Dr Nathalie Bock from QUT’s School of Biomedical Sciences has been awarded Life Sciences Queensland's Rose-Anne Kelso Commemorative Award, which recognises a scientist’s research and dedication to the health and life sciences industry.
Dr Bock, from QUT’s School of Biomedical Sciences, is the deputy director of the QUT-based International Max Planck Queensland Centre (MPQC) for the Materials Science of Extracellular Matrices and has led the Bone & Tumour Bioengineering research group at the Translational Research Institute (TRI) since 2018.
With just eight years’ postdoctoral experience she is making pioneering contributions at the forefront of breast and prostate cancer research, creating original ways to find novel disease contributors by innovatively translating ‘tissue engineering’ principles into cancer biology.
Under her Advance Queensland Industry Research Mid-Career Fellowship, she is progressing her work on bone metastatic tissue models for individualised therapy guidance in breast cancer, in partnership with two Australian (one Queensland-based) companies.
“This fellowship has led to a patent for the Queensland company for developing a new hydrogel formulation for enhanced bioprinting of patient-derived ex vivo microenvironments,” Dr Bock said.
This year she has embarked upon her newly funded ARC Discovery Early Career Research project on engineering microenvironments to regulate osteocyte 3D networks in vitro to assess fundamental bone biology questions.
Dr Bock’s passion has underpinned an early-mid research career well outside of typical scope, with an ability to holistically engage with various stakeholders, including academics, clinicians, patients and industry.
Authoring 60+ high-impact publications and accumulating $20M+ in research funding, Dr Bock’s research is contributing significant recognition for Queensland, with a future vision that integrates basic and applied science together with cutting-edge biotechnologies, to deliver impactful, transformative research.
Dr Bock’s dedication to furthering and sharing her knowledge has seen her mentor postgraduate students and junior postdoctoral fellows, fostering their growth and resulting in award-winning success at major international conferences.
QUT Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Professor Patsy Yates said Dr Bock is a leader in the professional development of colleagues and an inspiration for women considering a career in the life sciences.
“Dr Bock is passionate about mentoring the next generation of STEM scientists,” Professor Yates said.
“She is committed to broadening STEM access, and actively promotes opportunities for disadvantaged and LGBTIQA+ communities.”
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