Heavy hitters to talk at cancer forum

Members of the public will have a chance to hear from some of the world’s leading cancer researchers in Brisbane on Wednesday 20 May.

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute will host a free public forum from 6pm, giving the audience a chance to learn of the latest cancer research findings and to ask questions about the scientists’ work.

Professor Georgia Chenevix-Trench will talk about her work looking for new drugs to prevent breast cancer.

Professor Chenevix-Trench is the head of the Cancer Genetics Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer and leads an international consortium which has identified almost 100 new breast cancer susceptibility gene regions.

Those attending the forum will also hear about the new research frontier of immunotherapy, or harnessing the immune system to fight cancer from Dr Michele Teng, who heads QIMR Berghofer’s Immunoregulation and Immunotherapy Group.

The group’s research is being used to develop more effective therapies for cancers including lung, breast, prostate and melanoma.

Dr Steven Lane from the Institute’s Translational Leukaemia Research Group will address the forum about new treatments for blood cancers.

Dr Lane has recently published research on a new treatment approach that could offer hope to patients with the aggressive blood cancer acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Anyone interested in attending the forum is asked to RSVP by calling 1800 993 000 (free call number) or by emailing enquiries@qimrberghofer.edu.au .