Rate My Professor Anita Dunbier

Dunbier's laboratory research focuses on molecular aspects of cancer, with particular emphasis on the genotypic and phenotypic determinants of resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer. Key projects examine genes co-activated alongside the oestrogen receptor that influence cancer cell growth, genetic susceptibility, and treatment response. Another major area investigates how immune cells are recruited to oestrogen receptor-positive breast tumors during endocrine therapy, the signaling mechanisms involved, and their role in enabling cancer cells to evade treatment. This work aims to identify strategies for improving therapy outcomes, such as combination treatments targeting immune responses. Notable publications include 'Restriction site associated DNA sequencing for tumour mutation burden estimation and mutation signature analysis' (McGuinness, C. F., Black, M. A., & Dunbier, A. K., Cancer Medicine, 2023); 'Molecular Profiling of Aromatase Inhibitor–Treated Postmenopausal Breast Tumors Identifies Novel Genes Associated with Early Local Recurrence' (Dunbier et al., Clinical Cancer Research, 2013); and 'Differences in the transcriptional response to endocrine therapy in relationship to tumour biology' (Dunbier et al., 2014). She supervises graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with positions available supported by University of Otago PhD scholarships. Her contributions have garnered over 5,400 citations on Google Scholar.