The future of regenerative therapies is in strong hands, with emerging researchers like Lachlan Staker already contributing to the development of tomorrow’s treatments.
A PhD candidate at the Adelaide University, Lachlan was one of just seven doctoral researchers from leading Australian universities and research institutes to receive a 2025 AusHealth CureCell Award, recognising outstanding early career researchers driving innovation in medical science.
Lachlan’s award was proudly sponsored by SMART CRC, reflecting our commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers who are working to address tangible unmet clinical needs.
His research focuses on the development of a gene editing therapy for genetic blindness caused by dominant mutations, with potential applications beyond ophthalmology, offering a platform that could be adapted to a broad range of dominant genetic disorders.
“Dominant genetic diseases present unique challenges and my research focuses on a dual acting gene editing technology that can precisely target and remove the mutant gene, while replacing part of it with a functional copy,” he said.
“My PhD is a proof of concept, demonstrating this approach in eye disease, but the broader aim is to show that the technology itself is adaptable. In principle, it could be applied to many different genes and disease areas.”
Dedicated to the future of personalised medicine, Lachlan sees close engagement with clinicians and industry partners as essential to ensuring new therapies are designed with patients and clinical realities in mind.
“I want to work as closely as possible with clinicians and industry to help design therapies that can be used in the real world,” he said.
“Being involved across the full pipeline, from discovery science through to what’s needed in the clinic right now, is incredibly motivating.”
SMART CRC CEO Professor Simon Cool said Lachlan exemplifies the type of researcher needed to drive the future of regenerative therapies in Australia.
“SMART CRC was proud to sponsor Lachlan’s award, not only to recognise the quality and promise of his research, but to reinforce the importance of supporting students who are already thinking beyond the lab,” Professor Cool said.
“Building a future-ready regenerative therapies workforce depends on early, meaningful connections between higher degree researchers, industry and clinicians. By supporting students like Lachlan, alongside our partners and broader network, we are helping to strengthen capability across the entire ecosystem.”
The AusHealth CureCell Awards are now open to PhD students doing a cell or biological therapy-related project. Up to five awards of $10,000 are available. The awards were set up to assist PhD students with living costs (many have to get by on around $30,000 a year); the prizes can be spent on anything they wish.
Applications need to be received by 31 May 2026. Winners will be announced before 31 July 2026. More information here