Dr Danielle Oh, Dr Olga Motorna, Dr Allison Mo |
Monash Health haematology trainees Dr Olga Motorna, Dr
Danielle Oh and Dr Allison Mo each received prestigious scholarships worth $60,000
to support their PhD projects at Monash University and Melbourne University. Only seven scholarships are awarded across Australia and New Zealand.
Under the supervision of Professor Erica Wood, Dr Zoe
McQuilten and Associate Professor Jake Shortt, Dr Mo will undertake
epidemiological and clinical studies investigate anaemia in the elderly
Australian population.
“Although anaemia is common in the elderly (and rising
with an ageing population), and the elderly receive more blood transfusions for
treatment of anaemia than younger patients, we currently don’t have detailed epidemiological
data describing the burden of anaemia in the elderly Australian community, risk
factors or the consequences of anaemia on health outcomes,” Dr Mo said.
Consequently there is a lack of data to guide treatment
of anaemia and provide guidance on the appropriate use of blood transfusions in
the elderly.
Dr Mo is also interested in the appropriate use of
transfusions for chronically transfused elderly patients with Myelodysplastic
Syndromes (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
Colleague Dr Danielle Oh will be co-supervised by
Associate Professor Shortt to gain mechanistic insights into the molecular and
biological effects of specific transcription factors is particular cancers.
Dr Oh said the results from her research will have the potential
to radically transform the treatment paradigm for leukaemia and lymphomas.
“Molecular processes are fundamental to the spread and growth of cancer,”
Dr Oh said.
“There is increasing evidence from pre-clinical studies to suggest one of
these processes (transcription) can be targeted by specific compounds to
modulate the growth of certain cancers, including AML and diffuse
large B cell lymphoma.”
Fellow trainee Dr Motorna said she felt immensely
honoured to be one of the prestigious scholarship recipients, and hopes that
her research ultimately translates into better treatment outcomes for patients
suffering from malignant conditions.
Dr Motorna’s project will deepen her understanding of the
mechanisms of carcinogenesis and immune regulation.
“In the era of new targeted therapies, intimate
understanding of the complex processes that underpin haematological
malignancies gives one the power to tailor treatment accordingly and ultimately
achieve the best possible outcome for an individual patient,” Dr Motorna said.
Associate Professor Shortt said he is extremely proud to be
co-supervising these rising stars.
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