Two University of Newcastle researchers will focus on one of the world's most insidious diseases – cancer, supported by more than $3.9m in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator grants.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia, with one in two Australian men and women expected to be diagnosed by the age of 85.
In collaboration with Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI)*, the Newcastle researchers, Professor Xu Dong Zhang and Dr Heather Lee, will lead separate projects that work to uncover new biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis and try to identify unknown forces that drive cancer recurrence.
Professor Xu Dong Zhang was awarded $2.3m to explore long noncoding RNAs for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Compared to normal cells, cancer cells exploit a new class of molecules called nonprotein-coding RNAs for their malignancy. A better understanding of how these molecules influence cancer initiation, progression and treatment response will uncover new biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis and molecular targets for cancer treatment. Prof Zhang and his team will integrate biological understanding of these molecules and conduct preclinical testing of novel cancer biomarkers and treatments.
Dr Heather Lee received $1.5m to detail epigenetic mechanisms in cancer evolution for improved patient outcomes.
Cancers can change over time allowing them to recur. Sadly, when cancers return patients often succumb to their illness. To see a world in which cancers do not come back we need new ways to monitor how cancers are changing, and treatments to target or reverse those changes. Dr Lee's research program will use cutting-edge techniques to identify unknown forces that drive cancer recurrence.
NHMRC Investigator Grants consolidate separate fellowship and research support into one grant scheme, providing each researcher flexibility to pursue important new research directions as they arise and to form collaborations as needed, rather than being restricted to the scope of a specific research project.
University of Newcastle Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Professor Zee Upton said the NHMRC Investigator Grants would support the important work of its researchers, which could potentially help millions of people around the world who are touched by cancer.
"The University of Newcastle is very passionate about health research that makes an impact in our regions," Professor Upton said.
"I congratulate Professor Zhang and Dr Lee on securing these NHMRC Investigator grants to conduct important health and medical research that will contribute to creating better health outcomes and improved well-being of communities around the world.
"Both researchers will undertake crucial research, offering new hope for a world without cancer."
HMRI Director Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin said, "The NHMRC Investigator Grant scheme is important because it enables researchers to build research teams around their innovative ideas and ensure they have the resources available to turn those ideas into health benefits for the community. HMRI is so excited that, via these grants, we get to keep incredibly clever researchers like Professor Zhang and Dr Lee right here in our region, working for our region."
* HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and the community.
