People

Professor Tanwar has made significant contributions to our understanding of reproductive tract stem cells and their involvement in the pathogenesis of gynaecological diseases (Cell Stem Cell, Cell Reports x2, PNAS x5). The excellence of his research has been recognised by the award of three consecutive fellowships by NHMRC, ARC, and Cancer Institute NSW, several project grants, six patents, industry contracts, and an exceptional publication track record. Research Australia recognised his Cell Stem Cell paper as one of the top 15 innovations nationwide and published it as a two-page story in their INSPIRE magazine.

Professor Tanwar has received more than 20 awards including Australia’s Society of Reproductive Biology Mid-Career Research Excellence Award 2021 and over 30 invitations to present keynote lectures on the international stage, including the World Congress in Reproductive Biology 2022 Plenary. He is a regular contributor to the public conversation on gynaecological diseases and is a sought-after media expert, having conducted numerous interviews for national and international media outlets. Several of his articles have received independent commentaries, cover page editions, and widely covered by the media, including Technology Network USA, ABC 7.30, SBS News.

Professor Tanwar has a strong commitment to training the new generations of researchers and has trained more than 50 undergraduate and postgraduate students in gynaecological diseases.

Professor Hondermarck is a biochemist specialised in understanding how nerve cells communicate with disease cells. He is internationally renowned for his work in proteomics and neuroscience, focusing on the role of the nervous system in human diseases, particularly cancer. Female reproductive organs appear to be infiltrated by nerves that are critically important in the pathogenesis of gynaecological diseases. Professor Hondermarck investigates what goes wrong with neurons and how they contribute to disease progression and the associated pain.

Professor Hondermarck initially trained in biochemistry, followed by conferment of a PhD in developmental neurobiology from the University of Lille, France, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California Irvine, USA, in biomedical proteomics. Professor Hondermarck made significant pioneer contribution in demonstrating that neurons are active promoters of pathogenesis, including in gynaecological cancers. His multidisciplinary research team aims at defining the impact of neuronal cells in pathogenesis and translate this basic knowledge in the development of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improving early diagnosis and treatment options.  The quality of his research is illustrated by the award of grant supports from various agencies, such as the NHMRC, or charities, such as the Cancer Council. He has several industry contracts and a publication track record in elite journals including Cancer Cell, Cancer Discovery, Clinical Cancer Research, and Cancer Research.

Professor Hondermarck has a strong commitment to education and training of the new generations. He also believes that dissemination of research knowledge in the community is essential for achieving the ultimate goal of improving human health.

Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Director of the Hunter New England Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, Gynaecology oncologist and Clinical Researcher John Hunter Hospital 

Dr Ken Jaaback is dual-qualified in gynaecologic oncology surgery through the RCOG in London and the Australian RANZCOG. Dr Jaaback graduated from the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in 1992. He completed his Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2001. He then completed his Oncology training through London, working in Bristol and Bath, receiving his Fellowship in Gynaecologic Cancer Surgery in the United Kingdom in 2005. In 2007, he arrived in Australia and was granted the FRANZCOG Certificate of Gynaecologic Oncology in 2008. He is an active member of ANZGOG (Australia and New Zealand Gynaecology Oncology Group), British Gynaecological Cancer Society, and International Gynaecological Cancer Society. He is involved in the clinical management of benign, premalignant, and malignant gynaecologic conditions. He has a strong background in collaborative clinical and translational research and has 24 publications. Dr Jaaback has been involved in several trials run by the European Organization for Research and Trials in Cancer (EORTC), ANZGOG, and Medical Research Council (MRC). He is the lead researcher in the Aldara study, a prospective observational study assessing imiquimod for symptom improvement and resolution of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN).

Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle and Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Maternity and Gynaecology John Hunter Hospital

Dr Nahar has 35 years of experience in the treatment and clinical management of patients with endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Since 2007, he has been working as a full-time Senior Staff Specialist at John Hunter Hospital, a large hospital providing tertiary level service to a population base of ~1 million people in NSW. Dr Nahar is a leading expert in laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery and is a training supervisor for the registrars.

Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle and Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Maternity and Gynaecology John Hunter Hospital

Dr Tania Day obtained a Doctor of Medicine in 2003 at Columbia University in New York and completed specialist training at Brown University in Rhode Island, USA. She is a Fellow of RANZCOG, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD). Since 2013, Dr Day’s clinical practice has focused on vulvovaginal disorders, and she completed a Ph.D. on the clinicopathologic diagnosis of lichen planus in 2018. She provides comprehensive care in vulvovaginal disease for inpatients and outpatients referred from across northern NSW and does laser ablation of HPV-related intraepithelial neoplasia. She runs joint clinical sessions with Gynaecologic Oncology, Dermatology, and Sexual Health. Dr Day has extensively published and developed the district guideline on vulvovaginal diseases. She is an invited speaker at regional and national meetings and a committee member of the Australia and New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society and the ISSVD Difficult Pathologic Diagnoses group.

Conjoint Associate Professor School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle and Anatomical Pathologist, NSW Health Pathology

Dr Scurry qualified as FRCPA in 1987 and FRCP 1988. He developed an interest in vulvovaginal pathology while at the Mercy Hospital for Women, East Melbourne 1990-2000 where he completed an MD thesis from the University of Melbourne on lichen sclerosus. Dr Scurry has been on the committees of the Australian and New Zealand Vulval Society and the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease. He is currently a regular local, state, national and international speaker on vulvar pathology. Dr Scurry has published 93 papers and the majority of them are on vulvovaginal diseases. His recent paper published in JAMA showed that the treatment with corticosteroids of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus prevents the reoccurrence of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Current research interests include the clinicopathological diagnosis of lichen planus and differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. His research team has recently identified several histopathological patterns of vulvovaginal inflammation which have not been firmly ascribed to disease and form the basis of ongoing studies into the poorly understood subject of vaginal inflammation.