Dr Michael De Ieso is an early-career researcher (ECR) investigating smarter ways to treat hormone receptor-positive cancers, including breast, prostate, and bladder cancer. In 2019, Dr De Ieso earned a PhD in cancer biology at the University of Adelaide, under the mentorship of Prof Andrea Yool. He investigated the effect of pharmacologically targeting membrane-bound water channels called aquaporins to reduce the motility of aggressive cancer cells. This work laid the foundation for further exploration into the therapeutic potential of aquaporin modulation in glioblastoma and other solid cancers.After a highly productive PhD, he commenced postdoctoral training at Duke University in North Carolina USA, under the mentorship of Prof Dan Stamer. Dr De Ieso’s research underpinned a grant-funded project in the Stamer lab, investigating the role of the membrane-bound caveolin-1 (CAV1) protein in regulating intraocular pressure, and how polymorphisms at the CAV1/2 gene loci impart increased risk for primary open-angle glaucoma. Despite the shift in research focus, he produced strong postdoctoral research output, including 4 award-winning presentations and 13 peer-reviewed publications. Notably, his promotion to Research Scientist in the fourth year of postdoctoral training allowed him to gain experience in managing biotechnology company research contracts for the Stamer Laboratory.Dr De Ieso was recruited back to Australia in August 2023, where he joined the Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories at the University of Adelaide under the mentorship of Prof Wayne Tilley (Director), Associate Prof Theresa Hickey (Head of Breast Cancer), and Dr Amy Dwyer (Group Leader, Solid Tumour Biology). This move marked a return to his passion for cancer research, aligning with his career goals and leveraging his diverse research experiences. In late 2023, Dr De Ieso was awarded the Mary Overton & RAH Early Career Fellowship (2024-2026; $321,247) and the Adelaide Medical School Building Research Leaders Award (2024; $100,000) to investigate a novel approach to treating prostate and bladder cancers by targeting the androgen receptor.