Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics
Firestein Group
Prof Ron Firestein leads the Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics lab, and the Next Generation Precision Medicine program at Hudson Institute.
![Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics Research group led by Professor Ron Firestein](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ron-Firestein-Lab-2023.jpg)
Research Group
Overview
The work of the Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics Research group, directed by Professor Ron Firestein, is focused on using functional and integrated genomic approaches to understanding the basic underpinnings of cancer. Major themes in the lab are
- Integrative genomic approaches to identify new oncogenic drivers in cancer. The Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics lab has undertaken sophisticated integrative genomic analyses of colorectal, lung and breast cancers. Using innovative functional genomic screens (CRISPR, shRNA/siRNA) the team has uncovered a number of novel oncogenic drivers and dissected their mechanistic input into cancer signalling pathways. Importantly, two of these targets have led to novel small molecule programs that are currently in drug development (CDK8 and LDHB).
- Identification and characterisation of Wnt pathway regulators in colon cancer. While a post-doc at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Prof Firestein identified CDK8 as a colon cancer oncogene that regulates the Wnt/b-catenin pathway (Firestein R. et al Nature 2008). Since then, the Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics lab has developed mouse models and in vivo systems to characterise the function of CDK8 and its paralog, CDK19, in normal homeostasis, development and cancer progression. The team has also collaborated with other groups to develop targeted therapies to upstream regulators of the Wnt pathway.
- Elucidation of novel cancer therapeutic biomarkers in preclinical models and clinical samples. The lab’s recent work has identified an important role for enhancer mediated transcripts, i.e. eRNAs, as biomarkers for distinct cancer states and predicting therapeutic response. We are now working to systematically characterise eRNA function and expression in tumours using state of the art genomic editing technologies.
Diseases we research
Research Group Head | Professor Ron Firestein
There is an urgent need for new and more precisely targeted medicines to treat childhood cancers. My work uses functional and integrated genomic approaches to understanding the basic underpinnings of cancer and identifying treatment options to target them.
![Associate Professor Ron Firestein](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Assoc-Prof-Ron-Firestein-News-story-400x400.jpg)
Meet the team
![Dr Paul Daniel is a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Hudson Monash Paediatric Precision Medicine Program at Hudson Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Paul-Daniel_Featured-Image-400x400.jpg)
![Dr Marius Dannappel chosen for the 2021 Hudson Institute Emerging Leaders program.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_1249-400x400.jpg)
![Dr Hanbyeol Lee, Postdoctoral Scientist for the Centre for Cancer research at Hudson Institute.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hanbyeol_Lee-400x400.jpg)
![Dr Claire Xin Sun is a member of the Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics Research group in the Centre for Cancer Research.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_1247-400x400.jpg)
![Dr Vanessa Tsui, Postdoctoral Researcher, Functional Genomics - funded by Robert Connor Dawes Foundation at Hudson Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Vanessa_Tsui_1-400x400.jpg)
![Dr Chunhua (Nick) Wan is a member of the Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics Research group in the Centre for Cancer Research.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_1246-400x400.jpg)
![Dr Yichen Zhou, Centre for Cancer Research at Hudson Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Yichen_Zhou-400x400.jpg)
![Dr Danxi Zhu from the Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics Research Group at Hudson Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Danxi-Zhu-400x400.jpg)
![Nicole Alexia, Visiting Scholar, Hudson Research Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Nicole-Alexia-400x400.jpg)
![Yiwen Guan works with the Next Generation Precision Medicine program, led by Professor Ron Firestein](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/yiwen-guan-400x400.jpg)
![](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bao_Le-400x400.jpg)
![Ishika Mahajan works with the Next Generation Precision Medicine program, led by Professor Ron Firestein.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ishika-mahajan-400x400.jpg)
![](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/themes/hudson-au/img/hudson-placeholder-1000x1000.jpg)
![Felicia Tan, Research Support Staff, Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics at Hudson Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Felicia_Tan-e1683526016454-400x400.jpg)
![Gideon Gratzer PhD Scholar, Shazia Adjumain, is a member of the Centre for Cancer Research at Hudson Institute of Medical Research.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shazia-Adjumain-Photo-400x400.jpg)
![Hugh Gao, a PhD student from the Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics Research Group at Hudson Institute of Medical Research](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Hugh-Gao-400x400.jpeg)
![Dr Yuqing Liang is a Children’s Cancer Foundation PhD Student, and is part of the Next Generation Precision Medicine team.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Yuqing-Liang-400x400.jpg)
![Anna Lin, PhD Student, Cancer Genetics and Functional Genomics at Hudson Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Anna_Lin-e1683525858721-400x400.jpg)
![Dingyin Sun PhD Student in the Centre for Cancer Research at Hudson Institute](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dingyin_Sun-400x400.jpg)
![Lily Fraser is a member of the Centre for Cancer Research.](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lily_Fraser_Profile_Pic-400x400.jpg)
![Alfredo Cerimele from the Centre for Cancer Research](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Alfredo-Cerimele-400x400.jpg)
![Huiyu Nova Shi from the Centre for Cancer Research](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Huiyu-Nova-Shi-400x400.jpg)
![Abigail Yoel](https://www.hudson.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Abigail_Yoel_web-jpeg-400x400.jpg)