Our Team

Dr Elham Beheshti is a leading scientist at the forefront of her field, boasting a robust academic background and extensive expertise as an Extracellular Vesicles Scientist. During her pursuit of a PhD in Experimental Medicine, she uncovered the role of exosomes in cancer.

Joining ADDRI in May 2023, Elham brings a diverse skill set and a multidisciplinary background. She holds a Master of Science degree in health, nutrition, and food chemistry from the University of British Columbia, along with a Bachelor of Engineering from Iran. In 2023, Elham was awarded the prestigious Redi Fellowship and in this capacity serves as an Investment Analyst at IP Group Australia, where she gains valuable insights into the commercialisation of medical research. This unique perspective allows her to bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and real-world impact, facilitating the transition from laboratory bench to patient bedside.

In 2024, Elham assumes her role at ADDRI full time. As Principal Scientist, she will delve into the function of extracellular vesicles in relation to mesothelioma, harnessing her passion to accelerate the translation of scientific breakthroughs into tangible clinical applications. She is committed to making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of patients battling mesothelioma and dust-related diseases.

A/Prof Klebe is a graduate of the Free University Berlin, who completed an MD in Germany, and postgraduate training in Pathology and a PhD at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. Her professional and academic interests over the last 16 years have concentrated upon asbestos-related disorders, especially lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, including their diagnosis and pathogenesis.

She is an Honorary Research Associate of the Asbestos and Dust Disease Research Institute (ADDRI), an Associate Professor at Flinders University and a Senior Consultant with SA Pathology. A/Prof Klebe is the current chair of the ICCR structured reporting committee for mesothelioma (2021), a member of the International Mesothelioma Panel, International Mesothelioma Interest Group and an author for the new WHO classification of lung and pleural tumours.

A/Prof Klebe had co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications dealing with malignant mesothelioma and aspects of asbestos-related disease, in addition to chapters in textbooks, and many presentations at national and international conferences. She has supervised to completion PhD, honours and MD projects related to malignant mesothelioma, and I am currently leading a clinical trial.

A/Prof Klebe receives consult cases for all aspects of lung disease and has reviewed more than one thousand cases of mesothelioma, in addition to lung cancers, lung cancer precursor lesions and benign asbestos-related diseases of various types (pleural plaques, diffuse pleural fibrosis, benign asbestos pleuritis with effusion, rounded atelectasis, and asbestosis).

Dr Ben Johnson joined ADDRI in June 2019. Ben attained his PhD in 2015 from the Western Sydney University. Prior to being employed at ADDRI, Dr Johnson was a Research Officer at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research where he gained sound experience in a range of molecular biology/biochemistry-based techniques, human cell culture and data analysis. Since completing his PhD, Dr Johnson has continued to further develop his medical research skills and has presented his findings at national conferences and published several research articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr Huaikai Shi joined ADDRI after having been awarded a PhD in December 2020, where he utilises his experts in immunology and animal modelling in the field of cancer research. Dr Shi’s current research focus is to develop a novel approach that combines beneficial immunotherapy with anti-cancer natural products to improve the treatment outcome of the current incurable cancer malignant mesothelioma.

Dr Steven Kao is a Medical Oncologist at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Steven’s research at ADRI focuses on the predictive and prognostic factors in malignant mesothelioma. Steven has a wide clinical, translational, and psycho-social research interest in thoracic cancers including malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

Virginia James joined ADDRI in November 2022 and is responsible for the management of the Biobank. This national tissue bank provides a unique collection and vital resource of ethically approved high-quality biospecimens and accurate, reliable and standardised clinical data to pave the way for asbestos-related diseases research. She brings extensive experience to the team, having previously worked at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) as Biobank Officer and Advanced Specialist in Histology.

Dongwei (Lucy) Wang joined ADDRI in May 2023 and is responsible for the sample collection for the ADDRI Biobank, working closely with the Biobank Officer. Lucy brings extensive experience to the team, having previously worked at the Institute Of Clinical Pathology And Medical Research (ICPMR) and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) as a Specialist in Transmission Electron Microscopy, Biobank and Histology. Lucy has over 20 years’ experience in Histology, Light microscopy, Electron microscopy, Molecular Biology and Biobanking. She holds a PhD from the Department of Biochemistry at La Trobe University, Victoria.

Richard Zelei joined ADDRI in February 2023 as a Research Assistant upon completing his Master of BiomedSci (Infection and Immunity) in 2022 at the University of Sydney and BMedSci Hons in 2020. His work with Dr Ben Johnson and Dr Huaikai Shi utilises pleural mesothelioma research to discover and analyse new biomarkers for a less invasive diagnosis and to evaluate new treatment responses. He has a strong interest in advancing towards a PhD in the fields of immunology and cancer research. Richard volunteers with St. John Ambulance NSW in a leadership role.

Priya Selvamani joined ADDRI in February 2023 as Research Assitant. She will work with Dr Ben Johnson and Dr Huaikai Shi to discover biomarkers for less invasive diagnosis of mesothelioma; to investigate biomarkers that help to predict treatment response and develop new treatments for mesothelioma. Priya has a strong interest in research and development where she can utilise and gain skills to work toward disease management/treatment. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and the University of Sydney; and she is currently undertaking a Master of Public Health at the University of Sydney. When she’s not busy working and studying, Priya loves to garden and travel.

In April 2023, Winston joined ADDRI as Research Assistant and is collaborating with our Principal Scientist, Dr Elham Hosseini-Beheshti. Winston obtained a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours from the University of Sydney, where he specialised in immunology and pathology. He conducted research for his honours project on mesothelioma-derived extracellular vesicles, which he will apply to his work at ADDRI in partnership with Dr Hosseini-Beheshti to explore the function of extracellular vesicles in mesothelioma.

Jocelyn McLean has many years’ experience caring for patients following surgery for lung cancer and mesothelioma at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Jocelyn established a much-needed mesothelioma support service at ADDRI utilising her knowledge and experience of caring for patients and their families, drawing from current survivorship research and carer needs research to provide telephone and face-to-face support and educational group meetings. She works with professional agencies in mesothelioma to provide current evidence-based information to health professionals and local communities across NSW.

Pam Logan is a registered nurse who has additional qualifications in Community Nursing and Health Sciences. She has worked in the UK, NZ, and Australia with many years’ experience in acute surgery, community nursing, child and family health, young disabled and palliative care. She has worked as a researcher and coauthored work published in the area of clinical communication and medical errors. Most recently she has been working the area of chronic disease management in the over 75’s and as a medical chronologist (Asbestos Related Pleural Disease)

Carmel Oostveen joined ADDRI in May 2023, bringing extensive experience in Cardiothoracic Intensive Care. She has provided dedicated care to mesothelioma patients undergoing the intensive Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery, as part of the trimodal care pathway. In this capacity, she also provided support to their families.  Previously, Carmel spent three years as Case Manager for a team of Cardiothoracic surgeons in Sydney. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in educating and assisting patients preparing for heart or lung surgery. She served as the liaison between patients, surgeons and hospital teams, ensuring seamless communication and patient-focused care. Carmel has also worked as Research Coordinator in the Cardiovascular department of the Royal Prince Alfred hospital.

Carmel’s experience adds enormous value to her role as Mesothelioma Support Coordinator. She works closely with diagnosed patients, offering vital support and guidance to both them and their families.

Ling Zhuang has a bachelor’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Diploma in Laboratory Technology. She has gained further technical skills working at Douglass Hanly Moir the pathology company and at the ANZAC Research Institute.

Ross Flemons is CPA qualified and has vast experience with all financial matters relating to independent medical research organisations. He works part-time and manages all aspects of ADDRI’s finances.

Shane McArdle joined the ADDRI team in April 2023 as the Manager – International Projects.

Prior to this, Shane worked for over 25 years at federal and local government levels in media, communications, events, stakeholder engagement, international collaboration and parliamentary/political administration.

His most recent employment was for 9 and a half years at the Australian Government Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA), overseeing awareness raising efforts to prevent exposure to asbestos to eliminate asbestos-related diseases and international collaboration and engagement to support national bans on asbestos production and use in other countries.

Shane is currently undertaking a Master of Public Health to apply the practical knowledge gained at ASEA to improve the diagnoses, surveillance and management of asbestos-related disease internationally and asbestos awareness messaging and management strategies.

Christine Lee joined the ADRI in February 2021 having previously worked for the CRC for Low Carbon Living. She has many years’ experience in Office, IT Management, and Project Management and assists the ADDRI Research Director and CEO.

In March 2023, Nina joined the ADDRI team as Office Assistant to support the team with administrative and marketing tasks. Her background includes completing a course in Legal Services and Business Administration, and she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business degree.  Nina’s excellent organisational skills, enthusiasm and initiative supports the ADDRI team in its day-to-day operations, as well as events and projects

Vivienne Shahin joined ADDRI in July 2022. An experienced Marketing Consultant with a demonstrated history over several years working within the tourism, not-for-profit and corporate sectors offering an outsourced marketing department service. Viv works part-time and manages all ADDRI's external communications and social media.

Aimee Stenekes joined ADDRI in November 2022 upon completion of her Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Science at the University of Technology Sydney. As Junior Laboratory Assistant, Aimee will assist with laboratory procedures, data collection and report writing. In 2023, she will commence her Honour’s project with ADDRI and will focus on the utilisation of an in vitro 3D cell culture technique to improve the translatability of novel immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Jenny Weismantel has been working at ADDRI since 2011 through the Concord Hospital Volunteers. She has an accounting degree and her administrative skills have made her a valued member of our team. Jenny maintains ADDRI’s Endnote databases and supports various admin functions for the research team.

Jo Mezzapica joined the ADDRI team to assist the Research Director with maintaining the data registry, and to provide administration support. Prior to ADDRI, she worked as a legal secretary for many years with a number of large law firms in Sydney. Her range of experience includes litigation, mergers and acquisitions, employment and commercial law. In her spare time, Jo enjoys the theatre, long walks and keeping fit to look after her grandchildren.