrioid endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study, Gynecologic Oncology, 145 (2), pp. 366-373.
- Packer L, Geng X, Bonazzi V, Ju R, Mahon C, Cummings M, Stephenson S, Pollock P, (2017) PI3K inhibitors synergize with FGFR inhibitors to enhance antitumor responses in FGFR2-mutant endometrial cancers, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 16 (4), pp. 637-648.
- Stelloo E, Bosse T, Nout R, Mackay H, Church D, Nijman H, Leary A, Edmondson R, Powell M, Crosbie E, Kitchener H, Mileshkin L, Pollock P, Smit V, Creutzberg C, (2015) Refining prognosis and identifying targetable pathways for high-risk endometrial cancer; a TransPORTEC initiative, Modern Pathology, 28 (6), pp. 836-844.
- Powell M, Sill M, Goodfellow P, Benbrook D, Lankes H, Leslie K, Jeske Y, Mannel R, Spillman M, Lee P, Hoffman J, McMeekin S, Pollock P, (2014) A phase II trial of brivanib in recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study, Gynecologic Oncology, 135 (1), pp. 38-43.
- Getz G, Gabriel S, Cibulskis K, Lander E, Sivachenko A, Sougnez C, Lawrence M, Kandoth C, Dooling D, Fulton R, Pollock P, other a, (2013) Integrated genomic characterization of endometrial carcinoma, Nature, 497 (7447), pp. 67-73.
- Byron S, Chen H, Wortmann A, Loch D, Gartside M, Dehkhoda F, Blais S, Neubert T, Mohammadi M, Pollock P, (2013) The N550K/H mutations in FGFR2 confer differential resistance to PD173074, dovitinib, and ponatinib ATP-competitive inhibitors, Neoplasia, 15 (8), pp. 975-988.
- Loch D, Wellens C, Wortmann A, Wu J, Wang J, Nomoto K, Pollock P, Byron S, (2012) Sensitivity to the MEK inhibitor E6201 in melanoma cells is associated with mutant BRAF and wildtype PTEN status, Molecular Cancer, 11, pp. 1-27.
- Gartside M, Chen H, Ibrahimi O, Byron S, Curtis A, Wellens C, Bengston A, Yudt L, Eliseenkova A, Ma J, Pollock P, (2009) Loss-of-function fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 mutations in melanoma, Molecular Cancer Research, 7 (1), pp. 41-54.
- Byron S, Gartside M, Wellens C, Mallon M, Keenan J, Powell M, Goodfellow P, Pollock P, (2008) Inhibition of activated fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 in endometrial cancer cells induces cell death despite PTEN abrogation, Cancer Research, 68 (17), pp. 6902-6907.
- Trent J, Goodfellow P, Gartside M, Dejeza L, Powell M, Mallon M, Davies H, Mohammadi M, Futreal P, Stratton M, Pollock P, (2007) Frequent activating FGFR2 mutations in endometrial carcinomas parallel germline mutations associated with craniosynostosis and skeletal dysplasia syndromes, Oncogene, 26 (50), pp. 7158-7162.
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Pamela, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Funding Award
- Reference year
- 2015
- Details
- Received highly competitive grant from Cancer Australia (2015-2017) as CIA. This $600K grant was titled "Evaluating combination therapies in FGFR2 mutant EC cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models"
- Type
- Funding Award
- Reference year
- 2015
- Details
- Awarded sole CIA grant worth $200,000. "Understanding FGFR2 activation in endometrial cancer: Novel mutations, differences in spatio-temporal signaling and alternative activating spliceforms"
- Type
- Funding Award
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- As CIA received $770 008 funding (2014-2016) for an NHMRC project grantFGFR signalling in endometrial cancers and mechanisms of resistance to FGFR inhibition
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2012
- Details
- Dr Pollock is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Gynecology Oncology Group (ANZGOG) and within this organisation she sits on the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) as a translational scientist. She continues to sit on the RAC committee (2012-2017) which approves all clinical trials and associated projects supported by ANZGOG.
- Type
- Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Assoc Prof Pollock was invited to speak at the international oncology meeting organised by the European Society of Medical Oncologists (ESMO) and held in Singapore in December, 2016. The talk was titled "Targeting FGFR signalling in gynaecological cancers."
- Type
- Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Dr Pollock was invited to talk about her work on FGFR2 at the prestigious International Gordon Research Conference titled "FGFs in development and Disease" held in Hong Kong in 2016. At this meeting Dr Pollock was voted to become the next Vice Chair of the Gordon Conference on FGFs/FGFRs to be held in Ventura, California in March 2018, where she will assist Marja Hurley in selecting speakers and organising the conference.
- Type
- Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
- Reference year
- 2015
- Details
- Organizer of the Pure Science Symposium held as part of the Annual Science Meeting of ANZGOG (Australian and New Zealand Gynaecology Oncology Group. I have organised the inaugural meeting in 2015 and have been on the organising committee for the Pure Science Symposium from 2015-2018.
- Type
- Recipient of a Nationally Competitive Research Fellowship
- Reference year
- 2012
- Details
- Fellowship Type: NHMRC Principal Research FellowshipProject Title: Discovery, preclinical and translational research in endometrial cancerExternal Reference :1032851Years Awarded: 2012-2015Total Funding Awarded: $445,861
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2007
- Details
- Young Investigator of the year
Research projects
- Title
- Evaluating combination therapies in FGFR2mutant EC cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- CA-APP1087165
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- endometrial cancer; fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR); kinase inhibitors; xenografts
- Title
- Understanding intrinsic and acquired resistance to anti-FGFR therapies
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1067140
- Start year
- 2014
- Keywords
- fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR); inhibition; resistance; endometrial cancer; mechanisms; receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)
- Title
- Discovery, Preclinical and Translational Research in Endometrial Cancer
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1032851
- Start year
- 2012
- Keywords
- Uterine Cancer; Cancer Genetics; Sequencing; Xenografts; Cancer Cell Biology; Pre-clinical Studies
- Title
- Inhibiting mutant FGFR2 in endometrial cancer by extracellular blockade
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1011301
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- FGFR; Endometrial Cancer; Molecular Mechansim; Antibody; Therapy
Supervision
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- The Effects of Binge-Like Sucrose Consumption on the Mesolimbic Reward Pathway in the Brain (2017)
- Characterisation of Human Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein 1 (hSSB1) Regulation by Post-Translational Modifications (2016)
- Investigating the Role of a Novel Epigenetic Modifier, Rearranged L-Myc Fusion, in the Mouse (2016)
- Early detection of melanoma metastases using microRNAs as novel biomarkers (2015)