Dr Daniel Cox awarded Ashley Johnson Scholarship

Dr Daniel Cox, a general surgery trainee undertaking translational research towards a PhD at the Austin Precinct has been awarded the Inaugural Ashley Johnson Scholarship by the Victorian Liver Transplantation Service.

Daniel’s research investigates the role of mitochondrial cell-free DNA in propagating pathological immune responses after liver transplantation. Under the guidance of his supervisors, Associate Professor Alex Dobrovic (Laboratory Head, Translational Genomics and Epigenomics Lab), Associate Professor Adam Testro (Transplant Hepatologist) and Associate Professor Muralidharan (HPB Surgeon) Daniel’s work studying a novel blood test to quantify mitochondria derived cell-free DNA in liver transplant recipients is gaining increasing attention. The group’s work has shown insights into the origins of mitochondrial cell-free DNA in the circulation which have recently been published in Clinical Chemistry (IF 8.636), a leading journal in clinical laboratory science.

The Ashley Johnson Scholarship has been established at the bequest of Mr Ashley Johnson, a liver transplant recipient cared for at Austin Health. The scholarship will drive research at the Austin Precinct in precision medicine following liver transplantation.