Alka Saxena

Alka Saxena is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the UWA Medical School and Director of the Genomics WA Facility at the UWA Centre for Medical Research (affiliated with the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research). She holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Melbourne (2005). Her research focuses on genomics, bioinformatics, and next-generation sequencing technologies, with applications in oncology, immunology, and medical genetics.

Key roles include Director of Genomics WA and Senior Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute. She leads major initiatives such as the Genomics WA facility and participates in the ARC Training Centre for Next-Gen Biomedical Technologies. Her work addresses clinical severity in Rett Syndrome and contributes to sustainable development goals related to health and innovation.

• Research Expertise: Genomics, transcriptomics, single-cell sequencing, tumor biology, immunology, and crop genomics.
• Grants: Secured funding from WA Health, JTSI, NHMRC, and ARC, totaling millions for projects like Genomics WA operational support and biomedical technology training.

Her recent publications span tumor-reactive lymphocyte subtypes in melanoma, 3D oral cancer models, barley environmental adaptation genomics, and immune development studies. She was awarded the 2024 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Technical Support Excellence.