STUDENT
Minesh Lalla
Minesh Lalla completed the Master of Laboratory Medicine to further his studies and chose RMIT as it combined theory with practical experience. Now he's working to improve cancer diagnosis.
Master of Laboratory Medicine
Program Manager and Senior Research Scientist, Sienna Cancer Diagnostics Ltd.
Cancer diagnostics; telomerase; clinical translation of novel diagnostic assays; assay development.
South Africa
I love waking up each morning knowing that one day what we achieved as a humble start-up company will ultimately be used to better patient outcomes and improve cancer treatments.
My interest in science resurrected when I was in primary school after first learning about a genetic condition that had affected both of my parents, and hampered their ability to have children. The loss of a close friend to leukaemia during my adolescence sparked an interest in cancer.
Originally from South Africa, I travelled to Australia in 2008 to further my education and enter a job market which provided a pathway into clinical translation. I chose RMIT because of its reputation in combining theory with practical experience.
At RMIT I met a diverse range of international and local students which allowed me to grow a rich network of friends and professional colleagues.
I’m currently employed by Sienna Cancer Diagnostics Ltd as a Program Manager and Senior Research Scientist. I joined Sienna in 2009 during its early stages of research and development (R&D and since then, we have developed a novel diagnostic cancer test which was released in the US market in January 2015.
I’m responsible for the management and execution of key projects including R&D, manufacturing of our novel diagnostic product, product development and technology transfer to both scientific and commercial partners in Australia, and the USA.
I love waking up each morning and spending the day working with an enthusiastic and motivated team, as well as knowing that one day what we achieved as a humble start-up company will ultimately be used to better patient outcomes and improve cancer treatments.