Madelé van Dyk

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MADELÉ VAN DYK

Cancer affects millions of people worldwide leaving many with limited time with their loved ones, and often a poor quality of life. Several targeting therapies have been approved and have been associated with an improved survival outcome. However, despite all individuals being different in our own ways, particularly physiologically and genetically, a ‘one-size fits-all’ dose is currently prescribed to all patients. For some, this dose might be too much which can cause severe toxicity, and for others it might not be enough, which can result in early cancer progression due to therapeutic failure. It is no surprise that patients respond vastly different to their treatments as the general public is not adequately represented in the strictly controlled clinical trials when the \'one-size fits-all\' dose is determined. My research focusses on tailoring each patient\'s dose based on their own individual characteristics to give the patient the best chance at benefitting from their treatment. I completed my PhD (2018) in investigating strategies to address the challenges of precision dosing with cancer drugs, which led to a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Precision Medicine under a NHMRC grant at Flinders University. This enabled me to advance my expertise in individualised-dosing strategies, contributing key data that resulted in significant funding from Pfizer and the NHMRC. In 2019, I visited Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, USA to share my skills in cancer drug metabolism and analytical method development. I am trained in clinical trial project management, venipuncture and IV Cannulation and have refined expertise in targeted quantitative proteomics and small molecule liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry after training with Agilent Australia and also at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA. I also enjoy using mathematical models to predict clinical outcomes, and have had extensive training in both Australia and the USA. Together, I apply these skills to achieve tailored therapy to improve outcomes for people living with cancer by increasing efficacy, survival and quality of life. Less than 12 months post PhD I was awarded one of two SA Beat Cancer Early Career Research Fellowships, which enabled me to initiate and lead the first state-wide therapeutic drug monitoring program in Australia. I have been very privileged to collaborate with world-leading groups in Germany and The Netherlands, and together, I believe, we can use our skills and expertise to generate the data that will change clinical practice to improve patient care.