Master of Cancer Sciences alumna Dr Ritika Saxena has emerged as one of Australia’s most promising young researchers, contributing to a breakthrough that could transform future bone marrow transplants.
In the Blood Development Laboratory at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Dr Saxena helped demonstrate that blood stem cells created in the lab that closely resemble those in humans could pave the way for use in blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants.
Dr Saxena’s work contributed to the landmark study published in Nature Biotechnology in September 2024 led by A/Prof Elizabeth Ng (MCRI), where Dr Saxena was one of the co-authors. The discovery could help develop personalised treatments for leukaemia, bone marrow failure and rare genetic blood disorders.
MCRI researchers estimate that first-in-human trials based on this technology could begin within the next five years.
Recently awarded her PhD from the University of Melbourne, Dr Saxena credits the Master of Cancer Sciences program for helping her develop a deep understanding of how to move discoveries from the laboratory to patient care.
“The Master of Cancer Sciences gave me the grounding to always think about how my work will ultimately help patients,” Dr Saxena said. “It was the best thing I could have done for my career as it brought me to the MCRI Blood Development Laboratory, where I stayed for my PhD.”
Dr Saxena recently received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Research with the Melbourne Medical School’s Department of Paediatrics. She is also a past winner of the Victorian International Education Awards and a recipient of the prestigious Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation PhD Scholarship. “Without my Master of Cancer Science degree, I wouldn’t have had the same odds of winning the scholarships,” she said.
Her list of achievements includes being featured in the Herald Sun as one of the top 20 early-career researchers under 40 in Australia, and named a finalist at the 2025 Stem Sisters Women of Colour in STEM Award. She has also travelled nationally and across the globe to present her work, and participated in international collaborations and research visits.
Dr Saxena’s passion for blood cancer research is deeply personal. She lost her grandmother to multiple myeloma. “If we can create safe, personalised stem-cell therapies, we can remove the barriers that so many families face when a donor match can’t be found,” Dr Saxena said.
The Master of Cancer Sciences is Australia's first cancer-specific, wholly online postgraduate degree, developed in collaboration with experts from the VCCC Alliance and the University of Melbourne. January 2026 intake now open.
