BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES CONTRIBUTING TO METASTASIS OF BREAST CANCER AND OSTEOSARCOMA
Raluca Ghebosu, PhD Candidate
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | October 2024
Raluca Ghebosu graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science with majors in Japanese and Biomedical Science (2018-2021). She then completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) with the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Queensland in 2022, before pursuing a PhD with A/Prof. Joy Wolfram at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.
Raluca is currently exploring the complex biological interactions of extracellular vesicles, with the goal of understanding how they can contribute to the metastasis of breast cancer and osteosarcoma. She will do this by uncovering how extracellular vesicles from breast cancer and osteosarcoma cells allow the cancer cells to evade the immune system and avoid being detected by Natural Killer cells. By shedding light on the complex role of extracellular vesicles in cancer metastasis she hopes to revolutionise nanoparticle and cell-based cancer treatments.
Since beginning her PhD in 2023, Raluca has published two first author and two co-author manuscripts in high-ranking journals, including a first author paper in the premier journal of her field, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles (IF: 15.5), and has gained over 500 citations across her publications. She has presented her work to various audiences including scientists, clinicians and consumers and is a University of Queensland, 2024 3 Minute Thesis finalist. Raluca is also involved with the Wonder of Science Outreach program that promotes scientific inquiry and engagement to school-aged students across Queensland. Raluca hopes to continue being an advocate for STEM education and sharing her work with consumers and the broader scientific community
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8839-3512
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Next Generation Condom Contraception, Dr David Shepherd
Dr David Shepherd is a Lead Production Engineer and Materials Specialist at Eudaemon Technologies. His journey began at the University of Wollongong, where he pursued advanced studies and eventually obtained a PhD under the guidance of a distinguished professor. His research initially focused on actuating materials and artificial muscles, particularly centred around hydrogel materials. These early explorations have seamlessly evolved into his current focus on utilising hydrogels in the realm of sexual reproductive health, with a specific emphasis on developing innovative hydrogel condoms.
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Interventions for improving outcomes of children who are deaf or hard of hearing
Professor Teresa Ching is a Conjoint Professor at NextSense Institute and Macquarie University, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland in Australia. Her current research focuses on devising culturally sensitive practices in early detection and intervention to maximise children’s outcomes. Working with international colleagues, her current research is also directed towards developing global guidelines and recommendations for hearing screening beyond the newborn period, so that all children can benefit from early detection and intervention. The ultimate goal is to attain equity of care and outcomes for all children with hearing difficulties.
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Good and bad extracellular vesicles in health and disease
Associate Professor Joy Wolfram has joint appointments in the School of Chemical Engineering and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland, and through her work at the AIBN, she aims to develop a new paradigm of therapeutics (using nanotechnology and cell products) to treat life-threatening diseases that are major causes of death globally, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and breast cancer.
