Early Career Investigator Grants 2009
The following Early Career Investigator Grants were funded for 2009
Identification and molecular characterisation of novel CD4 suppressor cells that limit anti-tumour immunotherapy.
Chief Investigator: Amanda Sherwood
Associate Investigators: Dr Andrew Currie, Professor Bruce Robinson.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Currently, mesothelioma patients receive chemotherapy and/or surgery, but generally survive for less than 12 months after diagnosis. New treatments, known as immunotherapies. are being developed to boost immune cells that recognize and destroy tumours. Our studies show that interferon-alpha treatment (a specific type of immunotherapy) can have spectacular results, but only in some patients and only for a limited time. We now have evidence that this limited response may be due to a subset of immune cells that suppress the interferon effect. This study aims to identify these ‘suppressor’ cells and uncover the mechanisms by which they limit the potential of immunotherapy.
The Pearl Bethel Allan Research Grant Endowment proudly supports this project in full
HPV and cervical cancer: knowledge and attitudes affecting uptake of HPV vaccination for Aboriginal females aged 13-26 years.
Chief Investigator: Tracy Reibel
Associate Investigators: Professor Jon Emery
Aboriginal women are far less likely to participate in the cervical cancer screening program and are four times more likely to die from cervical cancer than non-Aboriginal women. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause over 70% of cervical cancers and vaccination against HPV is now available. This project will assist in the development and testing of information materials to encourage adolescent Aboriginal females to be vaccinated against HPV. Culturally appropriate information will be presented to adolescent girls, parents/carers and young women to determine if the information improves knowledge of HPV and its relationship to cervical cancer, and encourages vaccination uptake in this population group.
Characterisation of the role of epigenetics in testicular dysgenesis syndrome
Chief Investigator: Sarra Jamieson
Associate Investigators: Dr Natasha Nassar, Professor Jenefer M Blackwell, Richard Francis, Andrew Barker.
Testicular dysgenesis syndrome (or TDS) includes birth defects of the male external reproductive organs (hypospadias, cryptorchidism) as well as disorders that are apparent after puberty, including testicular cancer. These disorders are increasing in incidence worldwide, but the cause of TDS is unknown although a common origin in fetal life has been proposed. Development of the male reproductive system is a complex process that requires certain genes to be expressed with precise timing. This precision is controlled via chemical (epigenetic) modifications of DNA, with disruption known to result in human disease. This project will investigate whether disruption of epigenetic modifications in key reproductive genes contributes to TDS.
Cancer in the adolescent and young adult population: incidence, survival and patterns of care in Western Australia from 1981-2007
Chief Investigator: Kristjana Einarsdóttir
Associate Investigators: Ms Fatima Haggar, Professor D'Arcy Holman, Dr David Preen, Mr Max Bulsara.
In Australia, cancer is one of the most common causes of death in adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years. In 2008, nearly 106,544 new cancer cases will be diagnosed with approximately 5,591 of these being in adolescents and young adults. It is expected that there will be 491 deaths from cancer in this population. This pattern of death and morbidity is also seen in other economically developed countries. However, there have been very few systematic studies of this important patient group. This project aims to provide high quality information that could be used to: assess service needs; determine clinical priorities; and assess potential long‑term follow‑up requirements in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
