Our Research Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of Western Australia’s best and brightest cancer researchers. They also serve to reinforce the importance of cancer research as an aspirational career choice and provide encouragement for the next generation of leading cancer researchers.
Congratulations to our 2018 winners:
Cancer Council Western Australia Early Career Cancer Researcher of the Year
2018 Recipient: Dr Chan Cheah
An early career cancer researcher who has made significant advance in cancer research over the proceeding 18 months.
Dr Cheah is an early career clinician-scientist haematologist and an emerging international leader in lymphoma research. He is particularly known for his contribution to the early phase clinical trial design, and research on clinical applications of PET-CT in treating aggressive lymphoma.
Cancer Council Western Australia Cancer Researcher of the Year
2018 Recipient: Prof Anna Nowak
A cancer researcher who has made an outstanding contribution to cancer research over the previous 12-24 months.
Professor Nowak is a world-leading clinical researcher in mesothelioma. She combines detailed laboratory knowledge with outstanding clinical trials experience, collaborative spirit and multidisciplinary drive, to improve both cancer research and patient outcomes.
Professor Nowak was one of the first to demonstrate that cancer chemotherapy exerts positive immunological effects, which can be exploited by combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy. She has initiated and led multiple clinical trials, allowing WA mesothelioma patients access to cutting-edge experimental treatments.
Professor Nowak has a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of cancer researchers and doctors and is dedicated to service and advocacy within the broader healthcare community.
Cancer Council Western Australia Cancer Research Career Achievement Award
2018 Recipient: Prof Robert Newton
Acknowledges a researcher who has made a considerable contribution to cancer research.
Professor Newton, together with his team at ECU’s Exercise Medicine Research Institute, has demonstrated that exercise can have a significant beneficial impact on reducing long-term health problems caused by cancer and its treatment.
Through collaboration with Cancer Council WA and GenesisCare, his team provided the first exercise clinic co-located with oncology suites worldwide. This research has driven major change in clinical practice with the findings incorporated into international clinical guidelines including those of the American Cancer Society.
Professor Newton is committed to mentoring young researchers; he currently serves on over 10 researcher advisory groups and is a reviewer for 39 scientific journals.
Research conducted by Professor Newton and his colleagues have informed our free Life Now exercise classes for cancer patients and carers.
Cancer Council WA Research Grants Program
We’re proud to be the largest independant funder of cancer research in the state, thanks to the generous donations of our supporters.
In 2018, we’re contributing $3.7 million to 68 WA cancer researchers and 33 projects.
Read more about the research we’re funding this year.
Find out how to support cancer research
(source: https://www.cancerwa.asn.au/articles/news-2018/2018-research-excellence-awards-celebrate-3-of-was/)