The Best of the AACR Journals Collection: Author Profiles

Piers Blombery

Title & Affiliation:
Clinical and Laboratory Haematologist, Lead of Molecular Haematology Laboratory – Pathology, Lead of Clinical Informatics – Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

Most-cited Article:
Acquisition of the Recurrent Gly101Val Mutation in BCL2 Confers Resistance to Venetoclax in Patients with Progressive Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Q: What is your primary area of study/research?
A: I lead the molecular hematology clinical diagnostic laboratory at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, which provides accredited next generation sequencing-based assessment of hematological malignancy to over 5000 patients every year from around Australia. My research interests are centered around novel observations within this real-world cohort, as well as translating novel molecular techniques into routine diagnostic use.

Q: What influenced your decision to embark on a research career?
A:Given the privileged position of being able to analyze so much molecular data from our patients in the diagnostic laboratory, I feel compelled to further investigate these findings in order to try and improve outcomes for as many patients as possible with hematological malignancy.

Q; What excites you most about your research area?
A: The challenge of taking new technology and bioinformatic processes that previously existed only in the realm of the research laboratory and implementing it in an accredited diagnostic environment, where patients in the clinic today can benefit from all the information it can give us and their treating physicians. Moreover, the nature of the diagnostic laboratory work means that you never know which new and exciting molecular finding might be present in the patient’s lymphoma/leukemia that is next to be analyzed.

Q: What are your hobbies or passions outside of work?
A: When I get time, I enjoy playing and writing music, and to mix things up a little, I have recently taken up training in Brazilian jiujitsu.