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March 2023 News
ADVANCING EARLY BREAST CANCER DETECTION: SIMPLIFYING THE DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER CELLS
Your support has helped fund a groundbreaking discovery in breast cancer diagnosis. NBCF-funded researcher Associate Professor Belinda Parker has teamed up with La Trobe University researchers Professor Brian Abbey and Dr Eugeniu Balaur to develop a new type of microscope slide called the NanoMslide.
The NanoMslide is a unique microscope slide that was designed with the aim to assist pathologists identify the presence of cancer cells. This makes it easier to spot early signs of breast cancer even when there aren't many abnormal cells in the tissue. It's a major breakthrough as it eliminates the need to stain the tissue and only requires the slide and a microscope.
NBCF-funded researcher Associate Professor Parker was thrilled when she first looked at a tissue sample under the microscope on the NanoMslide. "For the first time, I saw cancer cells just popping up at me," she said. "They were a different colour from the surrounding tissue, and it was very easy to distinguish them from surrounding cells."
Preliminary findings suggest that the NanoMslide could be useful in early breast cancer diagnosis, as well as other cancers when detecting just a few cancer cells in a complex tissue or a blood sample. This could be a huge step forward for breast cancer diagnosis.
This breakthrough wouldn’t have been possible without your wonderful support. Your generosity made it possible for NBCF-funded researchers to make this groundbreaking discovery in collaboration with La Trobe University researchers. Thank you for making this discovery possible and supporting our shared vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer.
- NBCF-funded researcher,
Associate Professor Belinda Parker
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
International Women’s Day was on 8 March and NBCF is proud to support and celebrate women in research who are making an impact towards Zero Deaths from breast cancer.
Australian breast cancer research is world-class, and some of the most talented researchers in Australia are women. This is demonstrated in research projects funded by NBCF, over 50% of which are led by women.
Thank you for your continuous support, which allows us to fund these game-changing research projects to help generations of women and men in the future.
We are pleased to share the stories of two women whose personal experiences with breast cancer have shaped the direction of their careers in research and whose achievements in science are leading the way to make the future brighter for all.
DR SHARISSA LATHAM
Dr Sharissa Latham’s pursuit of a career in science was fuelled by her grandmother’s breast cancer diagnosis.
Today, thanks to wonderful supporters like you, Dr Latham and her team at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research are developing a new drug to slow the growth of triple negative breast cancer cells that escape from the primary tumour site and spread to other parts of the body. The team discovered a new drug that can potentially ‘turn off’ a protein, a vital component of a signalling network responsible for the growth of metastatic breast cancer cells.
It’s potentially a game-changing discovery – and just one example of
the amazing discoveries that our women-led projects would not have
funding or resources for, if it wasn’t for you
“Thank you so much! Your support and donations are giving us the best chance to improve the outcomes and lives of breast cancer patients.”
– Dr Sharissa Latham, NBCF-funded researcher
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
SAMANTHA OAKES
When she was only a little girl, Associate Professor Oakes witnessed the effects of breast cancer first-hand when her aunty was diagnosed and sadly passed away from the disease.
At the time, very little was known about the disease and this influenced Associate Professor Oakes’ to dedicate her entire career to learning as much as she can about breast cancer. While triple negative breast cancers often respond initially to chemotherapy, these cancers frequently develop resistance to this treatment. Associate Professor Oakes and her team discovered that that using new therapies that could reactivate cell death, called BH3 mimetics, triple negative breast cancer cells could be sensitised to routine chemotherapy. These drugs are now being investigated in clinical trials for advanced breast cancer and potentially hold promise for the treatment of other types of cancers as well.
Today, Associate Professor Oakes has moved her passion to the other
side of the desk as NBCF’s Director of Research Investment, where she
continues to dedicate her career to supporting NBCF's purpose of funding world-class research towards Zero Deaths from breast cancer.
“I’m grateful to the wonderful supporters who understand the power of research. Breast cancer research funding has enduring outcomes, not just at the end of the grant, but many years into the future”
– Associate Professor Samantha Oakes,
NBCF’s Director of Research Investment
ERIN’S RUNNING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THIS MOTHER’S DAY
Erin’s first Mother’s Day Classic was in 2009. Today, she’s there each year with her family, rain, hail or shine.
Erin was 33 and had just given birth when she received her HER2+ breast cancer diagnosis. Sadly, in 2020 she received more devastating news - her breast cancer was now metastatic and had spread to her liver, bones, lungs, and brain. The disease flipped her world upside down twice, putting her through countless tests, hospital stays, invasive surgeries, and more – all while raising her three kids.
But thanks to game-changing breast cancer research, most of Erin’s cancer has been removed, and her doctors can continue to manage the disease with positive results.
Now, she loves getting involved in the Mother's Day Classic (MDC), helping raise money for first-class research, and supporting more women like her.
Erin is excited to celebrate Mother’s Day with her family at MDC once again this year. We’d like to thank her and every MDC superstar for participating each year and making a difference for the many women like Erin who are living with breast cancer.
If you’d like to join us at the Classic this year, you can sign up , here and help raise money for life-changing breast cancer research.
“I'm here enjoying life and watching my children grow because of the research and treatments that are helping people diagnosed with breast cancer live longer lives.”
– Erin, MDC Community Ambassador
