MPCCC Award for Outstanding Cancer Research in Victoria: Winners’ Seminar

In 2020, MPCCC undertook to recognise the work of leading mid-career cancer researchers in Victoria. Candidates were nominated by their colleagues, based on a recent impactful publication, and its contribution to advancing our understanding of cancer. Research leadership was also an important factor considered by the national review panel.

Associate Professor Renea Taylor, Deputy Head, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Cancer Program, Monash University

A/Prof Taylor discovered that unlike most other cancers which rely on glucose to fuel growth, human prostate cancer is reliant on fats to grow. Her research also showed that prostate cancer growth can be reduced by up to 50%, by blocking the uptake of these fats into prostate tumours, either by genetic approaches in mice or using an antibody that blocks the action of a protein, termed CD36, that transports fatty acids into tumours.

Dr Pouya Faridi, Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University and Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute

Dr Pouya Faridi’s research has made two new ground-breaking observations in melanoma; firstly that spliced peptide antigens are shared between different tumours from individuals expressing the same HLA allomorphs and secondly that they are as frequently immunogenic as more conventional cancer associated antigens or mutation bearing neoantigens. These observations have had immediate clinical application via a vaccine clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania.

Event details

1-2pm, Friday 13 November 2020.

This event will be held online via Zoom. Zoom joining details will be circulated one hour before the commencement of the event.

Register for webinar >>