Susan Joy Clark

Professor Susan J Clark FAA (born XXX)^[1] is an Australian biomedical researcher in epigenetics of development and cancer. Dr Clark was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2015. Dr Clark is an National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Senior Principal Research Fellow and Research Director and Head of Genomics and Epigenetics Division at The Garvan Institute of Medical Research . Dr Clark developed the first method for bisulphite sequencing^[1] for DNA methylation analysis and used it to establish that the methylation machinery of mammalian cells is capable of both maintenance and de novo methylation at CpNpG sites and showed is inheritable^[2]. Dr Clark's research has advanced understanding of the role of DNA methylation, non-coding RNA and microRNA in embryogenesis, reprogramming, stem cell development and cancer and has lead to the identification of epigenomic biomarkers in cancer. Dr Clark is the founding member of IHEC (International Human Epigenome Consortium) and President of the AEpiA (Australian Epigenetics Alliance).

Education and Significance of Research

Dr Clark completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours Call 1) degree at the Australian National University, ACT, Australia in 1978, under the supervision of Dr Ken Reed and Dr Lynn Dalgarno (the scientist who uncovered the Shine-Dalgarno Sequence). Dr Clark earned a PhD (1982) in Biochemistry at University of Adelaide, South Australia, by mapping and sequencing human histone genes, under the supervision of Dr Julian Wells. During her postdoctoral years (1983-1988) at Biotechnology Australia, Susan lead studies on the first recombinant vaccine development in Australia and eukaryotic expression of human inhibin, IL-3 and G-M-CSF.

As Group Leader of the Gene Regulation Unit at the Kanematsu Laboratories, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 1992 - 2000, Dr Clark developed highly sensitive techniques that enabled DNA methylation sequencing of single genes from small volumes (<100 cells) using sodium bisulphite, which converts cytosine residues to uracil residues in single-stranded DNA, under conditions that preserve 5-methylcytosine.

In 2000 Dr Clark established the Epigenetics Group at the Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and lead the unit until 2004. Dr Clark went on to establish the Epigenetics Research Program in the Cancer Research Division and the moved Garvan Institute of Medical Research and was appointed the inaugural Head of the Genomics and Epigenetics Division in 2015.

Recognition and Awards

2017 - The Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation: 2017 Medal of Excellence ($50K)

2015 - The Rob Sutherland Make a Difference ($20K), Cancer Institute NSW

2015 - Nadine Watson Lecture Award for a Leading Female Scientist

2012 - Rotary Award for Vocational Excellence

2011 - Victor Chang Medal (Barbara Ell Seminar Series Lecturer)

2010 - Service to Science and Industry, North Shore Times, 50 year medal

2009 - Australia’s “Top Ten” (NHMRC) Scientist Award for 2009

2008 - Director’s Inaugural Women in Science Lecture Award (WEHI)

2006 - World Technology Award, finalist for 2006 for Biotechnology: the most innovative people in the science and technology world in 2006

2006 - Elected a Fellow of the World Technology Network for Biotechnology for contribution to Epigenetics technology

2004 - The Ruby Payne-Scott Award for women in Australian science

2004 - German Science Prize “Biochemisch Analytik Preis” (50,000 Euros) for outstanding contribution for Methylation analysis. Since 1970, this award has recognized the work of 27 world-renowned scientists, four of whom have subsequently gone on to win a Nobel Prize

2003 - Julian Wells Medal for “outstanding contribution to gene action and genome structure”, Lorne Genome conference

Contributions to Cancer Epigenetics

^ Susan, J.CIark; Harrison, Janet; Paul, Cheryl L.; Frommer, Marianne (1994). "High sensitivity mapping of methylated cytosines". Nucleic Acids Research. 22 (15): 2990–2997. doi:10.1093/nar/22.15.2990. ISSN 0305-1048. PMC 310266. PMID 8065911.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link)
^ Clark, Susan J.; Harrison, Janet; Frommer, Marianne (1995-5). "CpNpG methylation in mammalian cells". Nature Genetics. 10 (1): 20–27. doi:10.1038/ng0595-20. ISSN 1061-4036. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[1] Susan, J.CIark; Harrison, Janet; Paul, Cheryl L.; Frommer, Marianne (1994). "High sensitivity mapping of methylated cytosines". Nucleic Acids Research. 22 (15): 2990–2997. doi:10.1093/nar/22.15.2990. ISSN 0305-1048. PMC 310266. PMID 8065911.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link)

[2] Clark, Susan J.; Harrison, Janet; Frommer, Marianne (1995-5). "CpNpG methylation in mammalian cells". Nature Genetics. 10 (1): 20–27. doi:10.1038/ng0595-20. ISSN 1061-4036. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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