Zacary Germon

Dr. Zacary Germon is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle's School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy within the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. As an early career researcher in the Cancer Signalling Research Group, he works under the mentorship of Professor Matt Dun, focusing on high-risk pediatric cancers. His position involves leading research projects, mentoring students, and contributing to significant grant-funded research initiatives.

• University of Newcastle - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
• Cancer Signalling Research Group member
• Co-supervisor for two PhD students
• Casual Lecturer for Pharmacogenomics course

Dr. Germon's research interests center on understanding the cell and molecular drivers of high-risk pediatric cancers, particularly Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Specializing in redox- and phospho-proteomics plus preclinical modeling, his work aims to develop novel treatment strategies that improve patient outcomes. His research focuses on how oxidative stress contributes to cancer growth and survival, and how targeting these mechanisms can overcome treatment resistance. Dr. Germon is particularly interested in the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in oncogenic signaling and developing approaches to modulate the epigenome to improve cancer treatments.

His publications reveal a strong focus on pediatric cancers, particularly examining ROS mechanisms in leukemia and developing targeted therapies for brain tumors. The research shows a progression from fundamental studies on oxidative stress in blood cancers toward translational work developing combination therapies for difficult-to-treat pediatric malignancies. His work frequently involves collaborations with national and international researchers, translating laboratory findings into clinical applications.

• Best Early Career Researcher Presentation, Australian Society of Medical Research Scientific Meeting (2024)
• New Investigator Award, New Directions of Leukemia Research Conference (2022)
• Best Student Poster Award, Australian Society for Medical Research Scientific Meeting (2018)

Dr. Germon has successfully secured significant research funding as a key investigator on multiple projects, including a $591,891 grant from Cancer Australia titled 'Taming free radicals to silence the epigenome of kinase active paediatric cancers.' He serves as co-supervisor for two PhD students working on ROS modulation for Diffuse Midline Glioma and targeting the extracellular matrix of pediatric brain tumors. His research program is characterized by strong industry and clinical partnerships aimed at translating laboratory discoveries into patient benefits.

As a member of the Cancer Signalling Research Group, Dr. Germon contributes to a dynamic research environment focused on understanding cancer signaling pathways and developing novel therapeutic approaches. The group maintains strong collaborations with clinical partners and other research institutions to ensure their work has direct relevance to patient care and treatment outcomes.