Dr. Shan Rajendra

Biography

Professor Shan Rajendra is a leading researcher in the field of Medicine and Health, specifically within the School of Clinical Medicine at UNSW Australia. His research activities focus on the infectious causes of gastrointestinal cancers, with a special emphasis on Barrett's oesophagus. Over the past five years, his research group has been dedicated to developing new concepts and implementing laboratory investigations related to human papillomavirus (HPV) and its correlation with Barrett’s dysplasia and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). His group has notably contributed to the understanding of the strong association between transcriptionally active high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) and Barrett’s dysplasia as well as OAC. Furthermore, findings from his research indicate that increasing hr-HPV viral load is linked to greater disease severity in the Barrett’s metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence, paving the way for potential vaccination strategies targeting a subset of oesophageal cancer. Through these efforts, Professor Rajendra aims to enhance the understanding of gastrointestinal cancer mechanisms and contribute to the development of effective preventive measures.

Research Interests