Terry Johns

Biography

After completing a PhD in 1993 at Monash University in the Department of Biochemistry, Professor Terrance Johns joined La Trobe University’s Neuroimmunology Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Fellow. During his time there, he helped develop a new model of multiple sclerosis that remains in use around the world today. In 1998, Professor Johns commenced as a Research Fellow at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and went on to establish the Oncogenic Signalling Laboratory. The main focus of this laboratory is the development of antibodies that target receptors important to the survival and growth of cancer. In particular, at the Ludwig Institute, Professor Johns was a key leader in the development of mAb 806, a novel antibody that is directed to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is currently in clinical trials.

Research Interest

His recent achievements and current research interests include the following: developing cancer-specific antibodies that recognise key receptor tyrosine kinases that drive cancer, such as EGFR and c-Met understanding the biology and intracellular signalling properties of EGFR variants and other receptor tyrosine kinases in high-grade glioma identifying mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies designing strategies for overcoming resistance, such as dual targeting of EGFR developing new treatments for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an incurable childhood cancer developing new treatments for ectopic pregnancy.