Liggins seminar: Genetic and genomic technologies and diet, in enhancing survival from prostate cancer Event as iCalendar

Liggins Institute academic seminar
Presented by Professor Lynnette Ferguson, Head of Department of Nutrition, University of Auckland and Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre

All University staff and students are welcome
Refreshments will be served

Along with Australia, New Zealand has one of the highest incidences of prostate cancer in the world. However, prostate cancer comes in different forms. Many New Zealand men have a slow growing form which may be more appropriately monitored rather than treated, while others have more invasive disease that would benefit from early, aggressive treatment. The ability to distinguish individuals at high risk of developing prostate cancer would enable targeted use of cancer prevention resources. However, there is considerable controversy about prostate cancer screening in New Zealand currently. Prof. Ferguson’s lab is seeking genetic signatures that would enable us to test members of affected families for prostate cancer risk, and also identify those who would benefit from curative treatment immediately upon diagnosis. In this talk, Prof. Ferguson will discuss what roles diet plays in prostate cancer and how nutrigenomic approaches could be explored to provide an optimal approach for New Zealand men.

Biosketch
Professor Lynnette Ferguson obtained her DPhil from Oxford University, working on the subject of DNA repair and mutagenesis. She has a dual role with the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre and as Head of the Discipline of Nutrition at The University of Auckland. Her current research considers the interplay between genes and diet in the development of chronic disease, with particular focus on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, a cancer-prone condition and also in prostate cancer. As programme leader for the multidisciplinary-multiorganisation Nutrigenomics New Zealand, she is working with a range of others to bring nutrigenomics tools and potential to the New Zealand science scene.