Our Team
Dr. Vivek Rathi
(MD, MHSc, FRCPA)
Medical Director / Molecular & ANATOMICAL Pathologist
Dr. Vivek Rathi is a Molecular and Anatomical Pathologist and a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. He finished his basic medical qualification in 2002 and then worked as a house medical officer in various Victorian hospitals. After completing a registrar year in emergency medicine at Monash Medical Centre in 2006, Vivek joined the RCPA pathology training program in 2007. During his 5 years of pathology training, he worked as a Pathology Registrar at the Austin, Northern, Western, and Royal Melbourne Hospitals.
Vivek obtained his FRCPA in early 2012 and then worked for 8 years as a Staff Pathologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, where in 2014 he established one of the first NATA accredited molecular laboratories in Australia offering next generation sequencing tests for cancer patients. Vivek joined Monash Health, a quaternary referral centre, in early 2020 as the Director of one of the largest diagnostic genomics departments in Australia. At Monash Health, Vivek was instrumental in the introduction of multiple highly sought-after molecular tests.
Besides his responsibilities of clinical governance and supervision, Vivek has a keen interest in molecular assay design, validation, and quality control. His dual qualification as an Anatomical and Molecular Pathologist enables him to tackle high level translational research challenges including spatial genomics, understanding complex interactions between tumour and microenvironment, disease heterogeneity, gene expression, and cancer pathway profiling. Vivek is an adjunct senior lecturer at Monash University and has an ongoing involvement in many clinical translational research projects. He started with LifeStrands in early 2022.
Dr. Lynn Fink(BSc, PhD, FFSc RCPA [Pathology Informatics])
LABORATORY DIRECTOR
Dr. Lynn Fink is a senior clinical scientist and fellow of the Faculty of Sciences of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia specialising in clinical bioinformatics. She completed her Bachelor of Science from The University of Arizona in 1995, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and then completed her PhD in 2003 at The University of California, San Diego in Biomedical Sciences performing her thesis research in the San Diego Supercomputer Center.
Lynn then travelled to Australia to conduct postdoctoral research at the University of Queensland working with major international consortia including the RIKEN FANTOM3 project and the International Cancer Genome Consortium. Her research has produced over 80 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and she has presented at many national and international conferences on precision diagnostics and precision medicine-related topics.
Since 2019, Lynn has worked in NATA-accredited molecular pathology labs, most recently in comprehensive genomic tumour profiling with the Australian Translational Genomics Centre and Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology. She obtained her fellowship from the RCPA Faculty of Science in Pathology Informatics in early 2020 and joined LifeStrands as Deputy Laboratory Director in 2024.
Prof. Paul Waring
(MBBS, FRCPA, PhD, FHGSA, FRCPath)
Molecular & Anatomical Pathologist
Paul joined Lifestrands in October 2024 as a part-time molecular pathologist. He completed his MBBS from UWA in 1982, FRCPA (anatomical pathology) in 1990, PhD (cancer biology) from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute / University of Melbourne in 1993, Fellowship in Molecular Pathology (Stanford University) in 1995, FHGSA (Molecular Genetics) in 2001 and FRCPath (UK) in 2008. He has held several leadership positions including Director of Pathology of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (2001-4), Senior Director of Pathology and Diagnostics at Genentech, San Francisco USA (2004-8), Chair of Pathology at University of Melbourne (2010-16), Vice President for Medical innovation at Roche Diagnostics USA (2016) and Executive Director of Translational Pathology at AstraZeneca based in Cambridge UK (2020-24).
He was the Inaugural Chair and Founding Fellow of the RCPA Faculty of Science, represented the RPCA on Medical Services Advisory Committee and is currently the RCPA Chief Examiner in Molecular Pathology and RCPath(UK) Clinical Director for International Activities and holds honorary appointments at Melbourne and Cambridge Universities.
He also works part-time as the molecular pathologist and designated person for the Australian Translational Genome Centre and GenomiQa in Brisbane and is credentialed by the RCPA for overseeing genomic testing for somatic and germline cancer by whole exome and whole genome sequencing. He is also an advisor to several overseas biotech, diagnostic, pharmaceutical and AI companies.
Paul brings a wealth of research, translational, industrial, regulatory and commercial experience in the development and implementation of cancer biomarkers both in clinical trials and clinical practice.
Dr. Neil Watkins(OAM MBBS PhD FRACP)
RESEARCH CONSULTANT
Neil joined the LifeStrands team in November 2024 as a Research Consultant, working with clinical and laboratory experts to advise on research strategies, translational implications of molecular pathology and providing expert input in molecular tumour board meetings.
He has over 25 years experience in basic and translational cancer research, drug development, biomarker development and early phase clinical trials. His cancer research expertise include developmental biology, cell biology, epigenetics, genetically engineered mouse models and genomics. He has published as senior author in journals such as Nature, Sci Transl Med, J Clin Invest, PNAS, Gastroenterology and Gene Dev describing research in a wide variety of cancer types with an emphasis on lung cancer and medulloblastoma.
Neil completed his MBBS from the University of Western Australia in 1987, FRACP (intensive care medicine) in 1993 and then a PhD (molecular pharmacology) in 1997 from UWA. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Centre at Johns Hopkins Medical School under the supervision of Dr Steve Baylin and Dr Phil Beachy. In 2002 he was promoted to Assistant Professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins, where he worked for 5 years running a large laboratory funded by the NIH, the Sidney Kimmel Foundation and philanthropy.
He returned to Australia in 2008, and has held several senior academic and leadership positions in Australian cancer research, including Professor of Cancer Biology at Monash University (2008), Laboratory Head at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research (2008), NHMRC Senior Research Fellow (2009) and the Petre Chair of Cancer Biology at the Garvan Institute (2015). In 2019 he was recruited as the Director of the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute in Canada.
In 2022 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to tertiary education.
Dr Faranak (Frankie) Sherbaf
(BSc, MSc, PhD)
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Dr. Faranak (Frankie) Sherbaf is a distinguished expert in Cancer Genomics, holding a PhD from NUS and the Genome Institute of Singapore. Her impressive career spans Germany, Singapore, and Australia, with highlights including her impactful work as a Project Manager and Postdoctoral Researcher at A*STAR Singapore. There, she led groundbreaking cancer research projects, culminating in publications in prestigious journals such as Nature Genetics and Nucleic Acids Research (NAR).
Frankie’s most recent role was at AGRF, where she first worked as an Account Manager and later as a Clinical Genomics Specialist, further solidifying her expertise in the field. She also brings a wealth of experience in developing molecular diagnostic assays and companion diagnostic tests, with a strong focus on ISO and CAP compliance.
Dr. Amy Davies(MBBS, BClinSc, MPH, MMed, FRACP)
PRECISION ONCOLOGY CLINICAL ADVISER
Dr. Amy Davies is a Medical Oncologist with a strong interest in precision oncology and genomics. Amy completed her MBBS at Notre Dame University, Fremantle WA. She also holds Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (SCU), Master of Public Health (USyd) and Master of Medicine (USyd). Within her post-graduate degrees, she undertook specific clinical genomics studies.
Amy has published in key Australasian and International oncology journals as both lead author and co-author, with works including original articles, systematic reviews, and case-reports. Amy has contributed several consensus-driven protocols to the leading Australian oncology website, eviQ. She has presented research at national and international meetings and enjoys learning from peers and senior colleagues at any opportunity. Amy is committed to precision oncology and always strives for the best and most tailored outcome for each individual patient.
Boris Wong
(BSc[BiomedSc], MLabMed, PhD-c)
SENIOR MOLECULAR AND BIOINFORMATICS SCIENTIST
Boris is a PhD candidate in The School of Cancer Medicine at La Trobe University. He has a Master of Medical Laboratory Science from RMIT University and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from The University of Adelaide. After finishing his Bachelor degree in 2012, he worked at Roche Diagnostics in Hong Kong as an Application Assistant followed by Siemens Healthineers as a Field Application Specialist. He then returned to Australia and finished his Masters degree in 2017 and worked as a Research Scientist in the Myeloma Research Group at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, The Alfred Hospital.
Boris started his PhD in the Translational Genomics and Epigenomics Group at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute in 2018. His PhD project focused on developing a bioinformatic pipeline to identify personalised biomarkers from whole genome sequencing data and applying them to monitor cancer recurrence after surgical tumour resection by liquid biopsy. During his PhD studies he also worked as a Medical Scientist and Quality Manager in the Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, overseeing the quality management system for the molecular diagnostic services under ISO 15189 accreditation, before joining LifeStrands in 2022.
Siok Chuang Chang(BBiomedSc, MLabMed)
SENIOR MOLECULAR SCIENTIST
Siok commenced her career as a Medical Scientist in Anatomical Pathology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, in 2010 after completing a professional laboratory placement as part of the Master of Laboratory Medicine from RMIT University. She was part of the molecular team establishing genomic testing services and obtaining NATA accreditations for those tests.
With close to a decade of clinical scientific experience in molecular diagnostics specialising in solid tumours, Siok joined LifeStrands in 2022.
Dr. Abhi Nigam
(BSc, MBiotech, PhD)
MOLECULAR SCIENTIST
Abhi obtained his PhD from The University of Melbourne in 2023, with his project focused on low-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (LGSOC), a rare and relatively understudied subtype of ovarian cancer (OC). The project incorporated the use of multi-omics to screen over one hundred LGSOC cases to identify USP9X, an essential gene and master regulator of protein turnover, as the most frequently mutated non-RAS/RAF gene in this subtype of OC.
After the completion of his PhD, Abhi worked at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne as a Postdoctoral Research Officer on a commercial project with a large multinational pharmaceutical company. The project revolved around assessing minor splicing inhibition as a mechanism of reducing tumour proliferation across a wide range of solid cancer types. He designed and optimised an experimental pipeline to assess compound efficacy, implementing the use of automation to increase throughput, which enabled the thorough screening of novel potential therapeutics. Abhi also holds a Master of Biotechnology (Clinical Microbiology) from RMIT University and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Genetics from The University of Nottingham. Abhi joined LifeStrands in 2024.
Zi Qing Chai(BBioMedSci, MLabMed)
Molecular Scientist
Zi completed his Master of Laboratory Medicine from RMIT University in 2018, then commenced his career as a Medical Scientist in the Translational Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute for 2 years. His role included molecular diagnostics services and assisting with management of the quality systems. He joined the St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Molecular Department in 2021, before joining LifeStrands in 2022.
Anita Galileos
(BSc, BBiomedSc[LabMed])
MOLECULAR SCIENTIST
Anita completed her Bachelor of Science in 1994 and went on to work as a Production Scientist at AMRAD Biotech for a few years. An extended hiatus from laboratory work allowed her to focus on family and pursue running a small business and career in customer service and retail sectors. Over the years her passion for biomedical science was reignited and resulted in her pursuing further studies, graduating with distinction in Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Laboratory Medicine). During her recent studies, exposure to Molecular Oncology piqued her interest in this important field and culminated with her joining LifeStrands in 2022.
Alaia Tai(BBiomdSc, MGenomeAnalytics)
CLINICAL CURATOR
Alaia graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from The University of Adelaide in 2020, where she completed a professional laboratory placement as part of the program. Fuelled by her thirst for understanding, she pursued a Master of Genome Analytics at Monash University, graduating in 2023. This helped her gain comprehensive training in variant curation, equipping her with the skills to translate complex genetic data into actionable clinical decisions and unlocking ground-breaking insights crucial for revolutionising healthcare. Alaia’s journey into the field of genomics began with her role as a Clinical Curator at LifeStrands, allowing her to be at the forefront that drives precision medicine forward, one genetic insight at a time.
Riley Fahy(BSc, MGenomeAnalytics)
CLINICAL CURATOR
Riley graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Monash University in 2022, where he developed a strong foundation in molecular biology and biochemical principles. Driven by a passion for genetics, he went on to pursue a Master of Genome Analytics at Monash University, graduating in 2024. This advanced training provided him with in-depth expertise in genome analytics, focusing on variant interpretation and the application of genetic data to real-world challenges.
Riley’s journey into genomics has been shaped by his drive to understand and unlock the potential of genetic data, with a particular interest in its role in advancing healthcare and therapeutic development. His education has equipped him with the technical and analytical skills necessary to turn complex genetic information into actionable insights, contributing to the broader field of precision medicine.
Harshi Rupasinghe(BSc, BBioMedSci (Hons), MLabMed)
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Harshi completed her Bachelor of Science in 2020 at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and went on to pursue post-graduate study at the University of Melbourne, where she completed her Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours). Her research project focused on comparing a novel orthopedic construct to the gold standard technique for the treatment of simple transverse olecranon fractures. After completing and publishing this research, Harshi worked as a laboratory technician in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trial laboratories including Nucleus Network and The Alfred Hospital before returning to RMIT University to complete a Master of Laboratory Medicine qualification. While majoring in anatomical pathology, she became interested in molecular diagnostics and went on to complete her professional laboratory placement at LifeStrands. Upon completion of her qualification, Harshi joined LifeStrands in 2024.
Khandhan Nadarajan(BSc, MBiomedSc)
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Khandhan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Melbourne in 2020. Building on this foundation, Khandhan earned a Master of Biomedical Science in 2023, delving into cellular reprogramming and igniting an interest in biomedical research. This journey equipped Khandhan with extensive laboratory skills and a deep understanding of molecular techniques. In 2024, Khandhan joined LifeStrands as a Laboratory Technician.
Annabelle Cheong(BBiomedSc)
SPECIMEN RECEPTIONIST
Belle graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Monash University in 2023, taking a keen interest in biomedical research. After completing her degree, she spent some time travelling and working in retail management and administration, before starting at LifeStrands in 2024.
Our Team
Dr. Vivek Rathi
(MD, MHSc, FRCPA)
Medical Director / Molecular & ANATOMICAL Pathologist
Dr. Vivek Rathi is a Molecular and Anatomical Pathologist and a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. He finished his basic medical qualification in 2002 and then worked as a house medical officer in various Victorian hospitals. After completing a registrar year in emergency medicine at Monash Medical Centre in 2006, Vivek joined the RCPA pathology training program in 2007. During his 5 years of pathology training, he worked as a Pathology Registrar at the Austin, Northern, Western, and Royal Melbourne Hospitals.
Vivek obtained his FRCPA in early 2012 and then worked for 8 years as a Staff Pathologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, where in 2014 he established one of the first NATA accredited molecular laboratories in Australia offering next generation sequencing tests for cancer patients. Vivek joined Monash Health, a quaternary referral centre, in early 2020 as the Director of one of the largest diagnostic genomics departments in Australia. At Monash Health, Vivek was instrumental in the introduction of multiple highly sought-after molecular tests.
Besides his responsibilities of clinical governance and supervision, Vivek has a keen interest in molecular assay design, validation, and quality control. His dual qualification as an Anatomical and Molecular Pathologist enables him to tackle high level translational research challenges including spatial genomics, understanding complex interactions between tumour and microenvironment, disease heterogeneity, gene expression, and cancer pathway profiling. Vivek is an adjunct senior lecturer at Monash University and has an ongoing involvement in many clinical translational research projects. He started with LifeStrands in early 2022.
Prof. Paul Waring
(MBBS, FRCPA, PhD, FHGSA, FRCPath)
Molecular & Anatomical Pathologist
Paul joined Lifestrands in October 2024 as a part-time molecular pathologist. He completed his MBBS from UWA in 1982, FRCPA (anatomical pathology) in 1990, PhD (cancer biology) from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute / University of Melbourne in 1993, Fellowship in Molecular Pathology (Stanford University) in 1995, FHGSA (Molecular Genetics) in 2001 and FRCPath (UK) in 2008. He has held several leadership positions including Director of Pathology of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (2001-4), Senior Director of Pathology and Diagnostics at Genentech, San Francisco USA (2004-8), Chair of Pathology at University of Melbourne (2010-16), Vice President for Medical innovation at Roche Diagnostics USA (2016) and Executive Director of Translational Pathology at AstraZeneca based in Cambridge UK (2020-24).
He was the Inaugural Chair and Founding Fellow of the RCPA Faculty of Science, represented the RPCA on Medical Services Advisory Committee and is currently the RCPA Chief Examiner in Molecular Pathology and RCPath(UK) Clinical Director for International Activities and holds honorary appointments at Melbourne and Cambridge Universities.
He also works part-time as the molecular pathologist and designated person for the Australian Translational Genome Centre and GenomiQa in Brisbane and is credentialed by the RCPA for overseeing genomic testing for somatic and germline cancer by whole exome and whole genome sequencing. He is also an advisor to several overseas biotech, diagnostic, pharmaceutical and AI companies.
Paul brings a wealth of research, translational, industrial, regulatory and commercial experience in the development and implementation of cancer biomarkers both in clinical trials and clinical practice.
Dr. Hongdo Do
(BA, BSc, PhD)
Laboratory Director
Dr. Hongdo Do completed his Bachelor in Arts overseas and Bachelor in Biomedical Science from The University of Adelaide in 2003, majoring in Medical Genetics and Pharmacology, followed by a postgraduate Laboratory Medicine course at RMIT University in 2004. He then worked as Molecular Scientist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for 2 years before starting his PhD studies in 2007 at The University of Melbourne in cancer genomics and epigenomics.
After completing his PhD in 2011, Hongdo undertook three postdoctoral research programs at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Ludwig Institute Cancer Centre, and Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre. He then took a Research Associate role at Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in 2018 to supervise junior scientists and PhD students, and as Quality Manager. His cancer research has produced over 50 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including the first report of cytosine and 5-methyl cytosine deamination damage as the major cause of sequence artefacts in formalin-fixed tissues and practical solutions for the removal of sequence artefacts using enzymatic UDG and TDG treatments.
In early 2019, Hongdo joined St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne as a Supervising Clinical Molecular Scientist for its molecular diagnostic testing service and then joined LifeStrands as Laboratory Director and Quality Manager in 2022. Hongdo has assisted NATA as a technical assessor and he is affiliated with The University of Melbourne to supervise PhD students in translational research.
Dr. Lynn Fink(BSc, PhD, FFSc RCPA [Pathology Informatics])
DEPUTY LABORATORY DIRECTOR
Dr. Lynn Fink is a senior clinical scientist and fellow of the Faculty of Sciences of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia specialising in clinical bioinformatics. She completed her Bachelor of Science from The University of Arizona in 1995, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and then completed her PhD in 2003 at The University of California, San Diego in Biomedical Sciences performing her thesis research in the San Diego Supercomputer Center.
Lynn then travelled to Australia to conduct postdoctoral research at the University of Queensland working with major international consortia including the RIKEN FANTOM3 project and the International Cancer Genome Consortium. Her research has produced over 80 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and she has presented at many national and international conferences on precision diagnostics and precision medicine-related topics.
Since 2019, Lynn has worked in NATA-accredited molecular pathology labs, most recently in comprehensive genomic tumour profiling with the Australian Translational Genomics Centre and Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology. She obtained her fellowship from the RCPA Faculty of Science in Pathology Informatics in early 2020 and joined LifeStrands as Deputy Laboratory Director in 2024.
Dr. Amy Davies(MBBS, BClinSc, MPH, MMed, FRACP)
PRECISION ONCOLOGY CLINICAL ADVISER
Dr. Amy Davies is a Medical Oncologist with a strong interest in precision oncology and genomics. Amy completed her MBBS at Notre Dame University, Fremantle WA. She also holds Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (SCU), Master of Public Health (USyd) and Master of Medicine (USyd). Within her post-graduate degrees, she undertook specific clinical genomics studies.
Amy has published in key Australasian and International oncology journals as both lead author and co-author, with works including original articles, systematic reviews, and case-reports. Amy has contributed several consensus-driven protocols to the leading Australian oncology website, eviQ. She has presented research at national and international meetings and enjoys learning from peers and senior colleagues at any opportunity. Amy is committed to precision oncology and always strives for the best and most tailored outcome for each individual patient.
Boris Wong
(BSc[BiomedSc], MLabMed, PhD-c)
SENIOR MOLECULAR AND BIOINFORMATICS SCIENTIST
Boris is a PhD candidate in The School of Cancer Medicine at La Trobe University. He has a Master of Medical Laboratory Science from RMIT University and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from The University of Adelaide. After finishing his Bachelor degree in 2012, he worked at Roche Diagnostics in Hong Kong as an Application Assistant followed by Siemens Healthineers as a Field Application Specialist. He then returned to Australia and finished his Masters degree in 2017 and worked as a Research Scientist in the Myeloma Research Group at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, The Alfred Hospital.
Boris started his PhD in the Translational Genomics and Epigenomics Group at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute in 2018. His PhD project focused on developing a bioinformatic pipeline to identify personalised biomarkers from whole genome sequencing data and applying them to monitor cancer recurrence after surgical tumour resection by liquid biopsy. During his PhD studies he also worked as a Medical Scientist and Quality Manager in the Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, overseeing the quality management system for the molecular diagnostic services under ISO 15189 accreditation, before joining LifeStrands in 2022.
Dr. Abhi Nigam
(BSc, MBiotech, PhD)
MOLECULAR SCIENTIST
Abhi obtained his PhD from The University of Melbourne in 2023, with his project focused on low-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (LGSOC), a rare and relatively understudied subtype of ovarian cancer (OC). The project incorporated the use of multi-omics to screen over one hundred LGSOC cases to identify USP9X, an essential gene and master regulator of protein turnover, as the most frequently mutated non-RAS/RAF gene in this subtype of OC.
After the completion of his PhD, Abhi worked at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne as a Postdoctoral Research Officer on a commercial project with a large multinational pharmaceutical company. The project revolved around assessing minor splicing inhibition as a mechanism of reducing tumour proliferation across a wide range of solid cancer types. He designed and optimised an experimental pipeline to assess compound efficacy, implementing the use of automation to increase throughput, which enabled the thorough screening of novel potential therapeutics. Abhi also holds a Master of Biotechnology (Clinical Microbiology) from RMIT University and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Genetics from The University of Nottingham. Abhi joined LifeStrands in 2024.
Siok Chuang Chang(BBiomedSc, MLabMed)
SENIOR MOLECULAR SCIENTIST
Siok commenced her career as a Medical Scientist in Anatomical Pathology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, in 2010 after completing a professional laboratory placement as part of the Master of Laboratory Medicine from RMIT University. She was part of the molecular team establishing genomic testing services and obtaining NATA accreditations for those tests.
With close to a decade of clinical scientific experience in molecular diagnostics specialising in solid tumours, Siok joined LifeStrands in 2022.
Zi Qing Chai(BBioMedSci, MLabMed)
Molecular Scientist
Zi completed his Master of Laboratory Medicine from RMIT University in 2018, then commenced his career as a Medical Scientist in the Translational Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute for 2 years. His role included molecular diagnostics services and assisting with management of the quality systems. He joined the St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Molecular Department in 2021, before joining LifeStrands in 2022.
Anita Galileos
(BSc, BBiomedSc[LabMed])
MOLECULAR SCIENTIST
Anita completed her Bachelor of Science in 1994 and went on to work as a Production Scientist at AMRAD Biotech for a few years. An extended hiatus from laboratory work allowed her to focus on family and pursue running a small business and career in customer service and retail sectors. Over the years her passion for biomedical science was reignited and resulted in her pursuing further studies, graduating with distinction in Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Laboratory Medicine). During her recent studies, exposure to Molecular Oncology piqued her interest in this important field and culminated with her joining LifeStrands in 2022.
Alaia Tai(BBiomdSc, MGenomeAnalytics)
CLINICAL CURATOR
Alaia graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from The University of Adelaide in 2020, where she completed a professional laboratory placement as part of the program. Fuelled by her thirst for understanding, she pursued a Master of Genome Analytics at Monash University, graduating in 2023. This helped her gain comprehensive training in variant curation, equipping her with the skills to translate complex genetic data into actionable clinical decisions and unlocking ground-breaking insights crucial for revolutionising healthcare. Alaia’s journey into the field of genomics began with her role as a Clinical Curator at LifeStrands, allowing her to be at the forefront that drives precision medicine forward, one genetic insight at a time.
Monaa Mallesh Kumar(BBiomdSc, MGenomeAnalytics)
CLINICAL CURATOR
Monaa graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Monash University in 2021, where exposure to cutting-edge molecular science and the concepts of personalized medicine aligned with her motivation to make a unique contribution to community health. This led her to pursue a Masters of Genome Analytics from Monash University, graduating in 2023. With aspirations to be part of a field destined to shape the future of efficient healthcare – Clinical Genomics – Monaa began her career at LifeStrands in 2023 as a Laboratory Technician and has now taken on clinical curation duties.
Raksha Rani Napaul(BSc, MSc, DipPhysio)
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Raksha started her career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Bordeaux, France. While gaining hands-on experience in Haematology, Blood-Bank, and Biochemistry departments in one of the main private hospitals in Mauritius, she decided to broaden her expertise by pursuing a Master in Applied and Sustainable Chemistry. During her studies, Raksha did her post-graduate research project in 3D Tumour Engineering using cancer cell lines, in collaboration with The University of Mauritius and Edith Cowan University, Australia. Throughout her career she got the opportunity to work with the medical laboratory quality management system ISO 15189. After relocating to Australia Raksha pursued her interest in Molecular Oncology by joining LifeStrands in 2023.
Harshi Rupasinghe(BSc, BBioMedSci (Hons), MLabMed)
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Harshi completed her Bachelor of Science in 2020 at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and went on to pursue post-graduate study at the University of Melbourne, where she completed her Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours). Her research project focused on comparing a novel orthopedic construct to the gold standard technique for the treatment of simple transverse olecranon fractures. After completing and publishing this research, Harshi worked as a laboratory technician in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trial laboratories including Nucleus Network and The Alfred Hospital before returning to RMIT University to complete a Master of Laboratory Medicine qualification. While majoring in anatomical pathology, she became interested in molecular diagnostics and went on to complete her professional laboratory placement at LifeStrands. Upon completion of her qualification, Harshi joined LifeStrands in 2024.
Khandhan Nadarajan(BSc, MBiomedSc)
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Khandhan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Melbourne in 2020. Building on this foundation, Khandhan earned a Master of Biomedical Science in 2023, delving into cellular reprogramming and igniting an interest in biomedical research. This journey equipped Khandhan with extensive laboratory skills and a deep understanding of molecular techniques. In 2024, Khandhan joined LifeStrands as a Laboratory Technician.
Annabelle Cheong(BBiomedSc)
Lab Reception Coordinator
Belle graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Monash University in 2023, taking a keen interest in biomedical research. After completing her degree, she spent some time travelling and working in retail management and administration, before starting at LifeStrands in 2024.
