FIRST NAMED INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Maxine Ronald
Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa, Breast Cancer Cure (BCC) and Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand (BCFNZ) have partnered to launch the Breast Cancer Fellowship with Dr. Maxine Ronald (MBChb, FRACS) as the inaugural recipient.
Problem:
Māori and Pacific women face significant inequities in breast cancer care and outcomes. Research highlights higher breast cancer incidence (39% for Māori and 23% for Pacific women) and disproportionately higher death rates (65% and 71%, respectively) compared to non-Māori and non-Pacific women. A 2022 quality review of the BreastScreen Aotearoa programme found that Māori and Pacific women are consistently under-screened, despite evidence that participation reduces breast cancer mortality by 34%.
Project:
Dr. Ronald’s three-year fellowship will focus on building Māori capability and leadership in breast cancer research and intervention studies. The initiative aims to address systemic barriers and improve access and engagement in breast cancer screening services for Māori and Pacific women.
Outcome:
The project will contribute to bridging breast cancer care inequities by enhancing Māori and Pacific women’s participation in screening programmes and fostering culturally responsive research and interventions. Implementing recommendations from the BreastScreen Aotearoa review will improve screening accessibility, ultimately reducing mortality rates.
Future:
Sustained investment in Māori-led research and intervention strategies will be essential for long-term improvements in breast cancer outcomes. Strengthening Māori and Pacific leadership in health research will support equitable, culturally informed healthcare solutions, ensuring continued progress beyond the fellowship period.
In addition to the Fellowship, Maxine is supervising a Māori researcher doing her Master's degree who is also a surgical doctor. She is working on a project looking at how Māori women in Te Tai Tokerau go through breast cancer diagnosis, either through screening or when they have symptoms.