Professor Mark Dawson secures $1M in ARC funding
Professor Mark Dawson has received $1M in Australian Research Council (ARC) funding to advance key scientific discovery. Professor Dawson is head of the Collaborative Centre’s Cancer Epigenetics Lab, also based at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, a group conducting world-leading research on the role of epigenetic regulators in cancer biology.
Professor Dawson’s project seeks to further understand a process called “co-transcriptional splicing”, where a cell makes a copy of a gene’s DNA and edits this to form mature mRNA, acting as a set of instructions for making a protein. These complex processes are vital for nearly every biological function.
The research seeks to give scientists a clearer picture of how these processes work – essential for a complete understanding of gene expression. The project will utilise advanced molecular biology and biochemical technologies to address these gaps in the field.
“Discovery science is critically important in furthering our knowledge about how cells function,” said Professor Dawson.
“I am incredibly grateful to the ARC for continuing to invest in fundamental research. Specifically, this grant will tackle a critical question in gene expression which is relevant for all cellular processes. We hope to discover how the process of transcription is linked with splicing to produce mature mRNA, as discovering new insights may lead to new opportunities in a wide range of fields.”
The research will have broad application, not only in advancing cancer research but also furthering knowledge in industries such as farming, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
The ARC Discovery Projects scheme is a highly coveted program providing funding for multidisciplinary science programs in Australia, enhancing research capacity for high-quality projects that contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation.
The Collaborative Centre for Genomic Cancer Medicine is a joint venture of the University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.