We are pleased to announce the recipients of the National Research Grant Round 2024.
Dr Annika Seddon
Read about Dr Annika Seddon, one of our grant recipients.
Dr Annika Seddon, University of Otago (Christchurch)
Post Doctoral Fellowship
Mitochondrial dysfunction as an epigenetic regulator in acute myeloid leukaemia
Acute myeloid leukaemia is a highly aggressive blood cancer, particularly common in older adults. With limited treatment options and poor survival rates, there is an urgent need for better therapies. One of the reasons acute myeloid leukaemia is so hard to manage is because of changes in the chemical marks on the DNA (called DNA methylation) that control which genes are turned on or off. These changes disrupt normal cell behaviour and prevent the proper formation of healthy blood cells. Dr Seddon’s research investigates how stress in the cell’s energy factories, called mitochondria, might be contributing to these harmful changes and whether we can use targeted treatments to limit the impact.
Dr Seddon’s research has the potential to reshape treatment approaches for acute myeloid leukaemia by making current therapies more effective and paving the way for innovative new options. By exploring the link between mitochondrial health, ageing and cancer, this research strives to improve cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, offering hope for better outcomes in patients with this challenging disease.