MHF Centre - Beanie Day at Bar on the Hill
A square with 4 x portrait photos. Top left: Sophie Cleal, Top right: Dr Cass Griffin, Bottom left: Lily Stein, Bottom right: Prof Mike Fay
Join us for an annual event where you get to buy a new season Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) Beanie and hear about the important research and patient care they fund through the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research (MHF Centre).
Hear from some of the brains inside the beanies as four of our MHF Centre team members share 10 minutes of Speedy Science that showcases where they’ve come from – and what they aim to achieve right here in Newcastle.
Speaker one: Sophie Cleal is one of our Brain Cancer Care Coordinators who is based at the John Hunter Hospital with outreach to Lake Macquarie and Maitland. Sophie is one of five MHF Brain Cancer Care Coordinators who provide incredible patient care and support for brain cancer patients and their carers and loved ones. Our BCCCs are also a vital bridge between our patients and our research as they offer opportunities for participation in research, clinical trials and to share samples for our MHF Brain Biobank.
Speaker two: Dr Cassandra Griffin is the MHF Brain Biobank and Clinical Research Manager, and she is the professional and friendly face that our potential brain donors get to partner with to create this unique legacy on their brain cancer journey. The MHF Brain Biobank has been operating for over 11 years, and holds key patient samples from blood, tissues and tumours. And, uniquely, the brain biobank which now houses an invaluable 52 brains from generous, selfless donors.
Speaker three: Lily Haines is a fourth year Radiation Therapy Student at the University of Newcastle who is doing an Industry Engagement Honours project with the MHF Centre and GenesisCare. Lily’s project is using different kinds of imaging to understand how an important chemical in the brain, glutamate, is related to brain cancer, especially for those people where their brain cancer reoccurs.
Speaker four: Bringing together all our speakers, and attempting to sum up the MHF Centre in 10 minutes is Professor Mike Fay, MHF Foundation Chair in Brain Cancer and Director of the MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research.
Every beanie sold is bringing us one step closer to better treatments and one day, hopefully a cure for this devastating disease.
When: Wednesday 10 June, 2026.
What time: Beanies on sale from 11am. Talks kick off at midday and finish up by 1pm. Meal deal available during lunch hour where 100% of the proceeds will go to the MHF.
Where: Bar on the Hill, Callaghan Campus
Come celebrate the important work that our teams do, and this incredible partnership between the University, the MHF and our community that’s making a difference across the nation (and worldwide!)
Event Information
- Date: Wednesday 10 June 2026 from 11:00am - Wednesday 10 June 2026 until 1:30pm
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.