Speaker: Dr Roger Yazbek, Catherine Marie Enright Kelly Cancer Research Fellow, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia
Title: Take my Breath Away: Development of new breath tests for gastrointestinal dysfunction and cancer
Chair: Prof Betty Sallustio, Principal Medical Scientist, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Level 2, BHI TQEH
Speaker biography: Dr Yazbek received his PhD from Flinders University in 2009, where he described a role for dipeptidyl peptidases in inflammatory bowel disease. In 2011, Dr Yazbeck received an NHMRC Early Career Research fellowship to continue his research into dipeptidyl peptidases and gastrointestinal disease. Dr Yazbeck moved to Flinders University in 2015 as the Catherine Marie Enright Kelly research fellow and established the South Australian Breath Analysis Research laboratory, overseeing an innovative research program to develop new breath analysis tools for the non-invasive detection of cancer, infectious disease and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Dr Yazbeck is building an international reputation in medical breath analysis as evidenced by his current work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to develop and validate new stable isotope tests for gastrointestinal damage in children. He is currently supervising three PhD students whose projects are focused on quantifying breath Volatile Organic Compounds for the detection of head and neck cancer, upper gastrointestinal cancer and infections associated with cystic fibrosis. Dr Yazbeck is passionate about improving the interface between science and the community and building a pipeline of professionals to secure the future of the industry, and was recognised by a 2013 Tall Poppy Award. He is a passionate advocate for the health and medical research sector and has been Director with the ASMR board since 2009, serving his third term as President, having also served in 2014 and 2018.
