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Biography

Broadly, Dr. Ross' research interests are in epigenomics, biomarker development and bioinformatics, with DNA methylation, cancer, trauma, and obesity the particular focused areas of application.

Jason developed SuBLiME, a deep sequencing technology which greatly reduces cost. The SuBLiME method was patented (WO 2011057354) and licensed to a third party. The method was applied to DNA from colorectal cancer cell lines and the resulting biomarkers became part of another patent jointly owned by Clinical Genomics and CSIRO (WO 2012034170). Jason is the primary inventor on this patent, which lists 51 candidate biomarker genes for the detection of colorectal cancer.

Two of the biomarkers he discovered are commercialised by Clinical Genomics as Colvera®, a diagnostic test for colorectal cancer recurrence now available on the US market.

More recently, he has been leading a project to develop a DNA methylation based liquid biopsy assay for traumatic brain injury and biomarker discovery for novel cancer theranostics.

Academic Qualifications

  • 2004

    PhD, plant biotechnology
    RMIT University, Melbourne

  • 1998

    MSc, plant biochemistry
    University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ

  • 1995

    BSc, biochemistry and genetics (double major)
    University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ

Professional Experiences

  • 2018-2022

    Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee
    Jamieson Trauma Institute

Achievements and Awards

  • 2018-2020

    Julius Career Award
    CSIRO

  • 2017-2017

    Entrepreneurship Award
    CSIRO

  • 2017-2017

    Johnson & Johnson Eureka Prize for Innovation in Medical Research
    Australian Museum

Grants

  • 2021-2023

    $1.04M. NHMRC Ideas Grant

  • 2021-2023

    $499K. MRFF Traumatic Brain Injury Mission

  • 2020-2022

    $1.77M. MRFF Traumatic Brain Injury Mission

  • 2020-2021

    $40K. RBWH and RBWH Foundation Research Project Grant

  • 2019-2021

    $5.10M. Thernanostics research partnership between CSIRO and GenesisCare

  • 2019-2021

    $50K. St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation

  • 2017-2020

    $1.20M. CSIRO Probing Biosystems FSP project

  • 2014-2016

    $29K. CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences Collaborative Grant

  • 2013-2016

    $202K. "Big Data, Big Impact", Cancer Institute NSW, Premier's Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research

  • 2013-2015

    $24K. Melbourne Health Watt-Geyer Research Grant

  • 2012-2015

    $795K. CSIRO Transformational Biology Capability Platform Grant

  • 2009-2009

    $7.5K. Roche Applied Science 454 Research Proposal Competition

  • 2005-2005

    $2K. Visiting International Scientist grant. Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University