معرفی
Associate Professor Erin Symonds is a Senior Research Scientist with over 25 years of experience in gastroenterology research at Flinders University's College of Medicine and Public Health. She manages research at Bowel Health Services within the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer and is a Full Member of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science with Honours (1995-1998) and PhD in Non-invasive assessment of gastrointestinal function using breath test technology (1999-2003), both from the University of Adelaide. Following her PhD, she received a NHMRC CJ Martin Postdoctoral fellowship to conduct research at University College Cork, Ireland.
Professor Symonds specializes in colorectal cancer biomarkers and prevention, with a focus on developing and optimizing non-invasive diagnostic techniques. Her research includes improving community screening options and monitoring cancer recurrence after surgery through novel blood biomarkers. She leads the SCOOP program, a personalized surveillance initiative for people at increased risk for bowel cancer, which has received Medical Research Future Funds to expand across South Australia.
Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on optimizing colorectal cancer screening programs, with particular attention to fecal immunochemical test thresholds, patient preferences regarding surveillance intervals, and the development of blood-based biomarkers for cancer detection. Her work bridges clinical practice and research translation, with emphasis on practical implementation of screening innovations.
Scientific Awards and Grants:
- NHMRC CJ Martin Postdoctoral fellowship
- Multiple NHMRC project grants (2015, 2017, 2019)
- Cancer Australia Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (2019)
- Cancer Council SA Beat Cancer grant ($720,000 in 2018)
- Flinders Foundation Health Seed Research Grants (2015-2018)
- Flinders Medical Centre Foundation Seeding grants (2014-2015)
Professor Symonds has established a multidisciplinary research network across Australia involving experts in biomarker discovery, clinical teams (gastroenterology, surgery, oncology), public health, psychology, epidemiology, data science, and health economics. She actively collaborates with consumers who have lived experience of cancer to guide her research direction. Her laboratory work focuses on translating biomarker discoveries into clinical practice, particularly through the development of blood-based tests for colorectal cancer detection and monitoring.