Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in Western societies, with a five year survival rate of less than 10%. The treatment and survival of patients with pancreatic cancer has not changed for over thirty years because there has been little research into the molecular and cell biology associated with it. Our projects focus on translating basic scientific discoveries into the clinic. These include:
- Defining clinically and biologically relevant phenotypes of Pancreatic Cancer, primarily through our integral role in the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative which is part of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (see http://www.pancreaticcancer.net.au)
- Developing biomarkers of prognosis and therapeutic responsiveness with clinical utility
- Understanding molecular mechanisms of resistance to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Staff
 Research OfficerDr Chris Scarlett |
 Research OfficerDr Marina Pajic |
 Research AssistantAmanda Mawson |
 Research AssistantMarc Jones |
 Research AssistantPage Tobelmann |
 Research AssistantRenee DiPietro |
 Senior Research OfficerDr Scott Mead |
 Senior Animal TechnicianJessica Pettitt |
 PhD StudentDr Jeremy Humphris |
 PhD StudentDr David Chang |
 PhD StudentVenessa Chin |
 Research StudentDi Lui |
 PhD StudentDr Lorraine Chantrill |
 PhD StudentAdnan Nagrial |
 PhD StudentMark Pinese |
 PhD StudentDr Angela Chou |
 Tumour Bank CoordinatorMona Martyn-Smith |
 Clinical Research CoordinatorAmber Johns |
 Data CoordinatorSarah Rowe |
 Scientific Officer
Mary-Anne Bracato |
 Administration AssistantCathy Axford |
 Clinical Research CoordinatorSkye Simpson |
 Clinical Research CoordinatorMichelle Thomas |
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| Visiting Scientist Dr Alina Stoita |
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| Honorary Researchers A/Prof Neil Merrett Dr Anthony Gill Dr Liviu Lefter |
Data Clerks Tehara Wickremeratne Timothy Eviston Melanie Fentoullis |
News
Helping pancreatic cancer surgeons make tiebreaker decisions
MEDIA RELEASE:
15 Apr 2011
Garvan researchers have identified two ‘biomarkers’ that appear to have the ability to predict patient survival after surgery for pancreatic cancer before the operation takes place. It is the first predictive tool of its kind for this most deadly of cancers. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) highlights the finding in its current newsletter (ASCO Post) – distributed globally to a broad audience of cancer professionals.
$3.7 million to push cancer discoveries down the ‘pipeline’
14 Oct 2010
The Cancer Institute NSW has awarded the Garvan Institute’s Cancer Research Program $3.7 million, research funding that should lead to improved clinical decision-making for breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer within the next 5 years.
Personalised medicine for cancer patients in a new technology era
MEDIA RELEASE:
15 Apr 2010
Published online today in Nature, a paper authored by over 200 members of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) describes the beginnings of a Brave New World, a new era of personalised medicine for cancer patients.
