Page 15 - Luce 2023

P oint of View

The Precision Medicine and Biobanking Victoria facilities at
the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health provide
capacity for global clinical trials and population-based
research studies.

Pictured are some of the Precision Medicine and Biobanking facilities at the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health which
provide capacity for global clinical trials and population-based research studies.
Engage and follow your passions – this is an exciting and At JCH we were delighted and proud to see that you were
dynamic research space that is moving so quickly that one can awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2021 in recognition
see change in practice, change in patient outcomes and social of your contributions to epidemiology and precision
benefit within the timeline of a career. The extraordinary medicine. How did you feel about that honour?
rate of technological advances is not likely to decrease in the
coming decade. Genomics has been somewhat of a front Extremely honoured, yet also humbled. I reflect on the
runner, yet human disease is more complex than genomics fact that my work stands on the shoulders of many giants
alone. Further advances in understanding, preventing and and my success could not have been achieved without the
treating disease will come from what is now being referred collaboration of many wonderful colleagues, mentors and
to as multi-‘omic’ initiatives – including epigenomics (the the support of family.
study of chemical modifications to DNA that do not change
the DNA sequence), transcriptomics (the study of RNA
transcripts produced from the genome) and proteomics (the
study of proteins). For someone stepping into this space now
I would recommend being very data savvy (management and
analysis), watching the landscape carefully (have broad vision
across disciplines), developing some very specific skills (have
deep knowledge/skill in an emerging space/technology) and
embracing diversity – a sure recipe for a thrilling career!

Reflecting on your time in JCH, both as a student and later
as a tutor, do you have any advice for current students?
At JCH I enjoyed remarkable years of learning and sharing
with others. With the College providing something of an
academic safety check via tutoring support, I had confidence
to engage with many of the endless opportunities to be
curious and brave outside of the often linear university
academic streams. I was delighted to pay this back in some
part as a graduate tutor. My advice for current students – be
an active part of the JCH culture, protect it, and develop it for
those who will follow.

J anet Clarke Hall 15