Dr Frankie Butera is a Research Officer in the Heart Regeneration group. She obtained her PhD in Cancer Biology with Prof Chris Bakal at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, UK. Her PhD used high throughput and high content image analysis to study NF-kB (inflammation-associated transcription factor) dynamics in pancreatic cancer. Dr Butera then carried out research with Prof Kevin Harrington to find therapeutic combinations with oncolytic viruses using image-based high throughput screening.

In 2022, Dr Butera relocated to Melbourne to work with Prof Enzo Porrello and Associate Prof David Elliott to apply her skills in screening and image analysis to identify compounds that support heart regeneration following disease.