Anita Dunbier
Inherited genetic factors play a role in the risk of many types of cancer, including breast cancer. Researchers have discovered a particular genetic variant associated with an increased risk of breast and other cancers.
Read moreDeveloping a Novel Dual-functional Antibody-drug Conjugates against Growth Hormone and Prolactin for Breast Cancer Treatment
Dr. Yue Wang
Breast cancer is hard to treat, partly due to two hormones, GH and prolactin, which help tumours grow. Current drugs only block one hormone at a time, with limited success. This project aims to develop a treatment that blocks both hormones to slow tumour growth and improve outcomes.
Read moreNot a One-Size-Fits-All Service
Dr Annette Lasham
Investigating Breast Cancer Detection Disparities and the Cost-effectiveness of an Expanded Screening Programme in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Leveraging AI to Explore Breast Density and its Implications on Māori and Pacific Women's Health in Aotearoa New Zealand
Dr Nicholas Knowlton
Breast cancer is a major health concern that often goes undetected until it's too late, particularly among Māori and Pacific women in New Zealand. Our new research project aims to change that by using advanced Artificial Intelligence to analyze mammograms more precisely. The focus is on 'breast density,' a factor that can hide cancer from traditional screenings and is an independent risk factor.
BARD1: a new prognostic marker for triple negative breast cancer
Dr Magdalena Ratajska
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for up to 20% of all breast cancer cases. For nearly half of all TNBC patients, their cancer will spread, frequently to the brain. Notably, for TNBC patients the spread to the brain happens earlier than in other breast cancers, which reduces both quality of life and life expectancy. Sadly, once the cancer has spread to the brain treatment options are limited, have severe side effects, and often only give minor improvements in overall survival.
A novel type of cancer biomarker: detection of the inactive amyloid protein state of p16
Dr Christoph Goebl
A new class of anti-cancer drugs called CDK-inhibitors has recently entered the international market and PHARMAC funds these drugs for specific breast cancer treatments in Aotearoa New Zealand. These novel compounds are highly efficient and greatly expand our ability to treat this deadly disease. Nevertheless, only about one third of patients respond positively to this drug treatment and unfortunately, there is no predictive measure of which patients will benefit.
One piece at a time: Patient-derived explants for precision medicine in Aotearoa NZ
Dr Emma Nolan
Generation of a preclinical model that is more representative of breast cancer in our population, to inform patient stratification and preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutics and improve drug development pipelines.
Computational pathology (CPATH)/Computer Assisted Diagnosis research in breast cancer.
Dr Gavin Harris
To incorporate additional functionality into a prototype algorithm. Validation and training of the algorithm to assess risk of recurrence to enable de-escalation and escalation of treatment which may involve assessment against a gene expression profiling.
Targeting the Trop-2 glycoprotein for localised prodrug activation in breast cancer
Associate Professor Allan Gamble
In 2021, Sacituzumab Govitecan received accelerated approval by the FDA as a treatment for patients with unresectable metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, over half of all patients receiving this treatment still report significant side effects.
Exploring a preventative treatment through an existing and accessible drug for High-Risk Individuals
Dr George Wiggins
Women at high-risk of breast cancer are in need of new and effective prevention strategies.