Mitchell Lawrence

Mitchell Lawrence

Postgraduate Award

Media Profile

“Prostate cancer is the most frequently occurring malignancy in U.S. males, accounting for one third of cancer diagnoses. Highly aggressive prostate cancer accounts for one death in the U.S. every 12.5 minutes. The prostrate is also the most common site of cancer in Australian men.”

Mitchell Lawrence has won a Fulbright Postgraduate Award to conduct research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre at Harvard which specialises in the protein pathways that are the focus of his project.

Mitchell Lawrence is a Biotechnology graduate with First Class Honours and a University Medal from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He is currently undertaking a PhD at QUT through an Australian Postgraduate and Vice Chancellor’s Top-Up Award researching proteins involved in the progression of prostrate cancer.

There is a dramatic disparity in treatment options and prognosis for patients with less aggressive, localised prostate cancer versus advanced stage disease. Men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer enjoy a favourable 100% five year survival rate with a range of treatment options. However, if prostate cancer has spread to other organs of the body, the treatment options are more limited. Subsequently, advanced prostate cancer is significant cause of mortality amongst men.

Further research is needed to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for the spread of cancer from the prostate, as well as identify diagnostic and prognostic markers to discriminate between different stages of the disease.

Mitchell’s project is part of a larger effort by the Prostate Cancer Research Program led by Professor Judith Clements at QUT to identify more effective biomarkers for prostrate cancer. The outcomes of his project will boost the understanding of how cancer-related protein levels are controlled, helping to determine if they may be accurate biomarkers.

The specific protein interactions that Mitchell is investigating have never been studied in Australia. His access to the biomolecular tools at the U.S. institutions will allow him to investigate his hypotheses in much greater detail. Mitchell is eager to learn from the expertise of U.S. researchers and to strengthen collaborative links between Australian and U.S. biomedical researchers.

Outside of his studies, Mitchell has an interest in debating, writing and music. He was Captain of his High School debating team and worked as a debating coach and adjudicator. More recently he has participated in the Australian Medical Research Week, talking with senior-high school students about the rewards of studying science and medical research.