معرفی
Dr. Katie Dixon is a Senior Lecturer in Anatomy & Histology at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences, leading the Sunlight and Cancer Group. Her research focuses on melanoma treatment targets, skin cancer prevention, and vitamin D's dual role in UV protection and tumorigenesis. She holds academic affiliations with the Molecular and Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia (as Secretary), the European Society for Photobiology, and the Cancer Research Network.
Education: Katie completed her PhD under Prof. Rebecca Mason, investigating vitamin D's role in UV-induced skin carcinogenesis. During her NHMRC postdoctoral fellowship, she studied novel drugs for prostate cancer before returning to skin cancer research in 2012. She was appointed to faculty at the University of Sydney and funded via a Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellowship.
Research Interests: Her work explores molecular mechanisms of UV radiation-induced skin cancer, vitamin D's anti-carcinogenic effects, and tumor suppressor genes. She investigates how chronic sun exposure impacts melanoma outcomes and how calcitriol restores tumor suppressor proteins while inhibiting melanoma progression. Recent projects include sex-based differences in vitamin D photoprotection and novel biomarkers for skin cancer.
Grants & Advising: Current grants include a 2025 project targeting skin carcinogenesis biomarkers and a 2012 fellowship for vitamin D studies. She advises Julianne NAYAR on early markers for sun protective agents. Past grants include NHMRC funding for prostate cancer drug research and equipment grants for high-throughput molecular analysis tools.
Labs & Teams: The Sunlight and Cancer Group emphasizes innovation and member development, focusing on creative solutions in skin cancer research. Collaborations span UV biology, tumor suppression, and vitamin D signaling pathways.
