Griffith University

MBBS (Hons) , FRCPA, MBA

Adjunct Associate Professor

Contact details for Adjunct Associate Professor Glenn Francis

Biography

Dr Francis graduated from the University of Queensland in 1984 with a MBBS Honours. He trained in general pathology including the disciplines of haematology, chemical pathology, microbiology and anatomical pathology at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Prince Charles Hospital, Mater Hospital and the Institute of Forensic Pathology. Following completion of his training in 1991, he began work at the QML Pathology Redcliffe Laboratory. He established the QML Rockhampton Laboratory in 1994 and subsequently established the Emerald and Townsville laboratories. During this time he was appointed Pathologist in charge of Central Queensland QML Pathology. Dr Francis developed an interest in breast and molecular pathology and became Convener of the RCPA Immunohistochemistry Quality Assurance Program in 2001.

In 2002, he relocated to the Gold Coast and was appointed Pathologist in charge of the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers region QML Pathology. In 2005 he was appointed Deputy Director Laboratory Services Pathology Queensland/Director of Pathology Princess Alexandra Hospital Brisbane. His current appointments include Assessor, National Association of Testing Authorities, HER2 Advisory Board, RCPA Board of Education, Chairman RCPA Quality Assurance and Scientific Education Committee, RCPA Council, RCPA General Pathology Advisory Committee, Clinical Council Princess Alexandra Hospital, Director Molecular and Clinical Pathology Research Laboratory.

His current research activities include prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, neural network applications in pathology, in-situ hybridization and next generation sequencing. A number of collaborative research projects are underway with the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research into breast cancer.

Research interests   

• Breast Pathology
• Molecular Biology
• In-situ hybridisation
• Application of neural networks to pathology
• Breast Cancer/Molecular Pathology including next generation sequencing
  

Current research projects    

• Breast cancer specific areas of interest include molecular profiling in breast cancer with application of immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays.
• Development of breast cancer database of more than 10,000 patients utilizing SlidePath Distiller software.
• Australian Trial for CISH for HER-2.
• Extended CISH HER2 Australian trial.
• Ongoing research in prognostic and predictive markers in breast carcinoma in collaboration with the Translational Research Laboratory, QIMR.
• Phenotypic/genotypic profiling in breast cancer.
• mRNA extraction from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue.
• Immuno-LCM and gene expression profiling in FFPE tissue.
• Utilization of LCM for tumour cell isolation.
• Tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry.
• Applications of next generation sequencing in diagnostic pathology.
• Application of neural networks in classification of disease and prediction of patient outcomes.

Current grants    

• 2009-2013 - Prostate Cancer Research Centre - $7.5 million - Pathologist
• 2008-2012 - Novel Strategies for Prediction and Control of Advanced Breast Cancer via Nanoscaled Epigenetic-Based Biosensors - NBCF - $5 million
• 2008-2010 - Novel nanoparticle-based biosensor technology for multiplexed detection of methylation profiles in breast cancer metastases -NBCF/Cancer Council - $600,000
• 2008 - Smart State NIRAP Prostate Collaboration - $2 million - Collaborator
• 2008 - Investigation of an epidemiologically proven cluster of breast cancer cases - PAH Foundation - $50,000
• 2008 - Smart State Innovation Building Fund - $2.96 million - Principal Investigator

Publications

Refereed journal articles

• Austin R, Thompson B, Coory M, Walpole E, Francis G, Fritsch LY. (2009) Histopathology reporting of breast cancer in Queensland: the impact on the quality of reporting as a result of the introduction of recommendations. Pathology. 41(4):361-365.        
• Francis GD, Jones MA, Beadle GF, Stein SR. (2009) Bright-field In Situ Hybridization for HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancer Using Tissue Microarrays: Correlation Between Chromogenic (CISH) and Automated Silver-enhanced (SISH) Methods With Patient Outcome. Diagnostic Molecular Pathology. 18(2):88-95.
• Thompson B, Austin R, Coory M, Aitken JF, Walpole E, Francis G, Fritschi L. (2009) Completeness of histopathology reporting of melanoma in a high-incidence geographical region. Dermatology. 218(1):7-14.
• Saunus JM, French JD, Edwards SL, Beveridge DJ, Hatchell EC, Wagner SA, Stein SR, Davidson A, Simpson KJ, Francis GD, Leedman PJ, Brown MA. (2008) Posttranscriptional regulation of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 by the RNA binding protein HuR. Cancer Research. 68(22):9469-9478.
• Francis G, Dimech M, Giles L, Hopkins A. (2007) Frequency and reliability of oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and HER2 in breast carcinoma determined by immunohistochemistry in Australasia: Results of the RCPA Quality Assurance Program. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 60(11):1277-1283.
• Francis G, Whitby M, Woods M. (2006) Mycobacterium ulcerans infection: a rediscovered focus in the Capricorn coast region of central Queensland. Medical Journal of Australia. Aug 7;185 (3): 179-180.
• Francis G, Beadle G, Thomas S, Mengerson K, Stein S. (2006) Evaluation of oestrogen and progesterone receptor status in HER2 positive breast carcinomas and correlation with outcome. Pathology. 38(5):391-398.
• Bilous M, Morey A, Armes JE, Cummings M, Francis GD. (2006) Chromogenic in-situ hybridisation (CISH) testing for HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer produces highly reproducible results concordant with fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Pathology. Apr;38(2):120-124.
• Jeffery PL, Murray RE, Yeh AH, McNamara JF, Duncan RP, Francis GD, Herington AC, Chopin LK. (2005) Expression and function of the ghrelin axis, including a novel preproghrelin isoform, in human breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Endocr Relat Cancer. Dec;12(4):839-850.
• Banney LA, Wood DJ, Francis GD. (2000) Whiplash rove beetle dermatitis in central Queensland. Australian Journal of Dermatology. Aug; 41(3):162-167.