Cancer is a complex disease caused by the aberrant expression of many diverse gene products. Large sequencing studies have shed some light onto the nature of these cancer-promoting aberrations, but many of the critical tumour driving pathways have not yet been discovered. Functional genetic screening approaches enable the identification of genes involved in the development of cancer. Therefore, we are employing genome wide CRISPR screening techniques in primary tumour prone haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in vivo. We identified several new tumour suppressor and oncogenes that drive the development of blood cancers. To further delineate the complex genetic changes found in diverse cancer types, we are currently advancing our CRISPR screening toolbox in vivo. Our results to date clearly demonstrate the power of unbiased functional genetic screens in vivo for identifying critical cancer drivers as potential prognostic markers or therapeutic targets in the clinic.

Professor Marco Herold is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) and Head of La Trobe University’s School of Cancer Medicine. Since joining ONJCRI in 2023, he has driven the Institute’s strategic growth, fostering high-impact collaborations across academia, industry, and healthcare to accelerate translational cancer research and improve patient outcomes. A globally recognised leader in cancer genomics and therapeutic innovation Blood Cancer and Immunotherapy Lab, spearheading research that leverages advanced genome-editing technologies to develop next-generation cancer therapies. Under his leadership, ONJCRI continues to strengthen its position as a leading translational research institute, ensuring that scientific discoveries rapidly advance from the laboratory to clinical application.