What's On News December 2018 Mater People present at Brisbane Cancer Conference

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Mater People present at Brisbane Cancer Conference

Tuesday 11 December 2018

Recently, the 5^th Brisbane Cancer Conference (BCC) was held at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

Having become the premier cancer research event, it showcases the latest Queensland biomedical and health discoveries that are helping improve the lives of people who have cancer or are at risk of developing cancer.

The BCC acts as a good opportunity to draw together cancer researchers and clinicians in Brisbane and Queensland to advance collaborative efforts in cancer research. It comprises plenary lectures and workshops on recent scientific, technological, nursing and medical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant disease.

This year, Mater Research—a recognised leader in medical research with a key focus area in cancer biology—was involved with a number of Mater people involved in chairing workshops and presenting throughout the course of the conference. These Mater people spanned from students right through to clinicians, including Mater Senior Researcher Professor John Hooper.

A selection of presentations which highlighted Mater’s cutting edge research included:

• ‘The portfolio of cancer-focused clinical trials at Mater', presented by Mater Research Cancer Biology and Care Program Coordinator, Matt Spitzer.
• ‘Assessment of cellular signalling in an organoid model of normal mammary gland development’, presented by Mater Early Career Researcher, Teneale Stewart.
• Mater's Director of Palliative and Supportive Care Professor Janet Hardy and Mater’s Palliative Medicine Specialist Associate Professor Phillip Good gave plenary presentations on, respectively, ‘The impact of novel therapies on the integration of palliative medicine and cancer care’ and ‘Marijuana – the herbal medicine for everyone and everything?’
• PhD student and medical doctor Dr Tahleesa Cuda gave a presentation in the Gastrointestinal Tract Malignancies workshop on a potential new imaging and therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer.
• PhD student Tashbib Khan gave a presentation in the Small 3D Cancer Models workshop on using patient samples to assess the responsiveness of their tumours to established therapies as well as to agents that are in development.
• Mater Research team leader Professor Brian Gabrielli presented on pharmacological intervention opportunities for HPV related gynaecological cancers.
• Co-leader of the Mater Ovarian Cancer Research Collaborative Associate Professor Jim Coward presented on recent trials including potential of immune checkpoint therapies for gynaecological cancers.

“This years’ conference was the best BCC so far; it nicely highlighted the rapidly maturing Brisbane cancer research landscape. The attendance of about 1000 researchers and members of the public highlighted the growing popularity of the conference,” said Prof Hooper.

Mater will continue its presence at the Brisbane Cancer Conference when it returns for its sixth year in 2019.