The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant scheme has awarded Peter Mac more than $7.5 million to support five innovative cancer research projects. These grants are highly competitive and aim to fund research that addresses specific questions, promoting breakthroughs in understanding and treating cancer. Acting Executive Director of Cancer Research, Professor Jayesh Desai, described the result as a fantastic achievement for Peter Mac and for cancer research, highlighting the projects’ potential to advance knowledge of metastases, treatment resistance, and immune system-based therapies. Associate Professor Melanie Eckersley Maslin praised the collaborative effort of researchers, professional teams, and consumer advocates in shaping these projects.
One project, led by Associate Professor Melanie Eckersley Maslin and postdoctoral researcher Dr Eleanor Glancy, focuses on understanding how cancer cell plasticity is regulated. Cancer cells’ adaptability enables metastasis and resistance to treatments, contributing to high mortality rates. By investigating the molecular mechanisms controlling plasticity, the team aims to develop new therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes, particularly in breast cancer.
Associate Professor Ian Parish is working on enhancing CAR T-cell therapy, which involves genetically engineering a patient’s immune cells to target cancer. While effective against blood cancers, this therapy struggles with solid tumours due to a process called “exhaustion” that limits immune response. Parish’s research seeks to re-wire CAR T-cells to resist exhaustion, potentially improving their effectiveness against solid tumours.
Dr Elizabeth Christie is studying treatment resistance in ovarian cancer. Some cancer cells survive chemotherapy and cause relapses that are difficult to treat. Christie’s work will identify these resistant cells and examine their interactions with immune and surrounding cells, aiming to develop strategies to eliminate all cancer cells and improve ovarian cancer outcomes.
Dr Isabelle Munoz is also focused on CAR T-cell therapy, developing “armoured” CAR T-cells designed to overcome the current limitations of the therapy for solid tumours. Her approach seeks to enhance both the efficacy and safety of CAR T-cells, offering promising potential for clinical application in the treatment of solid cancers.
Professor Steven Stacker is investigating how cancer spreads through the body by co-opting blood and lymphatic vessels. His research will examine how primary tumours manipulate distant vessels and how these vessels can mount anti-metastatic responses. By mapping the timing, locations, and signals involved, Stacker’s work aims to predict and prevent cancer progression, potentially reducing cancer-related deaths.
Together, these projects showcase Peter Mac’s commitment to pioneering research that could transform cancer treatment and improve outcomes for patients.
