Sophia Frentzas, MBBS, BSc, MRCP(UK), PhD, MRCP(Onc), PgDip, FRACP

About

Dr Frentzas leads the Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit at the Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) of the Monash Health Translational Precinct (MHTP), and also focuses on treating Gynaecological and Gastrointestinal malignancies. She has undertaken specialty training and research fellowships in the drug development unit and translational research at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London. She has completed a laboratory PhD (ICR, London), focusing on delineating mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in colorectal cancers. Her main research interests are focused on novel and personal approaches for the treatment of solid tumours, particularly in targeting aberrant pathways for angiogenesis, immuno-oncology, and on the investigation of strategies to overcome resistance to conventionally employed therapeutic agents. In particular, she has an interest in clinical, tissue, and imaging biomarker correlates of systemic therapy, sensitivity and resistance, as evidenced by her published translational work in advanced colorectal cancer. Her research has been published in a number of peer-reviewed, high impact factor journals, and abstracts, and she has also published in book chapters. She has also had the opportunity to present her work at several national and international conferences. As an internationally trained medical oncologist/clinical trialist, she integrates her skills, knowledge and culture with those newly obtained in Australia, her new home. Dr Frentzas wishes to pursue a national and international leadership pathway in cancer care provision, and in translational oncology. She wishes to foster collaborations through ASCO-ASIA and nationally spanning trials, mentorship, translational research, education, and industry and has a vision of transforming its future by facilitating the development and ratification of world-class research and enhancing infrastructure to improve delivery of oncology care.