Prof. Rodney Scott

Biography

Inherited forms of cancer have been my main interest for around 20 years. The research I have been involved first focused on the identification of genes associated with with inherited forms of colorectal cancer and breast cancer. The research area proved to be extremely successful as it really set the scene for our current understanding of the genetic basis of malignancy.

Since the identification of genetic susceptibilies my research interests have focused on better defining these inherited entities such that more appropriate intervention strategies can be developed. Initially, much emphasis was placed on recognising genotype/phenotype correlations with disease and as such the research I have undertaken has done much to define such relationships. More recently, the role of modifier genes in disease penetrance has been a major thematic area and data forthcoming from these studies indicates that there are additional disease suspectibilies that are important in assessing individual risk on a genetic background of high risk. This research is now begining to be translated to the general population as it represents the first tentative move towards determining cancer risk in the general population. With increasing emphasis on disease prevention it is to be expected that this research will continue to flourish.

My research career took off in Switzerland where I consolidated a centre dedicated to the study of inherited predispositions to cancer. During this period of my research career I was heavily involved in the identification of genetic predispostions to breast cancer and bowel cancer and through my activities supervised 4 PhD students who have since had excellent careers in medical research. The research that I am focused on is consistant with two of Austalia's national priorities, heathy aging and a healthy start to life.

Qualifications

• Privat Dozent - German equivalent to DSc, University of Basel, 1998
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Western Australia
• PhD, University of Western Australia

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Research

Research keywords

• Cancer Genetics
• Colorectal cancer
• DNA repair
• Gene environment interaction
• Molecular
• breast cancer
• human
• modifier genes

Research expertise

Expertise in the genetic basis of disease especially in relation to the development of malignancy.

Collaboration

The genetics of bowel cancer, Genetic variation and its relationship to disease, The genetics of breast cancer.

Languages

• German

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
060499	Genetics Not Elsewhere Classified	40
111200	Oncology And Carcinogenesis	40
110300	Clinical Sciences	20

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery and Information-Based Medicine

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Information Based Medicine Program

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Member of the Genetic Services Advisory Committee - Genetic Services, NSW Department of Health
• Member of the DNA Working Party - Genetic Services, NSW Department of Health
• Member - International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR)
• Secretary - NSWOG (Familial Cancer) Cancer Institute of NSW
• Examiner - Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Member of the Management Committee - Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analysis

Editorial Board.

• Editor-in-Chief - Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice

Learned Academy.

• Examiner - Royal College of Pathologists id Australasia

Appointments

Founding Member International Hereditary Cancer Center (Poland)	01/01/2002
Member of the working group on human gene patents AHMAC (Australia)	01/01/2002 - 01/12/2003
Chair of the Board of Censors for Molecular Genetics Human Genetics Society of Australasia (Australia)	01/01/2003
Member gene technology technical advisory committee Gene Trechnology Regulator, Federal Government (Australia)	01/06/2005
Scientific Advisor Cancer Institute New South Wales (Australia)	01/06/2005

Awards

Invited commentary on new research reports

2002	Commentary on newly identified genes in breast cancer The Lancet (United Kingdom) Being invited to comment on publications in top impact factor journals is a sign of peers recognising expertise.

Research Award.

2009	Researcher of the Year Huner Medical Research Institute (Australia) Most outstanding researcher in 2008
2004	Research Excellence in Cancer Research NSW Cancer Council (Australia)
1994	Susanne Huggenberger-Bishoff Stiftung Prize for cancer genetics Susanne Huggenberger-Bishoff Stiftung (Switzerland)

Invitations

Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. UICC Familial Cancer Project and International Oncology Conference, Beijing, China (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2001
BRCA1 mutations and early onset breast cancer 3rd European Cancer Center (EUCC) Symposium. Kaiser Augst, Switzerland (Conference Presentation - non published.)	1996
European inaugural conference on tissue banking Cogene. European Union, Cyprus (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2002
Future considerations for genetic testing IMPACT and AIDIT meeting, Poland (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2006
Hereditary conditions in which a loss of heterozygosity may be important 23rd. Annual Meeting of the European Environmental Mutagen Society, Barcelona. September 1993., Spain (Conference Presentation - non published.)	1993
Identification of persons eligible for gene therapy: Limitations and expectations 5th. Basler Radio-Oncology Conference, Basel, Switzerland (Conference Presentation - non published.)	1995
Molecular Genetics: What is it being used for and where is it taking us . Australian Institute of Medical Science, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2003
Molecular epidemiology of colorectal cancer Regional Conference on Molecular Medicine From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Practice, Malaysia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2007
The Genetic basis of early familial colorectal cancer Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists , Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2007
The role of DNA repair genes in cancer Regional Conference on Molecular Medicine From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Practice, Malaysia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2007
Translation of medical research into clinical practice or From Bench to Bedside The Hunter Medical Research Institute Inaugural Cancer Conference, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2004
Histology of tumours derived from early onset cancer cases Georgian National Science Foundation, Georgia (External Examiner.)	2006
Polymorphism analysis in breast cancer Georgian National Science Foundation, Georgia (External Examiner.)	2006
Genetic studies on colorectal cancer Canadian Medical Research Council, Canada (External Reviewer - Programs.)	2000

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

I have been on numerous State and National committees that are involved in ensuring the delivery of genetic services to the public. I have also served on ethics committees and a variety of other administrative committees.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• DNA Repair
• Developmental
• Genetics
• Medical
• evolution
• family studies
• genetic epidemiology
• homeostasis

Teaching expertise

Expertise in the teaching of medical genetics.