On a mission to find a cure
Dr Meghna Talekar
From New Zealand to Boston, Dr Meghna Talekar's research career has taken her on a global adventure. Now based in Brisbane, she's making waves with her nanoparticle platform research.
As the 2017 and 2018 recipient of the prestigious Bruce Miller Arthritis Australia Research Fellowship, Dr Talekar is researching treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
She is also involved in type 1 diabetes research as part of Professor Ranjeny Thomas's team.
“There is a history of diabetes in our family, and so that's something that's really near and dear to me. I had a cousin who was severely affected with diabetes, so treating diabetes - or finding a cure - has been something that has been a driving mission.
“My training is as a pharmaceutical scientist and currently I am working on nanoparticle-based drug delivery for autoimmune diseases.
“I'm currently looking at using nanoparticles for the treatment of several autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
“It would make a tremendous difference in people's lives in terms of the quality of life that they would have and also the cost on the economy in terms of medications or hospitalisations that are involved with these specific conditions."