Research overview
Ovarian cancer remains a significant unmet clinical challenge in Australia. Due to late-stage diagnosis and the frequent development of resistance to standard treatments (surgery followed by chemotherapy), there is an urgent need for more effective, targeted therapies.
This project investigates a novel RNA-based therapeutic approach using microRNA-7, a naturally occurring molecule that regulates genes involved in cancer growth. The team will evaluate an enhanced form, mRx-7, which has been designed to more effectively suppress tumour-promoting pathways in ovarian cancer cells. The study will assess the efficacy of mRx-7 across multiple preclinical models, including ovarian cancer cell lines, patient-derived tumour organoids, and mouse models. Its performance will be compared with standard chemotherapy both as a standalone treatment and in combination.
To accelerate translation, the research team will also test two targeted delivery strategies – lipid nanoparticles and receptor-specific ligands – to maximise tumour specificity and minimise off-target effects.
Project researchers
Professor Peter Leedman
Funders
Women and Infants Research Foundation
Project timeline
2026 – 2027
