Laura Eadie

Dr Laura Eadie

Externally Funded Research Fellow

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr Eadie is an award-winning biomedical researcher and a Cancer Council South Australia Beat Cancer Project Fellow, awarded to the top two mid-career cancer researchers in South Australia (2023-26). She is an Australian Institute of Policy and Science Young Tall Poppy (2023), previous Fulbright scholar and a TEDx speaker.

Dr Eadie has been awarded >$4.4 million in fellowship/grant funding in the last five years, >$2.2 million as CIA from funding bodies including NHMRC, MRFF, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation. Dr Eadie has built an international reputation as an emerging leader in the use of patient genomics to inform therapy outcomes for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) patients, evidenced by an American Society of Hematology Achievement Award (2020) and an International Thermo Fisher Cancer Research Grant (2022).

ALL is one of the biggest causes of non-traumatic death in children and relapsed T-cell ALL (T-ALL) is a rare but high risk disease. More effective, less toxic treatments are urgently needed for when a patient fails their front-line chemotherapy. Innovative therapies for use in frontline treatment are also required. Dr Eadie is SAHMRI's T-ALL research leader and her team creates humanised mouse avatars from individual patient’s leukaemic cells to use in pre-clinical drug trials. Combined with genomic sequencing to identify a patient’s leukaemia-causing mutations, these models allow Dr Eadie to discover more effective therapeutic options targeted to each individual patient’s leukaemia.

Dr Eadie's long-term research goal is to identify new and re-purposed drugs which effectively treat the different genomic lesions associated with T-ALL. Her team's findings will ultimately provide clinicians with an arsenal of alternative treatment options and hope for patients who have relapsed.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is one of the biggest causes of non-traumatic death in children and relapsed T-cell ALL (T-ALL) is an extremely high risk disease. Currently, up to 30% of paediatric/adolescent T-ALL patients relapse with subsequent poor overall survival; the outcome is worse for adult patients with long-term survival rates after relapse below 10%. More effective, less toxic treatments are urgently needed for when a patient fails their front-line chemotherapy. Dr Eadie is SAHMRI's T-ALL research leader and her team creates humanised mouse avatars from individual patient’s leukaemic cells to use in pre-clinical drug trials. Combined with genomic sequencing to identify a patient’s leukaemia-causing mutations, these models allow Dr Eadie to discover more effective therapeutic options targeted to each individual patient’s leukaemia.

T-ALL is characterised by recurrent gene fusions and concomitant structural abnormalities. Ongoing advances in next generation sequencing (NGS) have enabled classification of a diverse range of genomic alterations resulting in new T-ALL subtypes. Critically, the wealth of genomic information available has identified new and recurrent genomic lesions but their biological and clinical implications remain unclear. Incorporating the knowledge gained through NGS into clinical care presents a major challenge.

Dr Eadie's long-term research goal is to identify new and re-purposed drugs which effectively treat the different genetic lesions associated with T-ALL. Her team's findings will ultimately provide clinicians with an arsenal of alternative treatment options and hope for patients who have relapsed.

Research Projects - Dr Laura Eadie

Title: Evaluation of novel alterations in pre-clinical models of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (T-ALL)

Project description:

Dr Eadie's research program utilises genomic sequencing to identify novel and targetable T-ALL alterations to accelerate a transition towards precision medicine to improve clinical outcomes. Dr Eadie's Research Group is part of the SAHMRI ALL Genomics and Functional Genomics/Biology Laboratory led by Prof Deborah White (leader, SAHMRI Precision Cancer Medicine Theme). Together, with the ALL bioinformatic team, Dr Eadie has curated the largest genomic sequencing database of T-ALL patients in Australia. Dr Eadie has identified novel leukaemia-causing alterations as well as new treatment options for several high-risk ALL subtypes. 

SAHMRI's ALL Research laboratory is the National Referral Centre for genomic screening of ALL cases allowing identification of genomic alterations in a large number of patients from Australia and New Zealand. Identification of novel and recurrent genomic alterations is ongoing and we have projects available to characterise these alterations in vitro and in vivo.

The over-arching focus of Dr Eadie's research program is the generation of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and transgenic mouse models of T-ALL from patient samples received in the laboratory. These models are used to (1) examine re-purposed drugs and test novel therapies; and (2) provide therapeutic options for pre-emptive intervention in the case of therapy-resistant disease.

Projects available for:  HDR: Mphil / PhD

Location: SAHMRI

Research project start: Semester 1 or 2

Special requirements: Police Clearance

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Cancer Council Beat Cancer Project Mid-career Research Fellow SAHMRI
    2023 - ongoing Lecturer, BIOCHEMISTRY III: Cancer, Stem Cells & Development University of Adelaide
    2020 - ongoing Affiliate Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2019 - 2023 Peter Nelson Post-doctoral Research Fellow SAHMRI
    2016 - 2017 Post-doctoral Research Associate St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    2014 - 2020 Affiliate Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2013 - 2019 Post-doctoral Researcher SAHMRI
    2013 - 2013 Post-doctoral Researcher SA Pathology
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2024 Award SAHMRI High Impact Publication Award 2024 SAHMRI Australia -
    2024 Award Len Frankham Award for the top-ranked application to the Channel 7 CRF Grants Program Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation Australia -
    2024 Award Woman of the Year Award, Innovator Category Finalist The Advertiser / Sunday Mail Australia -
    2023 Award Adelaide Medical School ‘Best inaugural senior author publication 2023’ University of Adelaide Australia -
    2023 Award Young Tall Poppy Award Australian Institute of Policy and Science Australia -
    2023 Award CASS Foundation Travel Grant The CASS Foundation Australia $4000
    2023 Award InDaily 40 under 40 Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship In Daily / Solstice Media Australia -
    2020 Award American Society of Hematology (ASH) Abstract Achievement Award American Society of Hematology United States -
    2020 Award CASS Foundation Travel Grant The CASS Foundation Australia $3500
    2019 Award The HRF Research Travel Award The Hospital Research Foundation Australia $4000
    2018 Invitation Invited Speaker: Early/Mid-Career Researcher Seminar Series The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2016 Invitation Judge: European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Australian Postgraduate Symposium (EAPS) - - -
    2016 Invitation Invited Speaker: 18th Annual ESH-iCMLF International Conference on CML – Biology and Therapy - - -
    2016 Invitation Invited Speaker: 18th Annual ESH-iCMLF International Conference on CML – Biology and Therapy - - -
    2016 Invitation Invited Speaker: International Conference on Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy - - -
    2013 Award Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence - - -
    2011 Award HSANZ Non-Member Travel Grant Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia $1000
    2010 Award HSANZ Non-Member Travel Grant Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia $1500
    2010 Award New Scientist Award for Science and Technology in Society Golden Key Honour Society Australia $1000
    2009 Scholarship LFA PhD Scholarship Leukaemia Foundation Australia Australia $157,500
    2009 Scholarship Dawes Top-up Scholarship Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Committee Australia $17,500
    2009 Scholarship Baillieu Supplementary Research Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia $30,000
    2009 Scholarship NHMRC Biomedical Postgraduate Scholarship (unable to accept) National Health and Medical Research Council Australia $65,598
    2009 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award (unable to accept) Australian Federal Government Australia $61,281
    2008 Award HSANZ Non-Member Travel Grant Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia $1000
    2006 Award Australasian Society for HIV Medicine Junior Researcher Award - - -
    2006 Scholarship Honours Scholarship Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Committee Australia $5000
    2005 Scholarship Summer Research Scholarship Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre Australia $1500
    2004 Honour Admittance to the Golden Key International Honour Society - - -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2009 - 2013 University of Adelaide Australia PhD in Medicine
    2006 - 2006 University of Adelaide Australia Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science
    2003 - 2005 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science
  • Postgraduate Training

    Date Title Institution Country
    2016 - 2017 Fulbright Post-doctoral Research Scholarship St. Jude Children's Research Hospital United States
  • Research Interests

Dr Eadie has attracted >$4M in competitive funding, both as lead applicant and collaborator, including grants awarded by the MRFF and NHMRC. Below is a snapshot of key grants Dr Eadie has been awarded in the past 5 years. 

2025. Investigating the role of the X gene in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia development, $100k Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation.

2024. Molecular determinants and clinical outcomes of Australian Indigenous blood cancer: The first comprehensive survey, $884k MRFF – Early to Mid-Career Researchers Initiative.

2023. Modelling co-occurring mutations in T-ALL to enhance treatment options and maximise the power of next generation sequencing, $600k Cancer Council SA Beat Cancer Project Mid-Career Fellowship

2022. Modelling co-occurring mutations in T-ALL to enhance treatment options and maximise the power of next generation sequencing, in kind funding of ~$25k International Thermo Fisher Scientific Cancer Research Grant.

2021. Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Focussing on the gut microbiota, its role in therapeutic response and potential as an effective adjunct therapeutic in this High-Risk group, $1.3M MRFF – Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative.

2019. Preclinical modelling of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia – defining targeted therapies and preventing treatment resistance, $600k Peter Nelson Leukaemia Research Fellowship.

2019. Preclinical modelling of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia – defining targeted therapies and preventing treatment resistance, $600k Cancer Council SA Beat Cancer Project Mid-Career Fellowship (awarded but unable to accept due to competing fellowship offers)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undergraduate Teaching 

Throughout her postgraduate training and postdoctoral research, Dr Eadie has been actively involved in the teaching, supervision and mentoring of undergraduate and honours students. In 2023 she was recruited as a third year lecturer to deliver the Molecular Biology of Cancer module within the Biochemistry course Cancer, Stem Cells and Development III. To date, Laura has been involved in the following University of Adelaide Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences courses as a project supervisor: Principle and Practice of Research III; Research Practice for Applied Biology III; Principles & Practice of Research (Advanced) I. She has also supervised two visiting international scholars from France undertaking 6 month research placements in her laboratory.

 

 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Principal Supervisor Modelling co-occurring mutations in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia to enhance treatment options and maximise the power of next generation sequencing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Maxim Jon Buckley
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Characterising KMT2A and MLLT10 Rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Michelle Olivia Forgione
    2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Characterising the novel MYB-TYK2 fusion gene in high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: oncogenic potential, effective therapeutic strategies and In vitro modelling of drug resistance mechanisms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Paniz Tavakoli Shirazi
    2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Multiple Molecular Mechanisms Contribute Towards In Vitro Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors In Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Benjamin Chia Sing Leow
  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Investigating asciminib sensitivity in NUP214::ABL1 T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute - Honours Full Time Tace Sian Conlin
    2020 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Investigation of oncogenic fusion genes in leukaemia and evaluation of the efficacy of ABL001 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute - Honours Full Time Elias Lagonik
    2018 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Investigating the efficacy of novel and combination therapies in Ph-like ALL South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute - Honours Full Time Caitlin Schutz
    2014 - 2014 Co-Supervisor The effect of the T315I mutation on treatment failure in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: a mere case of drug binding efficiency? South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute - Honours Full Time Benjamin Leow
  • Mentoring

    Date Topic Location Name
    2020 - 2020 Careers Mentoring University of Adelaide Hannah Bonham
    2020 - 2020 Careers Mentoring University of Adelaide Mogana Reckdharajkumar
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2025 - 2027 Member NDLR Scientific Organising Committee New Directions in Leukaemia Research (NDLR) Conference 2026 Australia
    2020 - 2021 Representative Australian Society for Medical Research SA Committee (Social Media Lead) Australian Society for Medical Research Australia
    2019 - 2019 Treasurer Australian Society for Medical Research SA Committee Australian Society for Medical Research Australia
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2017 - ongoing Member National Postdoctoral Association United States
    2016 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Australia
    2015 - 2016 Member YWCA -
    2006 - 2007 Member Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) Australia
  • Presentation

    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2019 - 2019 Invited Speaker: Spot the Bull Science - The Science Nation Australia
    2019 - 2019 Invited TEDx Oration: The Secret Life of a Scientist TEDxFulbright, Adelaide 2019 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute Australia

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