Professor Michelle Haber AM

Ep. 81  Professor Michelle Haber AM FAA FAHMS

Michelle Haber has dedicated her entire professional life to improving clinical outcomes for children with cancer. She is one of this country’s leading researchers and has become the face of Australian childhood cancer research internationally. 

But she almost wasn't. In the late 1970’s she had one of many sliding door moments that changed the course of her career and has subsequently saved many lives around the globe. You see, Michelle had just completed her Honours in Clinical Psychology and, being inquisitive and curious, she walked into the nearby offices of the faculty of medicine at the University of New South Wales, Australia. There she happened to meet a Professor of Pathology who helped change everything. She wanted to do research to make a difference. The professor recommended she do a PhD around the topic of the chemical causes of cancer. So, she did. 

In 1984 she became the inaugural staff scientist at what is now known as the Children’s Cancer Institute and eventually became Executive Director of that Institute in 2003. 

The results of her research are astonishing. Amongst many examples, an 11 month old girl had a tumour the size of a football in her stomach. While on life support some ‘precision medicine’ resulting from advances in genomic sequencing, and international co-operation finding the right medicine in the US meant this child was off life support in 4 weeks and out of ICU 2 weeks later. And recently celebrated her 5th birthday. 

But Professor Haber is not quite happy with just that. She wants to eradicate children’s cancers altogether. I wouldn’t bet against her either. 

To hear Michelle’s extraordinary story, head to the podcast link in my bio.

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