Anneke Blackburn

Profile

Anneke Blackburn is an Honorary Associate Professor at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR), Australian National University. Her research focuses on cancer metabolism, genetic modifiers of tumor susceptibility, and drug repurposing for oncology applications. She leads investigations into metabolic pathways like the Warburg effect and the role of dichloroacetate (DCA) in cancer therapy.

Research Interests

• Cancer metabolism and metabolic therapy
• Genetic modifiers of breast and sarcoma cancers
• Pharmacological targeting of RNA polymerase and mitochondrial pathways
• Drug repurposing strategies for pediatric brain tumors (e.g., DIPG)
• Therapeutic approaches to cisplatin nephrotoxicity

Key Contributions

Dr. Blackburn's work has advanced understanding of how metabolic inhibitors like DCA disrupt cancer cell energy production while protecting healthy tissues. Her preclinical studies on CX-5461 (a RNA Pol I inhibitor) and hypoxia-targeted therapies have informed clinical trial designs. She has also identified genetic markers (GSTZ1, FANCM) influencing drug response and cancer susceptibility.

Collaborations

Her lab collaborates with clinical teams to translate findings from mouse models (e.g., Li-Fraumeni syndrome models) into human therapies. Ongoing projects explore combination therapies to enhance radiosensitivity in gliomas and sarcomas.