Research into colorectal cancer, immunotherapy and cervical cancer screening has earned three PhD students from across the VCCC Alliance a Picchi Award for Excellence in Cancer Research.

The winners, who receive $10,000 each, will receive their awards and present their research at an official ceremony at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre on 7 October 2024.

The awards, funded by The Picchi Brothers Foundation, aim to inspire and encourage the next generation of cancer research leaders by providing recipients with the opportunity to travel internationally for conferences or collaborative works to support their development towards research independence.

Supervisors, mentors, colleagues, collaborators, friends and family are encouraged to attend the awards event and be inspired by the next generation of cancer research leaders.

Congratulations to our 2024 winners

Clinical Science

Julia Lai-Kwon

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne

Thesis: Co-design of an electronic patient-reported outcome symptom monitoring system for people receiving immunotherapy

Julia’s PhD research involved co-designing an electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) symptom monitoring system for people receiving immunotherapy. Collaborating with key stakeholders, a prototype was integrated into the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre's electronic medical record. This system allows patients and caregivers to report and track immunotherapy side effects remotely, receive self-management advice, and alerts clinicians to severe or worsening symptoms in real-time.
 
The project has produced adaptable workflows for various healthcare settings and specific workflows for Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. It has resulted in numerous grants, publications, and presentations, including funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Western Central and Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service, as well as invitations to present at international conferences like the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

Population Health

Nicola Creagh

Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Centre for Health Policy, University of Melbourne

Thesis: Evaluating the implementation of a universally available choice for self-collection cervical screening in Australia: the solution to improving equity?

Nicola’s PhD research is evaluating the implementation of universal access to self-collection cervical screening in Australia's health system, aligning with the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. The study examines both the implementation process and the impact on cervical screening participation.
 
To date, Nicola’s research has resulted in two first-author publications, with another manuscript under review and a final PhD publication in preparation. The work will assesses changes at the health service level due to policy changes and will provide the foundation for questions on how broader policy, funding, and governance structures can enhance the equitable implementation of innovations in health systems. This research will underscore the importance of policy implementation science.

Basic Science

Marina Yakou
Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University

Thesis: Tissue-dependent dichotomy in IL-15 mediated anti-tumour immunity to colorectal cancer

Marina's work leverages previous discoveries during her PhD around the potential of harnessing cells that fight cancer in the colon for targeted colorectal cancer immunotherapies, limiting unwanted side effects to unaffected organs.

These significant findings have opened a new avenue in the future of immunotherapy for treatment of colorectal cancer and other solid malignant cancers.

Marina’s latest work will build on these findings, investigating the critical role of cytokines (cells released by the immune system), including IL-15, in regulating these anti-tumour properties in the colon.