After obtaining her PhD (Biochemistry) in 2002, Dr Parker began postdoctoral training in the Breast Cancer Program, Department of Oncology at Johns Hopkins University, USA in the field of breast cancer biology and invasion. In 2003, she was awarded a US Army Department of Defense BCRP Postdoctoral Fellowship to join the Metastasis Research laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and initiate studies into cell specific mechanisms of metastasis using immunocompetent models. This work initiated new projects in the laboratory that saw Dr Parker attract competitive grant funding (including a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship) and a promotion to Team Leader in 2012. In early 2013, Belinda moved to the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science at La Trobe University where she co-leads the Cancer Theme and is Head of the Cancer Microenvironment and Immunology Laboratory and an ARC Future Fellow. Dr Parker’s research focuses on dissecting the interactions between tumour cells and surrounding “normal cells” that promote cancer invasion and metastasis. She has a particular interest in cross talk between tumour cells and immune effector and suppressor cells, with a key focus on type I IFN signaling. Her work on metastasis is currently funded by the NHMRC, CCV, VCA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia/Movember (Program Grant).