Rate My Professor Heather Murray

Dr Heather Murray is a Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Biochemistry, a Master of Philosophy, a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Honours), and a Bachelor of Biological Science, all from the University of Newcastle. Her research centres on precision medicine approaches for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), with a focus on understanding treatment resistance through proteomics, phosphoproteomics, genetic mutation studies, and ex vivo drug screening. Murray investigates molecular profiles of AML subtypes to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop personalised treatment strategies, including work on FLT3-mutated AML and KIT-mutated cases involving DNA-PK inhibition.

She has received the Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Researcher Fellowship in 2022, the Ken Mitchelhill Young Investigator Award from the Australasian Proteomics Society in 2024, the Kellerman Award in 2023, and the Leadership Excellence Award from the University of Newcastle in 2023, along with recognition as Cure Cancer Researcher of the Year third place in 2025. Murray has published in journals including Leukemia and Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, with her findings contributing to national and international clinical trials and a patent application. She has held leadership positions such as Chair of the University of Newcastle School of Biomedical Sciences Early Career Researcher Association and roles in the HMRI Precision Medicine Program Future Leaders Group. Murray collaborates with clinicians and researchers locally and internationally to translate findings into clinical applications.