Monash research to benefit patients with aggressive lymphoma

Dr Gareth Gregory

Monash researcher and haematologist Dr Gareth Gregory has been awarded a prestigious Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation Clinical Investigator Award to further his research into aggressive lymphoma. 

The $85,000 award will enable Dr Gregory and his team to use a sophisticated genetic screen to determine mechanisms of drug resistance in patients.

Dr Gregory said there are a number of exciting new targeted therapies being assessed for treatment of patients with resistant aggressive lymphomas, including numerous clinical trials at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP). 

“We see mixed responses to these treatments, whereby some patients achieve rapid and durable remissions whereas others have lymphoma that may also be resistant to the targeted drug,” Dr Gregory said. 

“Genetic screening will assist us to more accurately predict which patients will benefit from a new class of drug under investigation, and those who are likely to be resistant so that an alternative treatment can be sought.”

“This research complements other studies within the Blood Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory headed by Associate Professor Jake Shortt, and is an example of the growing haematology translational research activity within the MHTP,” Dr Gregory said. 

Dr Gregory is an Early Career Practitioner Fellow in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS) and Clinical Trials Lead for aggressive lymphoma at Monash Health.