Sarcoma Research Grants

2010 Tom Wood Sarcoma Research Grant

In January 2010, Kathleen Pishas was awarded the ASSG Inaugural Sarcoma Research Award funded through the Rainbows for Kate Foundation in memory of Tom Wood. This award will fund Kathleen’s PhD project which is primarily focused on the treatment of Ewing Sarcoma, the second most common primary malignant tumour of bone diagnosed in children and young adults. Using a novel approach Kathleen aims to investigate the treatment of Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumours through the pharmacological activation of the p53 tumour suppressor using Nutlin-3a, a recently developed small-molecule antagonist of MDM2. This study will be undertaken within the Hanson Institute and University of Adelaide under the supervision of Professor David Callen, Dr Paul Neilsen and Associate Professor Andreas Evdokiou.

2010 Johanna Sewell Sarcoma Research Grant

In October 2010, Kate Mahendran was awarded the inaugural Johanna Sewell Sarcoma Research Grant. This grant was awarded in honour of Johanna Sewell who was diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) and tragically succumbed to this disease in 1989. Her mother, Ms Helen Sewell (AM) donated $50,000 to the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group (ASSG) to support sarcoma research. This grant will fund Kate's PhD project which will map p53 pathway mutations in Australian Sarcoma Kindred Study index cases and examine the relationship with clinical outcomes in these patients. In addition, Kate will leverage existing ASSG research infrastructure and foster increased Australian research activity in sarcoma. The study will be undertaken through the Familial Cancer Service at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital under the supervision of Professor Martin Tattersall, Associate Professor Judy Kirk and Dr Mandy Ballinger. 

2010 Xavier Krikori Sarcoma Research Grant

In February 2011, Associate Professor Damian Myers was awarded the ASSG  inaugural Xavier Krikori Sarcoma Research Grant funded through the Kicking Goals for Xav Foundation. Damian’s project is expected to run for up to five years and this grant will fund the imaging component. Utilising an animal model of sarcoma, the first aim is to establish a method for early detection of sarcoma invasion and tumour metastasis by using novel X-ray imaging techniques and positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning; the second aim is to assess the potential benefits of a new therapy (pigment epithelium-derived factor PEDF). The work will be undertaken in Melbourne at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and St Vincent’s Hospital. Collaborators on this study include Professors Peter Choong and Rodney Hicks and Doctors Carl Walkley and Matthew Broadhead.

• Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.              Copyright and Disclaimer   |   Site Map    |               The ASSG receives funding from the Australian Government through Cancer Australia.