Rate My Professor Nikki Verrills

Verrills' research focuses on biochemical signalling pathways driving cancer development, progression, and therapy resistance, with emphasis on reactivating the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), breast cancer, and other malignancies. She employs proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and patient-derived models to identify druggable targets, such as synergistic inhibition of DNA-PK and FLT3 in AML and overcoming venetoclax resistance. Key publications include 'Essential requirement for PP2A inhibition by the oncogenic receptor c-KIT suggests PP2A reactivation as a strategy to treat c-KIT+ cancers' (Cancer Research, 2010), 'Activation of protein phosphatase 2A in FLT3+ acute myeloid leukemia cells enhances the cytotoxicity of FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors' (Oncotarget, 2016), 'Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome (SBDS) protein is a direct inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity and overexpressed in acute myeloid leukaemia' (Leukemia, 2020), and 'Quantitative phosphoproteomics uncovers synergy between DNA-PK and FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukaemia' (Leukemia, 2021). She has secured 95 grants totaling over $17.9 million, including NHMRC Ideas Grants, Cancer Institute NSW equipment grants ($599,132 in 2025), and NSW Ministry of Health funding. Awards include the Voiceless Eureka Prize (2007), University of Newcastle Vice Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence (2007), Supervisor of the Year (2019), Bill Cantwell Prize (1998), Young Tall Poppy Award (2007), and Hunter Children’s Research Foundation Research Mentor Award (2024). Verrills contributes to the HMRI Cancer Research Group Steering Committee, NHMRC Grant Review Panel, and organising committees for cancer research conferences.