Meet our researchers: Dr Adrienne Sullivan

This finely tuned process allows stem cells to become specialised tissues, but when disrupted, it can contribute to diseases such as cancer.  Understanding these changes, she believes, is key to developing more precise and effective treatments.

Dr Sullivan’s passion for science began early.  As a child, she was captivated by nature documentaries, particularly The Private Life of Plants narrated by Sir David Attenborough.  “Seeing time-lapse footage of plants growing or hidden patterns revealed under ultraviolet light was incredible,” she recalls.  “It showed me that there’s so much happening beyond what we can observe directly.”

That sense of wonder deepened in high school, where she became fascinated by DNA and molecular biology.  “The idea that the same genetic code underpins all life—and yet produces such diversity—was extraordinary,” she says.  This curiosity eventually led her to epigenetics, a field that sits at the intersection of genetics, development, and environmental influence.

Today, Dr Sullivan’s research focuses on how epigenetic changes shape cell identity during development, and how those same mechanisms can be hijacked in cancer.  “Epigenetics is central to defining what a cell does,” she explains.  “As cells mature, their epigenetic markers guide them into specific roles.  In cancer, that control system can break down.”

What draws her to cancer research is its complexity.  “Cancer isn’t something foreign like a virus—it’s our own cells behaving abnormally,” she says.  “They’re using the same genes and machinery as healthy cells, just in the wrong way.”  For Dr Sullivan, studying normal cell biology is inseparable from studying cancer.  “They’re two sides of the same coin,” she notes.

Her team aims to uncover the molecular pathways that drive these changes, with the ultimate goal of identifying new strategies to target cancer cells more precisely or prevent tumours from becoming more aggressive.  “These aren’t just academic questions,” she says.  “They have real potential to improve cancer care and open doors in regenerative medicine.”

Leading her own lab is one of Dr Sullivan’s proudest achievements.  Throughout her career, she has been inspired by colleagues who persevered through failed experiments and long hours driven by curiosity and determination.  “Research is full of setbacks,” she says, “but passion for discovery keeps you going.  That’s something I really value in my team.”

Outside the lab, Dr Sullivan finds balance through art, photography, and time spent in nature.  She still enjoys the documentaries that first sparked her interest in science and appreciates the lighter side of research—including the occasional humour hidden in gene names.  “Every gene needs an official name, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring,” she laughs, citing GATA3 and its partner protein FOG1—short for ‘Friend of GATA’—as a personal favourite.

Looking ahead, Dr Sullivan remains guided by curiosity and perseverance.  “The joy of science comes from grappling with difficult questions and those rare moments when things finally click,” she says.  “There’s still so much to discover—but every insight brings us closer.”

Listen to Dr Sullivan on 2GB Sydney’s Healthy Living podcast here.