Daniel Catchpoole

Prof Daniel Catchpoole is an expert with over 20 years of lab-based research experience in the area of childhood cancer research, tissue pathology, genomics and cell biology. He has been working in the School of Computer Science and the Biomedical Data Science Lab in the Australian Artificial lntelligence lnst¡tute for the past 2 years, but prior to this for the last 17 years (our first paper was in 2OO4). These projects bring together within FEIT, skills and knowledge in data analytics, artificial intelligence and software development with Dan's expertise in the molecular basis of childhood cancers and genomics to develop improved mapping of cancer treatment pathways. This is transformational research, and has in recent years received significant funding to support ongoing research and development from sources including the Cancer Institute of NSW and the Sony Foundation.

Since 2001, his scientific achievements and publications have primarily focused on the assessment of childhood tumours, with specific attention given to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and neuroblastoma. Prof Catchpoole’s research focus has centred on translational research through gene expression profiling of paediatric tumours. Recent publications have dealt with the assessment of gene expression signatures proposed to identify cancer patients at risk of treatment failure. This work has lead to his current research developing a systems biology approach to the assessment of cancer patients which includes the implementation of the data-mining and visualization of complex multidimensional biomedical data derived from various high-throughput applications.

Prof Catchpoole is expert in building the necessary frameworks essential for active translational research activity in cancer. This includes experience of basic research into cell and molecular biology, knowledge of clinical pathways through medical institutions including the pathology departments practices, everyday management of biobanks and linkage to required clinical data, the generation of complex genomic and biomedical dataset by high-throughput technologies (eg microarray and next generation sequencing) and the high-end computational analysis of complex multi-dimensional data to draw out actionable knowledge which has clinical relevance.

Consequently, Prof Catchpoole brings with him extensive real-world experience in the application of governance and regulatory requirements around which translational research must be practiced. He has experience in the micro-management of a team of research professionals as well as the strategic management of valuable research infrastructure within a Public Hospital. He has built a strong record for professional networking bringing groups into collaborative arrangements around singular themes and opportunities from across the nation. This includes being a founding member and first President of The Australasian Biospecimens Network Association. His leadership in these and other areas has been recognized across the translational research disciplines and has contributed to a number of committees at local, state and national levels. Finally, Prof Catchpoole is an innovative and strategic thinker, creating novel but productive projects which enhance our understanding of the translational research in paediatric cancer.