Ayla Orang

Research Associate

College of Medicine and Public Health

place Bedford Park (4L120)
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Dr. Ayla Orang, is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the College of Medicine and Public Health. She completed her PhD at Flinders University in 2020, investigating the molecular intricacies of cancer progression, particularly the impact of metformin on miRNAs and colorectal cancer cell metabolism. Joining the UniSA Centre for Cancer Biology in July 2019, she focused on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in breast cancer cells, uncovering the genetic regulation of cancer cell microenvironment. Her current research at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer explores complex metabolic mechanisms in cancer cells, aimed to advance therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.

Qualifications
  • 2020- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Molecular Biology – Cancer, Flinders University
  • 2013- Master of Science in Biology – Genetics, the University of Tabriz
  • 2009- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biotechnology, Shahed University
Honours, awards and grants

Grant Funding:

  • Flinders Foundation Health Seed Grant (2024-2025): $25,000
  • ECR Seeding Grant, Flinders University (2023-2025): $50,000
  • The Hospital Research Foundation (CIC- 2020-2022): $147,855

Awards:

  • 2023 FameLab Talking Science Semi-Finalist, Australia
  • 2018 ASBMB Poster Prize - Combio2018, Sydney, Australia
  • 2018 Cancer Council SA’s Beat Cancer Project Travel Fund
  • 2018 Runner-up Poster Prize - Cancer Research Afternoon, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Australia
  • 2017 Three Minute Thesis Final Winner - Flinders University, Australia
  • 2017 Ross Wishart Memorial Award Finalist - ASMR conference, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2016 Cancer Council SA’s Beat Cancer Project Travel Fund
  • 2014 International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) - Awarded by the Australian Government, Flinders University, Australia
  • 2014 Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) - Awarded by the Australian Government, Flinders University, Australia
  • 2013 1st Rank in MSc Genetics - Awarded by the University of Tabriz