Elizabeth Ahern

A/Prof Elizabeth (Liz) Ahern, BE(Chem) (Hons1), MBBS (Hons1), PhD, FRACP is a Medical Oncologist specialising in immune-oncology research and translating preclinical findings into patient therapies. Her expertise focuses on the interaction between the immune system and cancer, as well as the use of immunotherapies for solid tumours.

Her clinical interests include early-phase trials, immunotherapy, neuro-oncology, lung cancer, and skin cancers, including melanoma. She leads the neuro-oncology stream at Monash Health and serves as a principal investigator for neuro-oncology clinical trials. A/Prof Ahern’s PhD research, completed at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, focused on developing novel immunotherapeutic approaches for cancer targeting the Receptor Activator of NF-kB pathways. She is a co-owner of an international patent for a novel immunotherapeutic based on this research.

A/Prof Ahern is a principal investigator for clinical trials in neuro-oncology, early phase/drug development, thoracic oncology, and translational oncology. She collaborates across multidisciplinary domains on immunology and the experience of COVID-19 vaccines in cancer patients, and equity in clinical trial access. She is an executive member of the MoLBi Platform (Monash Live Biobanking platform), which biobanks and conducts immunopeptidomic analysis on lesions of CNS and other challenging cancers. She is also an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University.

Her approach to oncology is distinguished by excellence in patient communication and care, and a strong vision for improving patient outcomes through profound scientific advancement.

Research interests:

  • Early-phase trials
  • Immunotherapy
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Lung cancer
  • Skin cancers, including melanoma

Professional associations:

  • Medical Oncology Group of Australia (MOGA)
  • Thoracic Oncology Group of Australia (TOGA)
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  • Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO)
  • Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA)
  • European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)