Dr Monique Bax
Dr Bax is a Post Doctoral Scientist based at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, Australia. She is a world leader in using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived blood vessel models to study spontaneous coronary artery dissections, also known as SCAD, the main cause of heart attacks in young women.
Dr Bax attained her Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (First Class) in 2013 from the University of Wollongong. In 2019, she completed her PhD at the Univeristy of Wollongong, under the supervision of Prof Lezanne Ooi and the late Prof Justin Yerbury studying motor neurone disease, also known as ALS, using patient-derived stem cells.
With over a decade of iPSC experience, culturing over 50 genetically unique iPSC lines, and personally reprogramming and characterising half of these, Dr Bax is incredibly passionate about utilising stem cells to model disease.
Having been awarded over $240,000 in competitive funding, and supervising Honours and PhD students, Dr Bax aims to continue her trajectory as a leader in science.
Honours and PhD projects are available.
Any enquire via: M.Bax@victorchang.edu.au
Extracellular
Matrix
Sex Differences
Pulsatility
Scientific Community Service
Dr Bax currently serves on the Cardiac, Vascular & Metabolic Medicine ECR Committee, and has served as Secretary of the St Vincent’s Post Doctoral Development Committee since 2020. She is Chairperson of the Sydney Cardiovascular Symposium 2024 ECR Committee, and is serving on the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research NSW Conference Organising Committee.
She is a member of the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research, the Australia and New Zealand Matrix Biology Society and the Cardiovascular Research Network NSW.
Internal scientific service at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute includes chairperson of the Social Committee (3 years), Mental Health First Aider (3 years), and regularly assists with facility tours.
Dr Bax has previous served as a Media and Communications Officer for the International Society for Heart Research Early Career Researcher Committee (Australasian Section; 2023).
Peer reviewing for four journals, assessing student work (from UoW & UNSW), and marking abstracts for multiple conferences including the Cardiac Society, Dr Bax regularly volunteers her time to the wider scientific community.
Funding
2024 CIA VCCRI Outstanding EMCR Grant ($40,000)
2023 CVMM EMCR Conference Award 2023 ($2,000)
2023 Grant-in-aid to attend Falling Walls Lab Australia 2023
2023 Applied Medical Research Equipment Grant ($15,000)
2023 CIB VCCRI Outstanding EMCR Grant ($40,000)
2022 CVRN Professional Development Award ($2,000)
2022 Applied Medical Research Equipment Grant ($15,000)
2021 CVRN Professional Development Award ($2,000)
2021 10X Genomics Training Fellowship
2020 AMP Tomorrow Maker Grant ($22,600)
2015 National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia Travel Award ($500)
2014 Rotary Group MND PhD Scholarship ($101,500)
Community Outreach
Presenter for the Victor Chang Excellence in Schools Awards (Campbelltown & Illawarra Awards)
Invited speaker for Rotary Clubs (Turramurra, Cronulla, Rotary Health National Meeting)
Participant in NSW Rural Schools Pen Pal Program
Volunteer for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Annual Soiree Fundraiser
STEM Ambassador for Indigenous and Regional Students at University of Wollongong (2017-2018)
Media
Dr Bax has completed Media and Communications training with Science in Public and
Presenting with Influence Coaching with Happiness Concierge.
Promotional About Us video (speaking feature) for Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute 2024
SCAD Progress (silent feature) on Channel 9, 9 March 2022
Innovation Centre promotional video interview with Laura Jayes (Sky News) 2022
Women in Science blog interview - Victor Chang Cardiac Disease Research Institute 2021
Red Letter fundraiser appeal 2021
TomorrowMaker media release 2020
University of Wollongong Learning and Development Scholarship Fund fundraising interview 2018