Dr Maree Bilandzic
Research Institution: Hudson Institute of Medical Research
OCRF priorities the researcher addresses: Treatment, Managing Recurrence
Their OCRF-funded research projects: Targeting leader cells to effectively treat ovarian cancer, Precision Medicine for Ovarian Cancer: directing treatment options, Disrupting ovarian cancer’s ‘safe zones’ to improve treatments and prevent relapse in ovarian cancer
When I was deciding on my career direction I heard there were limited treatment options for ovarian cancer patients. When I looked at the statistics, I couldn’t understand why, when we had such great ways to treat other cancers, there were so few options for ovarian cancer. The connections I’ve made, including those through the OCRF, continue to drive and motivate my work. The relationships I’ve formed fuel my research because these ambassadors and members of the community believe in the power of research.”
About Dr Bilandzic’s research
An ovarian cancer expert with over fifteen years of experience researching the disease, Dr Maree Bilandzic is the Group Head of the Metastasis Biology and Therapeutics Laboratory at Hudson Institute of Medical Research. Aiming to provide more options to ovarian cancer patients in urgent need, this program focuses on some of the most significant challenges in treating the disease including when it becomes resistant to chemotherapy and management of cancer that has metastasised or ‘spread’, as is the case for approximately 70% of all ovarian cancer diagnoses.
Background
Dr Bilandzic was always curious about science and enjoyed learning diverse scientific concepts. In fact, when she finished her undergraduate biomedical studies at Deakin University, she wasn’t sure if she would progress with biology or turn to psychology. Around this time her grandfather was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer and, with English his second language, Dr Bilandzic became his translator, helping him navigate the healthcare system. This difficult experience gave her a first-hand understanding of how much more there was to understand about cancer to effectively treat it. A conversation with a specialist during this period highlighted how limited treatment options were for ovarian cancer patients. Following her PhD from Deakin University, she became a Post-Doctoral Research Officer and mentee of Dr Kaye Stenvers at the Prince Henry’s Institute. During her post-doctoral research, she studied a rare subtype of ovarian cancer called Granulosa Cell Tumours (GCT).
In 2017, Dr Bilandzic moved to the Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers laboratory at the Hudson Institute, which led her to the discovery of a small population of cells called ‘leader cells’ in ovarian cancer for the first time.
Career highlights
By taking an innovative approach to ovarian cancer treatment investigation, Dr Bilandzic and her team were the first to identify ‘leader cells’ in ovarian cancer. They demonstrated why this small population of cells are so powerful in driving ovarian cancer metastasis.
Dr Bilandzic’s team also found that when leader cells are removed, ‘resistant’ ovarian cancer cells can be ‘re-sensitised’ to chemotherapy, which can wipe them out for good. This is significant as the chance of ovarian cancer returning after treatment is 80% for the most common kind, high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
Dr Bilandzic is most proud of her ability to mentor and contribute to the growth of other researchers because she recognises the network and knowledge sharing that life-saving medical research requires. Seeing the next generation of researchers develop their talents and use the skills she’s helped them master continues to motivate her.
Collaborative impact
Dr Bilandzic’s research relies on collaboration and support from the Monash Health gynae-oncology team. Many gynaecological surgeons and oncologists, including those who are not researchers, in her experience, genuinely value research and follow up on the insights their sample collections have led to.
Additionally, knowledge sharing and networking with other researchers working on cancer metastasis has been important for Dr Bilandzic, former president of the Australasian Metastasis Research Society. Other researchers she met through the society progressed her own knowledge on research techniques such as drug screening and sequencing, which has contributed to the success of her ovarian cancer treatment research.
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