Areas of interest
Ovarian cancer
Research group
Metastasis Biology and Therapeutics
Biography
Dr Maree Bilandzic is a molecular cancer biologist and ovarian cancer advocate.
Dr Bilandzic’s research is focused on addressing a critical ovarian cancer clinical gap. By understanding the key drivers of metastasis, chemo-resistance and tumour-recurrence in ovarian cancer models Dr Bilandzic is working towards developing novel and implementable ways to effectively treat disease that addresses clinical and patient needs.
Dr Bilandzic has established a research niche in ovarian cancer metastasis by using novel methodologies and models representative of clinical disease and was the first scientist to identify and characterise leader cells in ovarian cancer.
This research is positioned directly at the interface between the laboratory and industry with potential for therapeutic approaches to address tumour invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance.
Dr Bilandzic has received significant commercial funding for her work (more than $3.5 million) from the MRFF-backed biotech incubator CUREator program and other investment. She has also been awarded funding of over $2 million from the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, CASS Foundation, Fielding Foundation, Equity Trustees and Perpetual Impact grants.
Student opportunities
Awards and fellowships
| 2023-2025 | CUREator Program | Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) /Brandon BioCatalyst |
| 2023 | Pilot Extension | Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) |
| 2021 | Philanthropy Grant | The CASS Foundation |
| 2021 | Pilot Grant (CIB) | OCRF - Australia New Zealand Clinical Oncology Group (ANZCOG) |
| 2019-2022 | Project Grant | Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) |
| 2019 | Philanthropy Grant | Perpetual Impact |
| 2018 | Innovation Award | Fielding Foundation |
| 2O15 | Philanthropy Grant | Equity Trustees |
| 2015 | Philanthropy Grant | The CASS Foundation |
| 2013 | Philanthropy Grant | The CASS Foundation |
Affiliations
| Adjunct Senior Research Fellow | Monash University |
Publication highlights
Karimnia N, Wilson AL, Green E, Matthews A, Jobling TW, Plebanski M, Bilandzic M*, Stephens AN* (2021) Chemoresistance is mediated by ovarian cancer leader cells in vitro. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 40:276. * Equal contribution
Karimnia N, Ho G, Stephens AN, Bilandzic M (2021) Targeting Leader Cells in Ovarian Cancer as an Effective Therapeutic Option. In Ovarian Cancer – Updates in Tumour Biology and Therapeutics. Ho G and Webber K, eds. London: IntechOpen. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/77353 doi: 10.5772/intechopen.98689
Moffitt LR, Bilandzic M, Wilson AL, Chen Y, Gorrell MD, Oehler MK, Plebanski M, Stephens AN (2020) Hypoxia Regulates DPP4 Expression, Proteolytic Inactivation, and Shedding from Ovarian Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 21:8110.
Moffitt L, Karimnia N, Stephens A, Bilandzic M (2019) Therapeutic Targeting of Collective Invasion in Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 20:1466.
Bilandzic M, Rainczuk A, Green E, Fairweather N, Jobling TW, Plebanski M, Stephens AN (2019) Keratin-14 (KRT14) Positive Leader Cells Mediate Mesothelial Clearance and Invasion by Ovarian Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 11:1228.
Wilson AL, Wilson KL, Bilandzic M, Moffitt LR, Makanji M, Gorrell MD, Oehler MK, Rainczuk A, Stephens AN, Plebanski M (2018) Non-Invasive Fluorescent Monitoring of Ovarian Cancer in an Immunocompetent Mouse Model. Cancers (Basel) 11:32.
