Our Team
Our Scientific Stream Leaders
Professor Michael Fay, Foundation MHF Chair in Brain Cancer and Centre Director
Mike brings to the Centre 25 years of clinical oncology and cancer research leadership experience. A dual-trained Medical and Radiation Oncologist, he has particular interest in brain tumours and the development of new imaging and treatment techniques.
Mike completed his undergraduate degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Otago and has worked clinically in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the US and spent research time in Germany (Universität Tübingen). He has a PhD in the development and clinical translation of theranostics - a treatment using diagnostic imaging to identify if target receptors are present on cancer cells, followed by precision radiation treatment that target these receptors.
Funded by the Mark Hughes Foundation, Mike was named as the inaugural recipient of the HMRI Mid-Career Research Fellowship dedicated to brain cancer. He is the principal investigator in a number of international cancer and theranostics trials and has research collaborations with investigators in Canada, the UK and Germany.
Mike is also radiation oncologist at GenesisCare.
Kylie Hugo
Centre Manager
Kylie has been one of the senior managers in the Research Grants team for nearly 12 years. Prior to that she spent 14 years in various research and research management positions in Canada within breast cancer and knowledge translation. Kylie is excited to build the centre profile and reputation of the Centre and to make a difference in the lives of people impacted by brain cancer.
Kylie lost a family member to brain cancer, so the Mark Hughes Foundation is a cause that is close to her heart. The role of Centre Manager will allow Kylie to help the MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research achieve its aims both locally and nationally.
Emily Callaghan
Research Administrative Assistant
Emily is a highly focused and efficient Research Administrative Assistant with over 5 years of administrative experience. New to the University of Newcastle professional staff and working directly with the Centre Director & Centre Manager, Emily looks forward to assisting with growth in the Centre and being a part of a team working towards finding a cure for Brain Cancer.
A family member passing away from Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage 4 brain cancer was a strong motivation for involvement in the MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research. Providing support and coordination as an active member of the centre creates opportunities to ensure that critical research programs are maintained by the MHF Centre and continue to provide support and improve the quality of lives of people living with brain cancer.
Dr Mathew Lozinski
Early Career Researcher
Mathew is an early career, brain cancer researcher who has recently completed his PhD at the University of Newcastle on DNA Repair in glioblastoma. Educated in Sydney; Mathew did a BSc in Biomedical Science and Honours in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Technology (UTS).
Mathew has been exploring the reasons brain cancers become resistant to treatment. When a brain cancer is treated with radiation or chemotherapy there is damage to the DNA of the tumour. Mathew’s research has centred around what happens next…. Cancer cell can either undergo cell death or repair the DNA damage and fight on. This is quite different from a number of other types of cancer and important as there are a number of new drugs available which can ‘tip the balance’ to encourage the cancer cells to die. It is important to discover if these drugs are likely to work and if so; how best to combine them with existing cancer treatments.
Mathew has just joined the MHF Brain Cancer Research Centre as a post doc researcher where he will continue his research into the ways brain cancer avoid being killed by treatment.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.