Faith Kwa

Dr. Faith Kwa is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director for the seven Bachelor of Health Science degrees at Swinburne University of Technology's School of Health Sciences. Her teaching interests include Research Methods, Pathology, and Molecular Biology. She leads the Drug Discovery for Chronic Diseases Laboratory and has been recognized as one of Australia's leading educators, receiving the 2024 citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning by the Australian Awards for University Teaching.

Her educational background includes:

• Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Melbourne, Australia
• Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and Learning from RMIT University, Australia
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science from The University of Melbourne, Australia
• Bachelor of Science (Honours - First Class) from The University of Melbourne, Australia
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom (2020-present)

Dr. Kwa is a molecular biologist whose research focuses on drug discovery for chronic diseases, particularly in the areas of epigenetic medicine, molecular mechanisms of action, and chronic disease prevention and management. Her laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding treatment strategies for leukemia, posterior eye diseases, and Friedreich's ataxia using natural compounds with epigenetic properties. She has made novel observations regarding low doses of epigenetic modifiers in combination therapies that potentiate cytotoxicity in leukemia cells resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. Her work with sulforaphane (a broccoli-derived compound) has shown therapeutic benefits across multiple disease models, particularly for neurodegenerative and ocular conditions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on neurodegenerative disorders (particularly Friedreich's ataxia), ophthalmic diseases, and molecular approaches to disease treatment. Her work consistently bridges basic science with clinical applications, often examining epigenetic mechanisms and oxidative stress pathways. A recurring theme across her research is the therapeutic potential of natural compounds like sulforaphane, which appears in multiple disease contexts from mitochondrial myopathies to posterior eye diseases.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• 2024 citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning by the Australian Awards for University Teaching
• 2023 Vice-chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (Higher Education - Individual)
• 2023 School of Health Science Teaching Excellence Award
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK
• 18 other teaching accolades throughout her academic career

Dr. Kwa supervises PhD and Master's students in areas related to molecular mechanisms of disease and therapeutic interventions. She has coordinated and taught eleven different subjects with student numbers ranging from 20 to over 300. As a Chief Investigator, she has secured various learning and teaching grants from Australian universities. Currently, she holds funding for 'Pre-clinical investigations on sulforaphane to advance the cure for Friedreich's ataxia' from the University of Melbourne (2022-2025). She is passionate about developing pedagogical methods to enhance teaching and learning environments and has received positive student feedback throughout her career.

Dr. Kwa leads the Drug Discovery for Chronic Diseases Laboratory, where her team investigates potential treatments for various chronic disorders. She also serves as the Swinburne Women Academic Network Leader in the Career Development Team, where she develops programs supporting women academics in progressing their careers. Her laboratory work utilizes pre-clinical disease models to evaluate therapeutic approaches, with a particular emphasis on targeted therapies with superior efficacy for treating human diseases.