Nikola Bowden

Associate Professor Nikola Bowden, co-Director of the University of Newcastle Centre for Drug Repurposing and Medicines Research, is a leading molecular biologist specializing in DNA repair pathways and drug repurposing for cancer, particularly melanoma and ovarian cancer. Affiliated with the School of Medicine and Public Health, she aims to deliver personalized diagnosis and treatment by leveraging existing therapies in unconventional ways.

• Education: PhD in Medical Genetics (University of Newcastle), BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology.

Her research focuses on DNA repair mechanisms, epigenetic regulation, and chemotherapy resistance, with a breakthrough linking dysfunctional DNA repair pathways to melanoma's resistance to treatment. By combining epigenetic drugs with chemotherapy, she has pioneered clinical trials for immunotherapy-resistant melanoma, achieving long-term survival in patients with no other options.

Recent publications highlight her work on DDR gene expression in glioblastoma and ovarian cancer, exploring how ATR inhibitors, PARP modulators, and epigenetic therapies can overcome resistance. Her studies also investigate UV-light-induced DNA damage and immune checkpoint biomarkers to improve patient outcomes.

Scientific Awards:

• Australian Financial Review Emerging Leader in Higher Education Finalist (2019)
• Cancer Institute NSW Research Fellow of the Year Finalist (2018)
• Best Oral Presentation Awards (2016, 2015)
• Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2015)

Bowden leads collaborations with institutions like HMRI and AACR, and her translational research bridges bench-to-bedside strategies to combat aggressive cancers. She advocates for merit-based clinical trial design and systematic drug repurposing frameworks, emphasizing urgency in treating patients with short prognoses.