Prof. Leigh Ackland

Leigh Ackland is a professor at Deakin University in the field of biosciences focusing on human health such as cures for disease and environmental problems. Her research involves growing cultured human cells.

Her research methodology aligns closely with school science in the way they design experiments, based on a particular research questions such as why is a particular cell becoming cancerous, conduct experiments and analyse data to come up with conclusions that may lead to something novel. Leigh’s work enables her to research cancers, their nature, causes and how they spread around the body, which may lead to better methods for treatment of these diseases. Her recent research uses breast cancer cells and being able to control these cells to change from normal to aggressive cancerous states and back. This research helps to understanding how cancer cells spread and also identify cancer cell markers which will enable targeted treatments against these cancer markers rather than traditional treatment that targets both cancerous and healthy cells.

Watch Lee’s interview below.