Following an excellent Blood meeting in Melbourne last week, we acknowledge all our Scholarship, Fellowship and Award recipients.

HSANZ LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION NEW INVESTIGATOR PHD SCHOLARSHIPS 2023 FOR 2024

Helen Cashman

Helen Cashman completed dual haematology specialist training in 2022 in Sydney and has a strong interest in lymphoma biology and treatments.

Her PhD project at University of Sydney with Cameron Turtle will investigate features of DLBCL tumours that are associated with resistance to CAR-T therapy. She will use advanced technologies to study the structure and functions of components of the tumour to determine why some patients do not achieve durable remissions after CAR-Ts. With greater understanding of the reasons for progression of DLBCL after CAR-T treatment, her research project aims to hasten the development of more effective CAR-T therapies for DLBCL in the future.

Eric Wenlong Li

Eric is an early career haematologist who has completed his haematology specialist training in NSW. His personal experience with a blood cancer, and having benefited from a cure enabled by breakthroughs in genetic cancer research, has led him to pursue a career in haematology. 

Eric’s project at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute will focus on improving our understanding of a recent breakthrough anti-cancer drug venetoclax. Venetoclax is highly effective against numerous blood cancers including Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). However, despite its ability to allow patients to enjoy longer periods in remission, patients invariably relapse. Current scientific evidence points to sophisticated genetic and epigenetic (cell environment where genes operate) causes of venetoclax resistance. This project will discover these causes using new and advanced techniques that can see genetic and epigenetic changes at a single cell level. 

Damian D’Silva

Damian graduated BSc with Honours from WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) / Melbourne University, where he will undertake his PhD studies in the Strasser Lab, within the Blood Cells and Blood Cancer (BCBC) division.

Damian has a keen interest in programmed cell death and associated biological pathways in the context of blood cell derived cancers, as well as the development of novel, targeted anti-cancer therapeutics. The goal of this project is to advance the highly promising MCL-1 inhibitors in clinical trials for cancers like leukaemia – and ultimately – the clinical treatment of patients with blood cancers. 

HSANZ Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation PhD Scholarship

Michael Ashby

Originally from Tasmania, Michael graduated from the University of Tasmania and subsequently completed physician and haematology training in Melbourne. He has a sub-interest in myeloid disorders including AML, MDS, MPN as well as ALL and bone marrow transplant. He is passionate about and aims to complete further work in translational research and development and management of clinical trials.

Michael’s PhD project at Monash University will study methods of preventing acute myeloid leukaemia relapse following allogeneic stem cell transplant. Bone marrow transplantation remains the best chance of cure for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Transplantation of cells from a compatible donor works by the new donor immune cells recognising the leukaemia cells as ‘foreign’ and eliminating them. Unfortunately, recurrence (relapse) of the leukaemia occurs within 2 years of transplant in up to one half of all patents and this relapse is usually untreatable.

HSANZ Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand PhD Scholarship 2023 for 2024

Paul Owaci – Malaghan Institute

Paul is a Masters of Clinical Immunology graduate from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, currently working as a research technician at Malaghan Institute of Medical research.

His PhD project at the Malaghan Institute will focus on improving the functionality of CAR T-cell therapies for blood cancers. Uptake of CAR T-cell therapies remains limited due to high cost and logistical constraints, while failure to respond to, or relapse following, CAR T-cell therapies remains a major issue. This project aims to reduce cost and shorten turn-around times, while reducing CAR T-cell exhaustion to enhance long- term response rates.

HSANZ New Investigator Clinical Fellowships 2023 for 2024 with support from Janssen and Novartis

Aditya Tedjaseputra –Adi’s Clinical Fellowship will focus on  molecular and MRD in AML at the Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Guy’s Hospital at King’s College London. He plans to integrate cutting-edge, multi-omics techniques for baseline diagnostics and MRD monitoring into the Australasian context upon his return.

Kenneth Lim – Kenneth’s Clinical Fellowship will focus on determining the prognostic impact of 1q21 gain and amplification (1q21+) in Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients treated with Anti-CD38 antibodies at the Mayo Clinic. 

HSANZ / SNOWDOME MID-CAREER AWARD

Ross David, for his work with the Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) research group in the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), who have been world leaders in showing that around half of carefully selected patients with CML can safely stop their chemotherapy treatment and remain in remission long-term.

ALBERT BAIKIE MEMORIAL MEDAL AND AWARD

Jamie Kuzich

Life Members:

Ruth Spearing CNZM

Michael Harvey

 HSANZ Mentorship in Haematology Award

Devinder Gill

HSANZ Leadership in Haematology Award

Phoebe Joy Ho AM

Pitney Fellow 2023-2025

Prof Paula Marlton

Carl De Gruchy medal and oration

Prof Andrew Roberts AM

HSANZ NURSES GROUP AWARDS

Best Presentation: Priscilla Gates

First Time Presenters: Catherine Vassili

Best Poster: Tracy King

HSANZ Nurses Travel Grants

Sarah Murray             

Madeline McKeague  

Elise Toyer                 

Kari Mudie                 

Lauren Brennan         

Gisha George 

The Centre for Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies (CBTCT) brings together the largest allogeneic stem cell transplant units in Australia with a focus on identifying transplant and cell therapy strategies to reduce graft versus host disease and improve patient and disease outcomes after transplant. In this webinar series, speakers will review major topics in stem cell transplantation and cell therapy, highlighting how key advances are addressing the current challenges in stem cell transplantation. In this webinar, Dr Ray Mun Koo will be outlining the current role of reduced intensity conditioning regimens in allogeneic stem cell transplant and potential pathways to optimization of post-transplant outcomes. Dr Ashvind Prabahran will be speaking on evaluation of immunological parameters in aplastic anaemia and poor graft function and potential therapeutic interventions.

Speakers:

Dr Ashvind Prabahran – Royal Melbourne Hospital / Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Ray Mun Koo – Royal Melbourne Hospital / Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

When: Wednesday 18 October 2023, 1pm AEDT

Link to webinar:

https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/83782538124

Link to CBTCT website for all webinar recordings:

https://bloodcelltherapy.org.au/

For more information see flyer

The Centre for Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies (CBTCT) brings together the largest allogeneic stem cell transplant units in Australia with a focus on identifying transplant and cell therapy strategies to reduce graft versus host disease and improve patient and disease outcomes after transplant. In this webinar series, speakers will review major topics in stem cell transplantation and cell therapy, highlighting how key advances are addressing the current challenges in stem cell transplantation. The second webinar of 2023 features Professor Robert Zeiser, who is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Tumour Immunology at the Department of Haematology, Oncology and Stem-Cell Transplantation at the Medical Center, University of Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany. His research group has focused on utilizing a range of cutting edge imaging techniques to monitor the fate of different cell types in living animals, leading to several publications in the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, Blood, Nature Communications and the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Professor Zeiser has over 250 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to 14 book chapters. In this webinar, Professor Zeiser will outline the translational pathway of promising, novel therapies for graft vs host disease from murine models into clinical practice.

Speaker:

Professor Robert Zeiser – University of Freiburg, Germany

When: Monday 23 October 2023, 5pm AEDT

Link to webinar:

https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/83782538124

 Link to CBTCT website for all webinar recordings:

https://bloodcelltherapy.org.au/

for more information see flyer

WOMEN IN HEALTH ELIGIBLE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Available Now: Partial scholarships for women in Health ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per person, for one of four leadership and workplace skill development programs. 

These scholarships are aimed at encouraging more women to increase their impact at work, progress their career, and step into leadership roles.

Registrations of interest close on 24^th November 2023. Via our website: www.wla.edu.au/industry/health

The Department of Health and Aged Care is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced individuals who would like to be considered for upcoming vacancies on national health technology assessment (HTA) committees and associated subcommittees. Upcoming HTA committee positions include:

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

• Chair 
• Deputy Chair 
• Committee members (multiple, professional and consumer)

Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)

• Chair
• Committee members (multiple, professional)  

Medical Devices and Human Tissue Advisory Committee (MDHTAC)

• Committee member (consumer)

We would greatly appreciate your assistance in promoting the call for EOIs amongst your team, members, peers, or networks as you consider appropriate. The EOI and an information pack that provides advice on how to apply is available on the department’s HealthCareers website Department's job vacancies page.

Please note, the closing date for receipt of EOIs is 11.59 pm (AEST), Sunday 3 September 2023.

 If you have any queries, please contact  htamembership@health.gov.au.

Congratulations on behalf of all HSANZ to the following members who were honoured recently:

Professor Erica Wood AO from Monash University for distinguished service to transfusion medicine and haemovigilance, to haematology, and to national and international organisations,

Professor Harshall Nandurker AM from Australian Centre for Blood Diseases at Alfred Hospital for significant service to medicine, particularly as a haematologist 

Dr Ruth Spearing CNZM for services to haematology. Ruth offered a few words following acceptance of her honour.

I feel as if I am accepting this on behalf of all the NZ haematologists.

It was great being the NZ PI for most of the UK studies, especially AML ( though initially also CLL/MM etc) after Mike Beard stepped down in 1993. We managed to get our dreaded Pharmac to agree to pay for the mylotarg in 2015 for AML19 which meant we could take part in that trial which was probably my biggest single achievement!

I was very active in medical politics here in NZ for close on 20 years

HSANZ Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards

HSANZ continues to work with charity and industry partners to offer a range of Scholarships and Grants which are open This year we are offering:

3 x HSANZ / Leukaemia Foundation PhD Scholarships

1 x HSANZ / Arrow Foundation PhD Scholarship

1 x HSANZ / Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand PhD Scholarship

2 x HSANZ Clinical Fellowships

1 x HSANZ / Snowdome Mid-Career Award

1 x Baikie Award

All above programs close 20 August 2023

1 x HSANZ /ASH Abstract Achievement Award - closes 1 August 2023

All the details are here https://www.hsanz.org.au/scholarships-and-awards/

NHMRC Centre for Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Webinar 5 July 2023

The Centre for Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies (CBTCT) brings together the largest allogeneic stem cell transplant units in Australia with a focus on identifying transplant and cell therapy strategies to reduce graft versus host disease and improve patient and disease outcomes after transplant. In this webinar series, speakers will review major topics in stem cell transplantation and cell therapy, highlighting how key advances are addressing the current challenges in stem cell transplantation. The second webinar of 2023 features Professor Robert Zeiser, who is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Tumour Immunology at the Department of Haematology, Oncology and Stem-Cell Transplantation at the Medical Center, University of Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany. His research group has focused on utilizing a range of cutting edge imaging techniques to monitor the fate of different cell types in living animals, leading to several publications in the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, Blood, Nature Communications and the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Professor Zeiser has over 250 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to 14 book chapters. In this webinar, Professor Zeiser will outline the translational pathway of promising, novel therapies for graft vs host disease from murine models into clinical practice.  Flyer

Speaker:

Professor Robert Zeiser – University of Freiburg, Germany

When: Wednesday 5 July 2023, 5pm AEST

Link to webinar:

https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/83782538124

Link to CBTCT website for all webinar recordings:

https://bloodcelltherapy.org.au/

At the recent very successful HSANZ New Zealand branch meeting in Palmerston North an AGM was held at which there was a discussion about paying tribute to contributors to haematology in NZ. It was agreed to name a session at the annual branch meeting after them in their respective field. It was decided after a vote that the morphology session could be re-named every 10 years after a respected colleague. Edward Theakston who died recently, was to be the new memorial session. An obituary by Anna Ruskova was included in the last HSANZ newsletter.

As New Zealand councillor, Annette Neylon was asked to write a letter to his widow explaining this and HSANZ Council endorsed the proposal unanimously.

• The Leukaemia Foundation Research Fellowship provides $1M in funding over five years and is primarily aimed at supporting applicants to undertake research.

  The Fellowships are open to researcher and clinicians who are 

  • Australian citizens or permanent Australian residents
  • Meet the NHMRC classification of Leadership Level 1 (between 10-15 years post-PhD or MD (or MBBS) on January 1 2023)

Full eligibility criteria and application details can be found on the Leukaemia Foundation website

https://www.leukaemia.org.au/research/current-funding-opportunities/research-fellowships/