MENTEE – Benjamin Cooper

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in 2017 from the University of Melbourne. My research project investigated immune cell interactions with venom peptides of a native Australian ant species.

I am currently a PhD student at the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research (UMCCR) researching the molecular mechanisms of chemotherapeutic resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer. The project’s focus is to use protein level investigative tools and novel patient derived 3-dimensional cell structures to uncover proteins associated with poor response to traditional chemotherapies. My hope is that this research will improve the almost universally poor patient outcomes of metastatic colorectal cancer.

I am very interested in the economic, social and personal impact of the wider biomedical research space and biotechnology sectors.