Our Experts

Meet the experts on the GenesFX Team involved in translating pharmacogenomics into better outcomes for patients, provide treatments to improve healthcare and manage new strategies to advance the application of pharmacogenomics to the clinic.

The Clinical Team

Associate Professor Les Sheffield - Senior Clinical Geneticist, GenesFX Health and Victorian Clinical Genetics Services

Professor Sheffield is the Head if Clinical Genetics at Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne. He is a qualified clinical geneticist with experience in all aspects of genetics. He conducts genetic clinics in Melbourne, Wodonga and Shepparton, Victoria. He has many years experience in interpreting molecular tests as well as genetic screening tests. He conducts pharmacogenomic research at several Melbourne hospitals and started GenesFX health, a pharmacogenomic testing and Interpretation Company in 2008. He is also;

• Associate Professor at Melbourne University and Monash University,
• Research fellow at Murdoch Children's Research Institute,
• Editorial Board of The Pharmacogenomic Journal,
• Genetics Editor of the Internal Medical Journal
• Founder of GenesFX Health

Dr Nicholas Pachter - Clinical Geneticist, Royal Melbourne Hospital

• Dr Nicholas Pachter is a qualified clinical geneticist and is affiliated with cancer genetics clinics at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Austin Hospitals, clinics in Geelong and Mildura, as well as the Huntington Disease Predictive Testing program. His major research interest is breast cancer

• Dr Novita Puspasari is a scientist who has done her PhD in the Molecular Genetics area at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. She applies her expert knowledge to be part of the team which interprets the pharmacogenomic DNA results from Healthscope Molecular Pathology to write the comprehensive drug specific pharmacogenomic results.

Mr Sam Mostafa - Consultant Pharmacist

• Sam is a qualified and registered Pharmacist with an interest in drug metabolism and quality use of medicines. His expert knowledge of pharmacology and pharmaceutics is applied as part of the clinical team interpreting the pharmacogenomic (DNA) test results. He is involved in interpreting the pharmacogenomic test results and writing the drug specific patient reports. He advises on the appropiate drug dosage, drug selection and drug-drug interactions based on the pharmacogenomic tests. He is available to discuss the details of a particular report with doctors and patients. Sam is also involved in educating specialist Physicians and General Practitioners on all aspects of pharmacogenomic testing.

Edith Sheffield - Genetic Counsellor

• Edith is a trained educator and genetic counsellor, she directs the education programme at GenesFX Health as well as providing genetic counselling input to the drug specific reports and to patients when required, as well as providing support for Doctors.

In addition, GenesFX Health is pleased to advise the appointment of its Expert Advisory Panel.

The Expert Advisory Panel

The Panel compliments our expert team comprising of Clinical Geneticists, Molecular Geneticists, Genetic Counsellors and Clinicians and includes Professors of Clinical Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacology, General Practitioners as well as educators. The Panel works with GenesFX to ensure its information is kept up today and aligned to best medical practice.

Associate Professor Noel Cranswick
Director of Clinical Pharmacology and the Australian Paediatric Pharmacology Research Unit at Murdoch Children's Research Institute & Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
B Med Sci,MB.BS, FRACP

• Associate Professor Noel Cranswick is also a General Paediatrician at the Royal Children's Hospital.He is fully trained in both paediatrics and clinical pharmacology. Professor Cranswick has extensive trial experience in both adult and paediatric clinical trials.
• He has been an investigator on over 80 clinical drug trials and is familiar with early phase trial methodology and ICH GCP requirements. He has been an advisor to both Government and Industry and continues to evaluate new drug applications for the Australian Therapeutic Drugs Administration.

Professor Michael Dooley
Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
Co-director, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
BPharm Victorian College of Pharmacy, Grad.Dip(Hospital Pharmacy) Victorian College of Pharmacy

Professor Michael Dooley is a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Research interest:

• Method for dosage prediction in obese patients
• Drug handling and kinetics
• Outcome measures for clinical pharmacy services
• Clinical pharmacy services in disease management
• Drug therapies for malignancy and symptom control
• Medication safety and use in the aged

External appointments:

• Standards Committee, International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
• Clinical Systems Steering Committee, Department of Human Services, Victoria
• Medication Management Working Party, Department of Human Services,Victoria
• NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Patient Safety
• Victorian Medicines Advisory Committee, Department of Human Services, Victoria
• International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners Research Committee

Honorary Associate Professor Louis Roller, has had 46 years of teaching experience in all areas of pharmacy, applied therapeutics to Podiatry, Medical and Dental students. Areas of expertise includes;
      • antimicrobial agents,
      • drug-drug interactions, 
      • adverse drug reactions,
      • psychosocial aspects of health practice.

Has worked in community pharmacy and services a high care nursing home for medication management reviews. Has published hundreds of scientific and professional articles, has been on the writing committees of a number of Therapeutic Guidelines and has presented CPD lectures and courses all over Australia.

Dr. Cathy Sloan
General Practitioner, Brighton Family and Women's clinic.
MB BS, DRANZCOG

Dr Sloan has a particular interest in women's health including menopause. She assists with breast and eye surgery and has extensive experience overseas in gynaecology, obstetrics and family planning. Other interests include musculoskeletal medicine including migraine, headaches, neck and back problems as well as mental health.