Dr Jessica Buck

When Dr Jessica Buck was a child, losing her nan to cancer left a mark that would shape the course of her life. What began as a moment of deep personal loss became a powerful driving force.

As a proud Kamilaroi woman, Jessica has channelled her passion into a career dedicated to transforming cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Today, she stands at the forefront of childhood cancer research, leading Australia’s first program of its kind, while paving the way for the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scientists to follow in her footsteps.

Jessica’s passion for research was ignited while studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Diploma in Languages at the University of Newcastle, where she discovered the power of research to transform health outcomes. With the support of the Wollotuka Institute, she joined the Aurora Study Tour, an initiative that takes high-achieving Indigenous students to some of the world’s leading universities. Until then, studying overseas had never seemed within reach, but standing in the historic halls of Oxford University, Jessica began to see possibilities far beyond anything she had imagined.

With determination and a string of prestigious scholarships, from the Charlie Perkins, to Chevening, and the James Fairfax Oxford Australia Scholarship, Jessica embarked on her next chapter at Oxford. There, she completed a Master of Science in Neuroscience and a Doctor of Philosophy in Oncology, becoming the first Aboriginal Australian woman to graduate with a PhD from the university.

Her doctoral research focused on using advanced MRI techniques to better understand brain cancer metastasis; how cancer spreads from one part of the brain to another. This work is vital in developing more effective treatments and reducing the long-term side effects for children facing these diagnoses. For Jessica, each data point and laboratory breakthrough represent more than scientific progress, it’s about giving young patients and their families a better chance at life.

“Childhood cancer is very different to adult cancer. Luckily, it's rarer, but we also have far less treatments. In particular, for childhood brain cancer, we haven't developed any new treatments in the last 30 years.” 

Returning to Australia, Jessica was awarded the prestigious Forrest Fellowship, becoming the first Indigenous recipient of this honour. Designed for outstanding early-career postdoctoral researchers, the fellowship enabled her to expand her groundbreaking work and bring her expertise home. Now, as Head of the First Nations Childhood Cancer Program at The Kids Research Institute Australia, Jessica leads the nation’s first dedicated program focused on culturally safe, community-led research strategies aimed at improving cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

“It's really important to me to build a majority First Nations team, because that means that we have the cultural capabilities and the community connections to really work with community and get better outcomes for our kids with cancer.” 

Her team are developing preclinical models for childhood brain tumours to test new treatments with greater precision, aiming to improve survival rates while reducing the harsh side effects of therapy. This dual focus reflects Jessica’s belief that research should serve the whole person, not just the disease. To date, she has secured over $3.5 million in competitive funding and published seven peer-reviewed papers, each contributing critical knowledge to the global understanding of childhood brain cancer.

“Looking at childhood cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids, we only know the bare minimum i.e. how many kids get cancer, and how many unfortunately die from it. The types of cancer, the way that these kids are treated, and how we can do better – those things we currently don't know. And that's what my research aims to find out.” 

Jessica’s impact extends far beyond the lab. A tireless advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in STEM, she shares her story through school visits, public talks, and community programs to inspire young women to see a future in science. Motivated by the life-changing Aurora Study Tour, she also mentors Indigenous students through the Aurora Project and supports interns and early-career researchers in her lab, offering guidance and the confidence to take bold steps in their careers.

“It's hard to be what you can't see. I really hope that we can raise a new generation of Aboriginal women and men working in science and research.” 

Jessica’s many accolades, including the NHMRC EL1 Fellowship and being named 2019 Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK, are markers of her exceptional career. Yet when asked about her proudest moments, she turns to the children whose lives her work aims to change.

Jessica’s commitment continues the legacy of trailblazers like Professor Beryl Nashar, the award’s namesake, whose vision transformed opportunities for women in science. Building on this tradition, Jessica combines academic excellence with cultural humility, demonstrating that leadership in science is as much about lifting others as it is about personal achievement.

In every sense, Dr Jessica Buck is a role model; a scientist, leader, and mentor whose groundbreaking research is changing the face of childhood cancer treatment, and whose dedication to community is inspiring the next generation to dream bigger, reach further, and believe in what’s possible.