Title: The Two-Step Tumor Tango: Quick Plasma Clues for Cancer Detection

Biography: Originally from the wild jungles of Borneo, David somehow found his way to becoming a research scientist at the Irradiation Immunity Interaction (i-Cube) Laboratory at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR). His path in science began with an honors project at the biotech startup Vaxine Pty Ltd in Adelaide, where he studied vaccine immunology. With an enduring curiosity about the immune system, he pursued postgraduate research on T cell development under Prof Chris Parish at JCSMR.

David’s career has spanned roles from animal and lab technician to senior research officer and now postdoctoral scientist, covering fields like immunology, oncology, and protein biochemistry. Recently, he’s delved into data science and predictive modelling, which he’s applying to cancer immunology and vascular biology.

Currently, David is a co-investigator on a project funded by the ACT government’s Research Innovation Fund, exploring radio-immunotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. He also enjoys working with honors students, sharing his journey and helping them develop their own research skills. His publications cover diverse topics, from cancer-associated leukocytes to heparan sulfate, and even machine learning applications in cancer research.

When he's not in the lab or exploring data sets, David is still adjusting to life outside the Borneo jungle—though he secretly believes his skills with a pipette would impress even the wildest of orangutans.