Dr Karen Chiam
E: Karen.chiam@nswcc.org.au
Research
Dr Karen Chiam is a research fellow in the Prostate Cancer Group. She graduated in 2010 with a PhD in Medicine and since then, has been involved in prostate cancer research for more than 10 years. Her past research experience includes research that is focused on identifying new and/or improved biomarkers and treatment therapies in cancer. Karen is passionate about translating her experience in medical research to real-world changes. To pursue this, she joined the Cancer Council NSW in 2017, where she is now focusing on public health research to better understand the needs of prostate cancer patients and what actions are needed, to make a positive impact to their lives.
Her current research includes the use of large population cohorts to understand the patterns of care in men leading up to their prostate cancer diagnosis and during their disease management in Australia. The purpose is to identify and address the issues in the care provided to patients. Her work also involves the evaluation of current evidence on new strategies and technologies in prostate cancer, to understand the potential benefits and harms of these new interventions when implemented in clinical practice.
Qualifications
- PhD (Medicine), The University of Adelaide
- Bachelor of Health Science (Hons), The University of Adelaide
- Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science), The University of Adelaide
Grants
Evaluating the benefits and harms of variation in compliance with best practice guidelines for the treatment of localised prostate cancer: Prostate Cancer Outcome Registry – Australia and New Zealand (PCOR-ANZ) Quality Improvement Research Fund
Academic affiliations
Honorary Research Fellow, Discipline of Public Health, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney
Current student supervision
N/A
Selected key publications
Bianco-Miotto, T*., K. Chiam*, G. Buchanan, S. Jindal, T. K. Day, M. Thomas, M. A. Pickering, et al. “Global Levels of Specific Histone Modifications and an Epigenetic Gene Signature Predict Prostate Cancer Progression and Development.” Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 19, no. 10 (Oct 2010): 2611-22.
Chiam, K., T. Wang, D. I. Watson, G. C. Mayne, T. S. Irvine, T. Bright, L. Smith, et al. “Circulating Serum Exosomal Mirnas as Potential Biomarkers for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.” J Gastrointest Surg 19, no. 7 (Jul 2015): 1208-15.
Lin, H. M., L. Castillo, K. L. Mahon, K. Chiam, B. Y. Lee, Q. Nguyen, M. J. Boyer, et al. “Circulating Micrornas Are Associated with Docetaxel Chemotherapy Outcome in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.” Br J Cancer 110, no. 10 (May 13 2014): 2462-71.
Zhang, A. Y*., K. Chiam*, Y. Haupt, S. Fox, S. Birch, W. Tilley, L. M. Butler, et al. “An Analysis of a Multiple Biomarker Panel to Better Predict Prostate Cancer Metastasis after Radical Prostatectomy.” Int J Cancer (Oct 4 2018).
Chiam, K., G. C. Mayne*, D. I. Watson, R. J. Woodman, T. F. Bright, M. Z. Michael, C. S. Karapetis, et al. “Identification of Microrna Biomarkers of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Using Next Generation Sequencing.” Ann Surg Oncol 25, no. 9 (Sep 2018): 2731-38.