Optimizing Immunotherapy Treatment For Breast Cancer Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,938,014.00
Summary
The first steps in introducing immunotherapy for breast cancer patients have been taken in 2019. However, there is much work to do optimize immunotherapy for all breast cancer patients. My research, involving both lab and clinical trials, will develop new treatment strategies and identify new biomarkers to distinguish responders and non-responders. This will allow individualised selection of patients for evaluation of different immunotherapy approaches, with the aim of improving their survival.
Tipping The Balance - Improving Response Rates To Cancer Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
Survival rates for some types of cancer remain low. It was previously thought that chemotherapy could not be combined with drugs that affect the immune system (immunotherapy) to treat cancer. My research disproved this. I develop models to study cancer in the lab. I also research ways to measure how people’s bodies respond to chemotherapy and immunotherapy (biomarkers). I use this information to discover new drug combinations to reduce deaths from cancer.
Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (circulating tumour DNA or ctDNA) into the patient’s bloodstream. Recent technological advances now allow levels of ctDNA to be accurately measured in the blood. Changes in ctDNA levels have potential to be used as specific markers of disease progression and/or response to cancer therapy. This research will advance the use of ctDNA to serially follow patients and individualise treatment decisions in cancer management across several cancer types.
Defining The Plasma Methylome To Guide Melanoma Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
This project aims to characterise circulating methylation patterns (chemical modifications to DNA) from the blood of melanoma patients. Through this ground-breaking research, I will establish a minimally-invasive and simple blood test that will predict response and resistance from treatment, provide a greater understanding of the disease, reshape the treatment management of melanoma patients and lead to improved patient outcomes.
Improving Outcomes For Cancer Patients By Targeting The Epigenome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,258,892.00
Summary
The most commonly mutated proteins in cancer involve so called epigenetic regulators, a class of proteins that regulate access to our DNA to control gene expression, DNA repair and replication. We and others have recently developed a variety of drugs to help inhibit the aberrant activity of these epigenetic proteins. My research will focus on ways to improve the efficacy of these existing drugs and find new epigenetic therapies to improve the survival of patients with a broad range of cancers.
In Australia 2 in 3 adults live with overweight or obesity and unhealthy diet is the major modifiable contributor to death and disability. We know that retail marketing strategies like food product packaging, pricing and other promotions have a major impact on what we choose to buy and eat. My research program aims to build the novel evidence required to implement effective strategies to improve the healthiness of food provision at scale.
Transforming Acute Hospital Care To Improve Outcomes For Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,350,000.00
Summary
Stroke is severely disabling but patients do not always receive the best care. I will lead rigorous research to improve stroke care in the emergency department and stroke units. I will help clinicians implement evidence-based stroke care, including protocols to manage fever, raised glucose and swallowing difficulties across Australia and internationally. Results will be relevant globally, informing strategies to drive practice change and improve patient outcomes.
The Implementation And Evaluation Of Living Evidence In The Management Of Chronic Kidney Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem. Improving outcomes for patients with CKD requires the translation of research into clinical care. However, scientific research that underpins the management of CKD has rapidly increased, and traditional methods to summarise and inform clinical care are out of date. This project will develop, evaluate, and implement a new approach, known as ‘living-evidence’, that translates research evidence in real-time into the management of patients.
Transforming Treatment Options And Delivery Of Care For Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,510,793.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis is highly prevalent and a leading cause of disability. Despite this burden, current management is frequently inappropriate and associated with enormous financial costs. This program of research leverages established resources and existing funding to investigate the key challenges for OA in the next decade, including 1) Further enhance the methods for disease modification trials and deploy novel trials, and 2) Optimise the delivery of care for those with extant disease.
Precision Prevention Of Colorectal Cancer: Understanding Tumourigenesis In High Risk People To Optimise Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
Bowel cancer, Australia’s second most common cause of cancer death, is one of the most preventable cancers. We know some people have a high risk because they carry changes in their DNA, or they have many pre-cancerous growths (polyps). Bowel cancer is increasing in young people, before 50 years of age, with no known reason. If we can identify people who have a high risk and understand how and why it develops in young Australians, we can prevent these cancers.