Prof Forbes received her PhD from The University of Adelaide in Biochemistry. She held postdoctoral positions at The University of Adelaide, Discipline of Biochemistry and at CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition. In 2013 she moved to Flinders University from the Discipline of Biochemistry at the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide. She currently heads the "Proteins in metabolism and cancer" laboratory and is Deputy Director (Research Education Development) of Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute.

Prof Forbes' interests are in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in development and disease. IGFs play a major role in cancer, aging, neuronal disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Using expertise in protein structure/function the Forbes group has been developing inhibitors of IGF action for the treatment of cancer. As there is evolutionary, structural and functional overlap between the IGF and insulin hormones and signaling pathways more recently the focus has broadened to understanding mechanisms of metabolism control and the development of novel insulins for the treatment of diabetes. The lab also has a keen interest in exploring the links between metabolism and cancer.

• Insulin receptor Isoform A signaling (1)

• Alpha lytic proteases (4)
• Structural studies of IGFBP-2 (4)
• Anit-IGF-1R antibodies (1)
• Oxygen-sensitive enzymes and their role in normal development and physiology (1)
• Structure/function of IGFs (1)