Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
We’re celebrating the curiosity, determination and innovation of women and girls in STEM and shining a spotlight on one of the newest members of the Wesley Research Institute team, Dr Allie Lam, who has recently joined the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC).
Allie in the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC) laboratory
Finding inspiration in the science classroom
For Allie, the spark began early. Her interest in science took hold during secondary school, thanks to hands‑on experiments and engaging science classes. That fascination grew into a passion, leading her to pursue a diploma in life sciences, where she became fascinated by immunology and how the body protects itself from disease.
From there, she followed her curiosity straight into a Bachelor of Science (Honours), double‑majoring in immunology and microbiology.
A career built on curiosity and discovery
Allie began her career as a Research Assistant, gaining foundational lab experience and supporting a range of research projects. Her drive to dig deeper into the immune system led her to complete a PhD in immunology.
Since then, her work has focused on understanding how immune cells work, especially in the context of developing new immune‑based therapies for cancer. She’s also built strong expertise in emerging spatial technologies.
Over time, her roles have expanded into leading research projects, supervising students, and coordinating collaborative activities. Today, she’s part of the QSBC, where she uses advanced spatial biology techniques to investigate how immune cells interact within patient tissues — a powerful approach shaping the future of personalised medicine.
Current research: Seeing immune cells in their real environment
Right now, Allie is most excited about the groundbreaking spatial biology work underway at QSBC.
This technology allows researchers to visualise immune cells within real patient tissues, mapping where they are, how they talk to each other, and how they influence disease progression or treatment response.
For Allie, it’s the perfect blend of her passions: cancer immunology, immunotherapy, and cutting‑edge technology. And most importantly, it has meaningful potential to improve the way treatments are designed and delivered.
Advice for the next generation of women in science
Allie’s message for girls and women who are considering a future in science:
You don’t need to have everything figured out early. Science isn’t a single, straight path. Ask questions, seek out mentors who support you, and don’t be afraid to take up space. Curiosity, persistence, and perspective matter just as much as technical skills.
Allie
A future full of possibilities
What excites Allie most is the rapidly evolving understanding of the immune system and how these discoveries are translating into better treatments.
With technologies like spatial biology offering unprecedented insight into how immune cells behave in real tissue environments, scientists can now explore diseases in ways never before possible. This progress is opening doors to more precise, personalised immune‑based therapies, especially in cancer.
Today, we celebrate Allie and all women in STEM who are advancing research, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation of scientists.