- Cook Government awards almost $1 million across four WA Cancer Fellowships
- Funding supports clinician-led research to improve cancer prevention, detection, and care and demonstrates government's commitment to investing in health workforce
- Projects target upper gastrointestinal, breast, blood, and colorectal cancers
Four Western Australian medical practitioners have been awarded 2026 WA Cancer Fellowships to undertake research in the field of cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
The Cook Labor Government has invested almost $1 million into the fellowships, aimed at improving outcomes for people affected by cancer across Western Australia.
Recipients were selected from a highly competitive field and will commence their fellowships in 2026 within the WA health system.
The 2026 WA Cancer Fellowships build research capability and drive innovation in cancer care, which are key priorities set in the WA Cancer Plan 2020-2025 and the Australian Cancer Plan.
The 2026 WA Cancer Fellowship recipients are:
- Dr Claudia Leslie, Fiona Stanley Hospital: studying patterns of care for upper gastrointestinal cancers to identify gaps and improve co-ordination of treatment across WA;
- Dr Li-Lin Neo, Fiona Stanley Hospital: exploring how breast tissue density causes DNA damage and whether existing medications could help prevent breast cancer;
- Dr Thomas Quartermaine, Royal Perth Hospital: using a WA-developed test to detect leukaemia earlier in at-risk patients, supporting earlier diagnosis and treatment; and
- Dr Shankari Wijayakhanthan, Fiona Stanley Hospital: investigating colorectal cancer disparities among Aboriginal Australians to help inform culturally appropriate screening, diagnosis and treatment strategies.
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"These fellowships empower our frontline clinicians to lead world-class research that translates directly into better care for Western Australians.
"Each of these projects tackles a critical challenge in cancer prevention, detection, or equity, and together they highlight the strength and innovation within WA's health and research community.
"By investing in clinician-led research, we're supporting discoveries that can directly improve patient outcomes and strengthen the future of cancer care in our State."
