The NSW Premier's Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research were established in 2006 to recognise outstanding scientists whose commitment and talent has had a significant impact on cancer treatment, clinical trials, prevention and research.
An independent panel evaluates the nominees and determines who receives a grant of:
- $50,000 — awarded to the Outstanding Cancer Researcher - Professor Rob Sutherland
- $20,000 — awarded to the Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow - Dr Claire Vajdic
- $10,000 — awarded to the Outstanding Cancer Research Scholar - Ms Elizabeth Tindall
- $20,000 — awarded for Innovation in Cancer Clinical Trials - South West Sydney Cancer Services Research Group
- $20,000 — awarded for Excellence in Translational Cancer Research - University of NSW, led by Professor Levon Khachigian
Previous winners of the Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year include:
- Professor Philip Hogg (2009)
- Professor Simon Chapman (2008)
- Professor Robyn Ward (2007)
- Professor Bruce Armstrong (2006)
About Professor Sutherland's research
Professor Sutherland, of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, is internationally recognised for his research into cancers that are dependent on hormones for their development and progression – including breast, prostate and ovary. He is a pioneer in the development of anti-breast cancer agents.
Hormone-dependent cancers account for around a third of all newly diagnosed cancers in Western societies but Professor Sutherland's research has led to significant breakthroughs in treatment, and therefore survival.
His research has had a major impact on our understanding of the molecular basis of breast cancer development and progression and will have long-term ramifications for understanding the molecular basis of endocrine-resistant disease and potential ways to identify and treat it.
With the recruitment of multidisciplinary teams, acquisition of unique tissue resources and the development of a significant capacity in translational research, Sutherland and colleagues have targeted identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets more directly e.g. by genome-wide transcript profiling, deep sequencing (the ICGC pancreatic project) and functional genetic screens (in the first instance identifying new mediators of anti-estrogen resistance in a genome wide screen). This has already identified a number of new molecular markers of disease progression and therapeutic responsiveness including endocrine resistance which are being validated in independent cohorts. Highlights include the identification of tissue markers and gene signatures as predictors of metastatic disease in prostate and pancreatic cancer and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Several of these findings are in prospective clinical testing.
2010 Award Recipients
Winners of the other award categories are as follows:
Premier's Award for Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow
Research Fellows represent the research leaders identified as being worthy of career development support. These are Fellows who will become cancer research leaders both nationally and internationally going into the future.
Dr Claire Vajdic (University of NSW)
Dr Vajdic's research focuses on the cancer risk in immunodeficient people (such as organ transplant recipients and people with HIV/AIDS).
The findings of this program of research will advance our understanding of the role of the immune system in carcinogenesis, and may identify modifiable risk factors for cancer; enabling cancer prevention. This research will lead to answers about cancer risk that will impact cancer prevention in the wider population.
Premier's Award for Outstanding Cancer Research Scholar
The Research Scholar Awards aim to develop and support outstanding students enrolled in a higher degree by recognising researchers with the potential to develop highly significant careers in cancer research.
Ms Elizabeth Tindall (University of NSW, Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research University of Sydney)
Ms Tindall's research focuses on the genetics of prostatic inflammation and their relationship with prostate cancer.
Recent reports have shown an association between symptoms of prostatitis (prostatic inflammation) and sexually transmitted disease with an increased prostate cancer risk. The major focus of this research is to identify variants in genes involved in the body's inflammatory response that may be associated with prostate cancer predisposition and or development, assisting in early diagnosis and treatment.
Premier's Award for Innovation in Cancer Clinical Trials
The Premier's Award for Innovation in Cancer Clinical Trials will recognise the achievements or activities undertaken by staff within the clinical trial unit which demonstrate innovation in relation to the conduct of clinical trials
South West Sydney Cancer Services Research Group won the award for their commitment to providing access to clinical trials to every patient treated in the Sydney South West Area Health Service.
Premier's Award for Excellence in Translational Cancer Research
The Premier's Award for Excellence in Translational Cancer Research will be awarded to the program which has made the most significant achievements in its field and was deemed most likely to have a highly significant impact on the outcomes of cancer patients in NSW.
University of NSW, led by Professor Levon Khachigian won the award for their groundbreaking research into alternative therapies for skin cancer, the most costly cancer across our community. The research will develop novel, gene-specific inhibitors of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), using an extensive and unique range of in vitro and in vivo model systems, for pre-clinical and clinical evaluation toward improving therapeutic outcomes in BCC patients.
About the 2010 event
The 2010 ceremony was held on the 21st May at the Australian Technology Park's heritage locomotion workshop exhibition hall in Eveleigh.
ABC 702’s Adam Spencer returned as master of ceremonies, with special guest Professor Ian Frazer, PM Science Prize winner and the 2006 Australian of Year for his development of the human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical cancer vaccines.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and the Hon. Frank Sartor, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) both honoured the award winners at the black-tie event, with Premier Keneally presenting the major award.
Entertainment was provided by none other than Marcia Hines, who graced attendees with her God-givern voice, boundless enerergy and her brilliant smile.
Stay tuned for more coverage of the night, which will be placed on this site in due course.
Master of ceremonies
Adam Spencer
Adam Spencer began his career in radio by winning the Triple J Raw Comedy championship in 1996. From there, Adam became a casual presenter, and eventually took over the coveted TRIPLE J breakfast time slot, co hosting with Wil Anderson from 1999 - 2004.
A consummate learner, Adam holds a first class honors degree in Pure Mathematics and has an immense interest in science. These passions lead Adam to hosting the ABC program QUANTUM and FAQ from 1998 to 2001.
Prior to this Adam was a regular guest on Channel Ten's GOOD NEWS WEEK series, ABC's THE FAT and continued to be a regular guest on THE GLASSHOUSE. In 2003 Adam hosted HIT & RUN for the Foxtel's Comedy Channel and in 2005 Adam hosted JOKER POKER for Freehand Group which screened on Channel Ten.
Adam returned to radio in 2006 where he still presents the highly coveted breakfast show for ABC 702.
Special guest
Professor Ian Frazer
PM Science Prize winner, Ian Frazer, was trained as a renal physician and clinical immunologist in Edinburgh, Scotland before emigrating in 1980 to Melbourne, Australia to pursue studies in viral immunology and autoimmunity at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research with Professor Ian Mackay.
In 1985 he moved north to Brisbane to take up a teaching post with the University of Queensland, and he now holds a personal chair as head of the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, a research institute of the University at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
He won the 2005 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science and was named Australian of the Year in 2006 for his development of the human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical cancer vaccines.