Biography
Ilka Priebe is an Experimental Scientist at CSIRO, based at the Kintore Avenue site in Adelaide, with expertise in cell and protein biology. Her research focuses on the discovery and validation of non-invasive biomarkers for healthy ageing, intestinal health, and disease. Ilka has played a pivotal role in the development of blood-based protein biomarkers for the early detection of colorectal cancer.
She has extensive experience in preclinical studies, having established and validated workflows for multiplex bead-based ELISAs and traditional ELISAs to measure panels of protein biomarkers in blood samples for colorectal cancer diagnosis. Her work has made a significant contribution to the commercial translation of ColoSTAT by Rhythm Biosciences.
Ilka brings broad expertise in biomarker analysis and validation, with advanced technical skills in ELISA-based techniques, cell-based assays, cell culture and maintenance, blood sample processing, proteomics, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and hybridoma technologies. She is also highly proficient in the operation of fully automated laboratory systems, including the TECAN liquid handling robot and the Luminex LiquiChip platform.
Expertise and Research Focus:
• Gut Organoid Models:
Establishment of gut organoids derived from human intestinal epithelium (both normal and tumour/CRC tissue) to serve as a high-throughput screening platform for optimising therapeutic strategies.
• Australian Health Biobank:
Ilka is a key member of the team at the Australian Health Biobank (AHB) in Adelaide and has been actively involved in its Establishment Phase.
• Biomarker Discovery:
Identification and validation of novel biomarkers for the detection and prevention of colorectal cancer.
• Cancer Therapeutics:
Development of a fully humanised antibody for cancer treatment, in collaboration with DYAX, a biotechnology company based in Boston, USA.
• Apoptosis and Butyrate Pharmacology:
Implementation of Free Flow Electrophoresis (FFE) and DIGE-based proteomics platforms to investigate the mechanisms underlying butyrate sensitivity and resistance in tumour cells.
• IGF-I Analogue Research:
Characterisation of novel IGF-I analogues and their modulation of IGF receptor signalling pathways, with potential therapeutic applications.
CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS PATENTS:
The most recent patent involves the identification and validation of biomarkers for a blood based assay for the diagnosis in Colorectal Cancer. Diagnostic for colorectal cancer. Cosgrove L J, Tabor B, Burgess A, Nice E.AU/2011/000895, WO2012/006681
PCT/AU01/00010.Growth Factor Splice Variant. Andrew J. Dunbar and Chris Goddard. (2001)
PCT/AU98/00942. (US Patent 06531134). Mammalian Milk Growth Factor. Andrew J. Dunbar, David A Belford, Chris Goddard. (1998).