Suzanne Cavanagh Early Career Investigator Grant awarded

Dr Melanie McCoy, Research Fellow for the Colorectal Cancer Research Group, was recently awarded the Suzanne Cavanagh Early Career Investigator Grant.

28 Mar 2017

28 March 2017

The Cancer Council WA grant, of more than $34,000, will be used to fund the study ‘Treating bowel cancer – does the immune system have a role to play?’ in collaboration with The University of Western Australia, St John of God Subiaco Hospital and Telethon Kids Institute.

Dr McCoy will work alongside Professor Cameron Platell as co-investigator, to determine whether, in some patients, the cancer cells release signals that suppress the immune system, stopping it from attacking the cancer. If so, using new drugs to block these signals might make current treatments more effective.

Dr McCoy said the grant will enable the Colorectal Cancer Research Group to extend the scope of a previous Cancer Council WA funded project investigating how the immune system influences response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for bowel cancer.

“It will allow us to continue our work in this exciting area of research, and continue to improve outcomes for people with bowel cancer.”