Danny Gelman

Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar

Media Profile

“I intend to learn methodologies that will assist the development a new synthetic sequence for construction of a library of natural and non-natural steroids in order to generate a new therapeutic for prostate cancer. Steroids represent a class of molecules that are of continuing interest as therapeutic agents, constituting nearly one third of medicines sold globally.”

Danny Gelman is undertaking a PhD at Monash University on an Australian Postgraduate Award researching the construction of natural and non-natural steroids to treat cancer. He has won a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to further his research by working with Professor David Evans at Harvard University over the next 12 months.

Danny’s research is focused on developing a new synthesis of steroids that will be utilised to develop new treatments for hormone linked diseases such as prostate cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), breast cancer and other related diseases.

“Prostate cancer and other hormone-dependent diseases such as PCOS and hormone-dependent breast cancer have been linked to steroid activity – androgens for prostate cancer and PCOS as well as oestrogens for breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors have been widely used in treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer, which account for almost 50% of all breast cancers. Furthermore, approximately 90% of all prostate tumours have been shown to be androgen dependent.”

Danny believes the key outcomes from continuing his research in the U.S. is to further develop skills in collaboration with world leading researchers in the organic synthetic field that will accelerate the development of our new synthetic route.

“In the course of my PhD studies I have developed an awareness of the work of Professor Evans as a world-leader in the field of organic synthetic chemistry. The opportunity to study under such, high-calibre guidance would vastly enhance my professional progress.”

For Danny the opportunity to study in the U.S. will expose him to an academic environment that is larger and in this field more dynamic than Australia and this will accelerate his development as a synthetic chemist and researcher. “By undertaking this research in the U.S. I hope to promote the work being done in Australia as well as learn from and collaborate with world leaders in the field of organic synthesis.”

Danny completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with First-Class Honours at Monash University, where he received the Dulux Prize in 2004 for outstanding research and a Dean List Fellowship Award in 2003.