CANCER RESEARCH STUDENT PROJECTS 2020 2 FROM OUR CANCER RESEARCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR For 70 years, Peter Mac has been providing high quality treatment and multidisciplinary care for cancer patients and their families. Importantly, we house Australia’s largest and most progressive cancer research group, one of only a handful of sites outside the United States where scientists and clinicians work side-by-side. Our research covers a diversity of topics that range from laboratory-based studies into the fundamental mechanisms of cell ransformation, translational studies that rovide a pipeline to the patient, clinical trials with novel treatments, and Peter Mac is committed to continue to support and build our research aimed to improve supportive care. broad research enterprise including fundamental research, and I am in no doubt that strong discovery-based research labs The proximity and strong collaborative links of clinicians and and programs are essential for us deliver the best care for our scientists provides unique opportunities for medical advances patients. to be moved from the ‘bench to the bedside’ and for clinically orientated questions to guide our research agenda. As such, If you undertake your research at Peter Mac, you will be our research programs are having a profound impact on the supported by a pre-eminent academic program, driven by understanding of cancer biology and are leading to more internationally renowned laboratory and clinician researchers, effective and individualised patient care. with a strong focus on educating future generations of cancer clinicians and researchers. As Executive Director Cancer Research, it is my mission to strategically drive Peter Mac’s standing as one of the leading You have the opportunity to work at the forefront of cancer cancer centres in the world by enhancing our research care and make a contribution to our research advances. outputs, increasing our talent pool and enabling existing and new areas of research excellence. Welcome to Peter Mac Cancer Research. I firmly believe that our model of research-driven cancer care is the right one and Peter Mac is uniquely positioned to expand this paradigm both internally and with our external partners. Professor Ricky Johnstone Executive Director, Cancer Research 3 CONTENTS Peter Mac’s comprehensive and internationally renowned cancer researchers seek fundamental biological and biomedical discoveries, and aim to facilitate the development and application of these discoveries to their full therapeutic potential. Critical to this aim is our ability to recruit outstanding staff and students to drive our innovative basic and translational research. This book provides an overview of project directions available for students across different disciplines, all with a focus on cancer and changing treatment outcomes for patients. About Our Research Laboratory Research ‘Nothing but the best Clinical Research is good enough for the Platform Technologies Research Programs treatment of cancer’ Research Education Comprehensive Cancer PhD Program Sir Peter MacCallum Becoming a Student Project descriptions (Alphabetical by Research group) Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre 1 ABOUT OUR RESEARCH Peter Mac is one of the world’s leading cancer research, education and treatment centres globally and is Australia’s only public hospital solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer. We have over 2,500 staff, including more than 600 laboratory and clinical researchers, all focused on providing better treatments, better care and potential cures for cancer. Dedicated research is the key to better treatments, better Peter Mac is home to many large, group [cohort] studies care and cures for cancer. This is a place where normal collecting biospecimens, blood samples and survey data days are extraordinary – as are the people we care for. from people with cancer to build large open-access Each day our team strives to provide the very best in resources for innovative research projects. Some studies cancer care, better treatments and potential cures for all also collect information from people who have never had people affected by cancer. cancer. Cohort studies give our researchers, and researchers Globally, we are facing one of the most pivotal times in worldwide, access to a vast array of ethically collected the pursuit of cancer cures, and Peter Mac stands at its clinical samples and associated clinical data. Our cohort forefront. Together, we aim to lead a new era of cancer studies include: prevention, care and discovery, supported by state- • Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS) of-the-art facilities at our home within the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre building, • BROCADE - BReast Origin CAncer tissue DonatEd after death LABORATORY RESEARCH • CASCADE - Cancer Tissue Collection After Death Peter Mac’s comprehensive and internationally renowned • Cancer 2015 cancer research laboratories seek fundamental biological • International Sarcoma Kindred Study and biomedical discoveries, and aim to facilitat the development and application of these discovereis to their • kConFab full therapeutic potential. • Lifepool Peter Mac is home to over 450 laboratory-based scientists • Melanoma Research Victoria (MRV) and support staff, including more than 150 higher degree (mainly PhD) and Honours students. • SUPER - Solving cnacer of unkonwn primary Supported by nine core technology platforms, our research • ViP: Variants in Practice laboratories are organized into programs of laboratory- based and translational research: CLINICAL RESEARCH • Cancer Genetics & Genomics https://www.petermac.org/research/programs/ • Cancer Immunology clinical-research-areas-programs • Cancer Metabolism Peter Mac is committed to linking patient care with cancer research. Our clinician researchers take thier observtions • Cancer Therapeutics from the clinc and plan thier research directions with • Computational Biology patients in mind. There are many specialised groups actively engaged in • Gastrointestinal Cancer clinical research. Our aim is to improve treatment, and • Organogenesis and Cancer care and experience outcomes of cancer patients and their support networks. • Prostate Cancer Our clinician researchers work across all tumour types • Translational Haematology and services: the Bone and Soft Tissue, Breast, Cancer of Unknown Primary, Colorectal, Gynae-Oncology, • Tumour Angiogenesis and Microenvironment Haematology, Head and Neck, Lung, Melanoma and Skin, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre 2 ABOUT OUR Treatment informed by research, and RESEARCH research informed by treatment, is the key to progressing better cancer care. Neuro-Oncology, Paediatric and Late Effects, Upper exposure to effective therapy while reducing exposure to Gastrointestinal, and Uro-Oncology Services. normal tissue. Clinical services research includes the following areas: Radiation Oncology Research Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC) Radiation oncology research aims to provide the most up- The ACSC aims to better understand the issues that to date and effective evidence-based treatment for patients survivors experience and their needs, and develop and test with cancer who require radiotherapy as part of their interventions that improve survivors’ well-being. treatment. Cancer Allied Health (CAH) Cancer Surgery & Anaesthesia Research CAH research is focused on delivering high-quality This clinical research group is working to improve the evidence-based services to our patients, their families and technical aspects and impact of cancer surgeries, and carers. to improve the delivery and efficacy of anaesthesia and interventional pain medicine. Cancer Experiences Research Victorian Epigenetics Group (VEG) This group develops novel, patient-centred strategies and interventions. Their research focus is on communication, The VEG supports clinical trials of “epigenetic drugs” for health literacy, emotional and physical functioning, care patients with blood cancers through pre-clinical evaluation, coordination, education information, well-being for survival novel biomarker development and early phase clinical and living well at the end of life. trials of new drugs. Familial Cancer Centre (FCC) Biostatistics and Clinical Trials (BaCT) The Parkville FCC works with families to investigate Peter Mac is the leading biostatistical centre focusing hereditary cancer syndromes and how they can better on cancer clinical trials in Australia. The centre provides manage their cancer risk. statistical expertise for national cancer trials groups Imaging and Diagnostic Research including the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Imaging and diagnostic research is conducted in Peter Study Group (ALLG). Mac’s Centre for Cancer Imaging. Our researchers image tumours to develop new therapies and improve imaging Radiation and Cancer Imaging technologies for cancer patients. State-of-the-art radiation and imaging equipment underpins Peter Mac’s efforts to enhance the delivery Infectious Diseases & Infection Control (IDIC) of radiation therapy, both as a single modality and, Peter Mac’s IDIC research group aims to improve cancer increasingly, as a combined modality therapy using novel outcomes through enhanced infection services. This group chemotherapy and targeted therapy agents. is home to the NHMRC National Centre for Infections in Cancer - an integrated health care program for reducing Clinical Trials infections in cancer. Clinical trials are central to Peter Mac’s commitment