Children’s Medical Research Institute
Tracy is a molecular and cellular biologist whose research focuses on the role of the ends of chromosomes, or telomeres, in the growth of cancer cells. During her PhD studies at the Children’s Medical Research Institute she discovered a new mechanism for maintenance of telomeres in human tumours, a discovery which could impact on the development of anti-cancer therapeutics. During her postdoctoral years at the University of Colorado, Tracy continued to contribute some major discoveries to the field, carrying out biochemical studies on the enzyme telomerase, which adds DNA to telomeres.
2004