The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network warmly congratulates Professor Joerg Lehmann and his team on being selected for the National Health and Medical Research Council’s 10 of the Best 2026. This seventeenth edition of 10 of the Best recognises outstanding NHMRC-funded research completed in 2023 and highlights work that has made a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of Australians.
Funded by an NHMRC Project Grant and further supported through the Network’s Shovel Ready Translational Research Grant scheme, the project was led by Professor Lehmann at Calvary Mater Hospital and the University of Newcastle. The team included Network members Professor Peter Greer, Mr Jose Antonio Baeza-Ortega, and Dr Jane Ludbrook, all based at Calvary Mater. Their research focuses on improving the safety and precision of breast cancer radiotherapy.
A central challenge in breast radiotherapy is minimising unintended radiation exposure to the heart, which can increase the risk of long-term cardiac complications. The team advanced the use of deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH), a technique that increases the distance between the heart and the treatment field. Critically, they addressed a key limitation of existing approaches by developing a method to directly monitor internal anatomy in real time, rather than relying on external surrogate measures. This enables clinicians to confirm that patients maintain the correct breath-hold position throughout treatment, ensuring accurate dose delivery to the target tissue.
This innovation enhances treatment precision, reduces the risk of side effects, and supports the safe implementation of shorter treatment courses. More efficient treatment pathways also have broader system benefits, including increased service capacity and improved access for patients in rural and remote communities who often face barriers to prolonged radiotherapy schedules.
The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network commends all recognised researchers for their leadership and for delivering meaningful improvements in cancer care outcomes.
Read the seventeenth edition of 10 of the Best