Updates from the Chair

Wednesday 5th July, 2023

It has been a hive of activity in the MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research in the months of May and June. On Thursday 25th May we brought together 120 researchers from around the country for the Centre’s Inaugural Brain Cancer Research Symposium. Many of the researchers involved were previously funded by the MHF and the theme of the day was “How can we Collaborate to Accelerate Progress in Brain Cancer”. Our MHF Brain Cancer Care Co-ordinators presented some compelling data and patient stories. We heard from Prof Frances Kay-Lambkin on her critical work supporting carers (available from https://carerwell.com.au).  We also had some great presentations on DNA repair and new drugs which could disrupt this process and improve response to treatment. The meeting closed with a panel discussion involving the key research groups in the country thinking about how we could share resources and collaborate. We have had positive feedback from participants on the symposium and its organisation.

The Centre held a Beanies for Brain Cancer event at Callaghan Campus for the University Staff and students; it was such a great turnout! Vice-Chancellor & President Alex Zelinsky addressed the audience along with Mark Hughes and MHF Brain Cancer Care Coordinator, Elise Greedy. Through beanie sales and other fundraising activities, we raised over $6,000 for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

I was invited to speak at the Annual Scientific meeting of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) in Adelaide – on how the Centre could work with TROG to make clinical trials available to brain cancer patients and to discuss how researchers can join us to collaborate.

We are delighted to share that Prof Hubert Hondermarck, A/Prof Saad Ramadan, Prof Peter Greer, and myself were successful in receiving a NSW Regional Health Partners – Shovel Ready Grant. This project aims to explore, with MRI technology, the interaction between fibre tracts in the brain and the evolving brain cancer.  Patients will be scanned at HMRI and followed up in regional centres. By doing so we hope to better understand the complex interplay between the brain tumour and the brain micro-environment.  We hope this research may have considerable impact on understanding the spread of cancer in the brain and guide treatment planning for high grade brain cancer in the future.

Finally, Centre staff Kylie Hugo and Emily Callaghan, as well as Centre Stream Leader A/Prof Paul Tooney and myself were delighted to travel to Sydney to join the 5km walk from the Sydney Cricket Ground to the Opera House as a part of the launch for the NRL Beanies for Brain Cancer Round. It was so heart-warming to see the number of people turn out to support the cause and to hear stories from those directly impacted by brain cancer.

Mike Fay,  Foundation MHF Chair in Brain Cancer and Centre Director

Monday 1st May, 2023

April has been another busy month in the MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research.  The Brain Cancer Care Co-ordinators (BCCC) are now integrated into the Centre here at the University of Newcastle. The Centre’s vision is that all brain cancer patients in Australia and their loved ones are linked in with a BCCC and we look forward to working more closely with this essential patient support role. Patients are a fundamental part of the Centre and integral in how the Centre plans to scale its research aims.

The program for the inaugural MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research Symposium on 25th May is coming together. Hosted by the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) this all-day event will bring brain cancer researchers from around the country to the University of Newcastle. We will also be joined online by academics and clinicians overseas, as we explore the symposium’s theme: How can we collaborate to accelerate brain cancer research? I look forward to sharing key learnings from the Symposium at the MHF Patient Forum on 26 May and in the next MHF newsletter.

In research news, the translational neuroscience stream has had two papers published.  The Nature Review is a particularly significant piece of work and testament to the international reputation of Prof Hubert Hondermarck in this cutting-edge area of brain cancer research. His paper published in Cancers regarding his team’s work on Sortilin looks to be a useful marker of glioblastoma both on tumour cells and in the blood. It may also prove to be a useful therapeutic target.

The experimental therapeutics stream is making waves in its research on DNA repair inhibitors. This novel treatment approach uses drugs to block repair after radiation and chemotherapy to increase the damage to the tumour.  Centre post-doc, Dr Mathew Lozinski, recently travelled to Florence, Italy to represent the Centre in a presentation of the data on his research into DNA repair inhibitors. This new combination of treatments is looking increasingly effective in a range of tumours.

Congratulations to Prof Matt Dun from the paediatric brain tumour stream who has just been promoted to Professor as well as being named Lake Macquarie citizen of the year! Matt and his group have been very busy with several publications.

Finally, we are delighted to announce that Kylie Hugo has accepted the role of MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research, Centre Manager.  Kylie brings international research centre experience and has been a critical part of the University of Newcastle’s Research grants department for the past 12 years. We are very pleased she will join the centre from mid-May.

Mike Fay,  Foundation MHF Chair in Brain Cancer and Centre Director

Thursday 6th April, 2023

We are thrilled to provide you with an update on the activities of the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research. Your generous support continues to make a significant impact on our efforts to advance research and treatment options for brain cancer patients.

After sector and patient consultation over the last few months, I am pleased to announce the Centre will focus on six research streams; Patient Experience, led by the Centre Director Prof Mike Fay, Brain Cancer Imaging, led by Associate Professor Saad Ramadan, Experimental Therapeutics, led by Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Blood Based Biomarkers, led by Dr Richard Lobb, Paediatric Brain Cancers, led by Professor Matt Dun, and Translational Neuroscience, led by Professor Hubert Hondermarck.

Driving towards better outcomes for brain cancer patients and their families, the Centre recently secured funding from the MHF to support the integration of the Mark Hughes Foundation Brain Care Cancer Coordinators into the Centre. These joint appointments between the University of Newcastle and area health services will be supported by the appointment of a nurse translational researcher into the Centre, to allow for both nursing care and research activity that promotes the transfer of research to practice. Engaging the Coordinators will close the loop from the patients to the research teams, support the development of improved models of care and allow us to collaborate at a national level.

Planning is well underway for the Centre’s Inaugural Brain Cancer Research Symposium which will be held at the Hunter Medical Research Institute on 25 May 2023. It’s a jam-packed symposium with national and international experts joining us over two days. The focus will be on “How can we collaborate to accelerate brain cancer research across Australia” and we are excited to be joined by Dr Alexander Lin from Harvard Medical School, along with an array of highly skilled clinicians and academics from across Australia including our own local experts.

As part of the Centre’s commitment to collaboration, the Centre Director recently travelled to Melbourne to meet with WEHI - the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Following this visit, WEHI visited us here in Newcastle to continue a wonderful discussion around a one-team approach to brain cancer research. We are looking forward to further engagements with WEHI and all opportunities that support our mission to facilitate a highly collaborative and impactful research program dedicated to finding a cure for brain cancer.

Mike Fay,  Foundation MHF Chair in Brain Cancer and Centre Director