23 Dec 2019
Dr Simone Park awarded grant through Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme
Dr Simone Park, a postdoctoral researcher in Professor Laura Mackay’s laboratory has been awarded a grant through the Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS).
Funded by Cancer Australia and Cure Cancer Australia, Dr Park’s project grant is for one year and will build on her work that targets specialised immune cells – known as tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells in cancer immunotherapy.
She discovered that TRM cells could suppress the growth of melanoma cancer cells without completely eliminating them. In identifying that TRM cells are critical players in the anti-cancer immune response, she believes that the targeting of these cells could open the door to a new and innovative strategy to improve cancer treatments.
Dr Park said this grant will enable her project to take a huge step forward.
“This grant will allow us to investigate new ways to increase the generation of TRM cells in solid tumours,” she said.
“TRM cells are associated with cancer protection in many solid cancers including melanoma, breast and lung tumours. Immunotherapies have revolutionised the treatment of solid cancers, but they are not always effective. Determining how to boost the formation of protective TRM cells in tumours might allow us to develop improved cancer treatments.”
The PdCCRS is an innovative annual research project grants funding scheme which brings together government and other funders to collaboratively fund cancer research in Australia.
It is managed by Cancer Australia and the agency collaborates with the NHMRC to assess applications and endorse grants.