New implantable pancreatic cancer treatment honoured in the Problem Solver category at the Shaping Australia Awards
University of Wollongong (UOW) research tackling one of the deadliest forms of cancer has won the 2025 Shaping Australia Awards People's Choice Award in the Problem Solver category, following a national public vote where more than 42,500 votes were cast. The project, Targeted hope: redefining treatment for pancreatic cancer, is led by recently graduated PhD student, Dr Elahe Minaei under the supervision of Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow. It received 6,284 votes.
"The Australian public's vote for this research sends a powerful message about the issues that truly matter to our communities. This pioneering work is science at its most meaningful, translating discovery into life-changing solutions and delivering impact where it is needed most," UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor G.Q. Max Lu AO said.
The research is focused on improving outcomes for a disease where fewer than one in eight patients survive beyond five years, with most diagnosed individuals facing months – not years – to live. The team has developed an implantable system that delivers chemotherapy and immunotherapy directly into pancreatic tumours, targeting treatment at the source while minimising harmful side effects. In advanced preclinical trials in mouse models, the implants slowed tumour growth, extended survival, and preserved microbial diversity in the gut compared to standard systemic therapy.
"In pancreatic cancer, the immune system often doesn't recognise the tumour as a threat," Dr Minaei said. "Our goal is to take this research from the lab into the clinic, where it can give patients more time, better quality of life and more hope."
The Shaping Australia Awards recognise university initiatives that deliver real-world impact for communities and the nation, with the Problem Solver category honouring research the transforms lives through significant societal, technological or economic benefit.
The People's Choice Award recognises research that resonates strongly with Australians – and the strong public support for the Targeted Hope project reflects both the devastating impact of pancreatic cancer and the desire for research that advances solutions to complex health challenges.
Dr Minaei and Associate Professor Vine-Perrow accepted the award in person at the Shaping Australia Awards ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.
