The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network is pleased to introduce the recipients of the 2025 Regional Research Fellowship grants, supporting outstanding clinicians and researchers who are driving meaningful cancer research across regional New South Wales.
The Regional Research Fellowship scheme is designed to strengthen research capability across the Central Coast, Hunter New England, Mid-North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts, enabling researchers to deliver high-impact, translational cancer research within their own institutions. In 2025, two exceptional projects were awarded fellowships—each addressing a critical gap in cancer care and aiming to translate research into real-world outcomes for patients and families in regional communities.
Our 2025 recipients are:
Dr Jamie Bryant
Senior Research Academic, University of Newcastle
Project: Co-designing and validating unmet needs assessment tools for children with cancer and their parents in regional NSW
Each year, approximately 350 children are diagnosed with cancer in NSW. In 2023 alone, 51 children received care at John Hunter Children’s Hospital, a major provider of paediatric oncology services for regional NSW. Despite the significant number of families affected, there are currently no validated tools to systematically assess the unmet needs of children with cancer and their parents—particularly in regional settings.
Dr Jamie Bryant’s fellowship project aims to change this. Working directly with patients and families, Dr Bryant will:
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Co-design two self-report assessment tools for children aged 8–14 with cancer and for their parents
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Conduct a cross-sectional survey to validate these tools and identify the prevalence of unmet needs across regional NSW
By embedding the voices of children and families into the design process, this research will help ensure care is truly patient-centred and needs-based. The project will also lay critical groundwork for future national studies, strengthening paediatric oncology care well beyond regional NSW.
Dr Michelle Brown
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Newcastle
Project: Utilising DNA methylation as blood-based biomarkers to develop a diagnostic test for ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to diagnose early. Many women are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when survival rates are significantly lower. Yet when ovarian cancer is detected early, cure rates can reach up to 90 percent. Currently, there is no reliable test for early detection.
Dr Michelle Brown’s research explores a promising solution: DNA methylation biomarkers—chemical changes in DNA that can be detected through a simple blood test. Her project aims to:
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Develop a sensitive and specific blood-based test capable of identifying DNA methylation markers linked to ovarian cancer
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Advance a clinically useful early detection tool that could dramatically improve diagnosis and survival outcomes for women
This minimally invasive approach has the potential to transform ovarian cancer care, offering earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment pathways.
Building Research Capacity Where It Matters Most
Together, these projects exemplify the core mission of the Regional Research Fellowship scheme: building research excellence across regional NSW and supporting innovations that translate directly into improved cancer care. By investing in talented researchers and locally driven solutions, the NSW Regional Cancer Research Network is helping ensure that regional communities benefit from research and better health outcomes, now and into the future.