Australian Stem Cell Innovator Dr. Dustin: Former Wangaratta High School graduate and accomplished stem cell researcher, Dr. Dustin Flanagan, has recently earned recognition as one of Australia’s prominent figures in the field. The 2023 Metcalf Prize, a top stem cell research award, was shared by him. This $60,000 award honors mid-career scientists who have advanced stem cell research.
Dr. Flanagan’s present and prior research has helped develop breakthrough treatments for Crohn’s disease, bowel cancer, and other gastrointestinal diseases.
In response to this honor, Dr. Flanagan expressed his humility at joining the esteemed ranks of Metcalf Prize recipients. “It’s an honor to be recognized in this manner,” he remarked. “One often doesn’t perceive themselves as a part of such distinguished company, and it’s quite a pleasant surprise to receive this acknowledgment. I’ve always considered myself more in the background, but I stepped up for the opportunity, and the judges favored my work. It feels good, even if it was unexpected.”
Over his postdoctoral studies in Scotland, Dr. Flanagan and his team made important colorectal cancer discoveries. Precancerous “born to be bad” tumors in early colorectal cancer were identified, a breakthrough previously reserved for late-stage diagnoses.
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Currently, Dr. Flanagan is affiliated with the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, where he has shifted his focus to stomach cancer. Although less common than bowel cancer, stomach cancer poses a similarly lethal threat. Sadly, individuals diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer face a survival rate of less than 10%, with approximately 1200 Australians succumbing to this disease annually.
Dr. Flanagan and his research team are actively investigating the plasticity of cancer stem cells to uncover vulnerabilities that can be targeted with novel drug therapies. He explained, “While the standard treatment regimen, typically involving chemotherapy and other drugs, may initially shrink tumors, many patients eventually develop resistance, leaving them with limited options. We have limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms governing stomach cancer stem cells.”
Dr. Flanagan’s ultimate goal, supported by the Metcalf Prize, is to make groundbreaking discoveries that could lead to the development of new therapies for therapy-resistant metastatic gastric cancer. Moreover, he aspires to share his research insights with the broader cancer research community, potentially benefiting patients facing drug-resistant cancers, including breast and lung cancer.
The official presentation of the 2023 Metcalf Prizes for Stem Cell Research will take place at the Australasian Society of Stem Cell Research Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney on Wednesday, November 15
Our Reader’s Queries
Is there a downside to stem cell therapy?
Infections are a frequent occurrence following a stem cell transplant, particularly in the early stages. This is due to the low white blood cell count and weakened immune system. Bacterial infections are the most prevalent, but viral and fungal infections can also arise.
Who is the father of stem cell therapy?
Ernest McCulloch and James Till, while working at the University of Toronto and the Ontario Cancer Institute in the early 1960s, were the first to define the essential characteristics of a stem cell. Their groundbreaking research on mice led to the discovery of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), which is responsible for forming blood. This discovery has paved the way for further research and advancements in the field of stem cell therapy.
Is stem cell therapy available in Australia?
In Australia, the sole stem cell treatment that has been approved is haematopoietic stem cell (HPC) transplantation. This treatment involves using stem cells from either umbilical cord blood or bone marrow and is commonly used to treat blood and immune system disorders like leukaemia.
Why is stem cell research controversial?
The use of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) for research purposes has been a topic of ethical and political debate due to the destruction of human embryos involved.