TWO Hunter researchers will ramp up their research in the fight against brain cancer after receiving grants from the Mark Hughes Foundation.
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Associate Professor Paul Tooney and Professor Hubert Hondermarck, of the University of Newcastle and HMRI, were two of eight researchers to share in almost $1.6 million of grants from the foundation at the Hunter Medical Research Institute Annual Awards Night.
Prof Tooney will investigate whether the brain's immune cell can be used to track treatment response in high-grade glioma while Prof Hondermarck will examine ER stress-induced neurotropism as a therapy in glioblastoma.
Co-founder Mark Hughes said the coronavirus pandemic had impacted the foundation's ability to raise money this year but was thrilled to be able to continue their mission to create awareness and support brain cancer patients and their families. About 1200 Australians die from brain cancer each year and it kills more children than any other disease. Survival rates have only increased by 1 per cent in the past 30 years.
"It's been a tough year for everyone. But the support from the NRL and wider community during the Beanie for Brain Cancer round in June, combined with our amazing supporters still finding a way to fundraise within COVID-19 restrictions, is overwhelming," the former Newcastle Knight said.
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Kirralee Hughes said the foundation was proud to have funded two new brain cancer care coordinators to support patients based in Port Macquarie/Coffs Harbour and Tamworth/Armidale and surrounding areas.
"They will work closely with our MHF nurses already based at John Hunter Hospital," she said.
In addition to Professors Tooney and Hondermarck, the grant recipients were:
- Prof Anthony Purcell - Monash University - to investigate novel targets for paediatric brain tumour immunotherapy.
- Associate Prof Joshua McCarroll - Children's Cancer Institute - for treatment of childhood brain cancer.
- Prof Michael Brown - Central Adelaide Local Health Network - for using the immune system to target aggressive brain tumours.
- Prof Hui Gan - Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute - for therapeutic targeting of the tumour microenvironment in glioblastoma.
- Dr Barbara Rolf - University of Queensland - for new immunotherapy for brain cancer.
- Dr Amanda Hudson - University of Sydney - for a pilot study into early detection of disease progression..