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Gynaecological Cancers

Professor Penelope Webb

Group Leader

The Gynaecological Cancers group primarily investigates all aspects of gynaecological cancer from aetiology to diagnosis, patterns of care, quality of life and survival. A particular focus is on the role of environmental (non-genetic) factors and the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in the causation and prognosis of ovarian and endometrial cancer. Much of this work is conducted within three national studies and two international consortia. The group is also leading the PROMISE study – a new hybrid effectiveness-Implementation trial evaluating the use of electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in routine cancer care.

CURRENT RESEARCH

  • evaluating factors that affect risk of developing ovarian cancer through the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS) and the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC)
  • evaluating factors that affect quality of life and/or survival after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer through the Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle (OPAL) Study and the Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group (MOCOG)
  • evaluating factors that affect risk of developing and/or quality of life and survival after endometrial cancer Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study (AOCS) and the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2)
  • national data linkage study investigating aetiology, diagnosis, management and survival for ovarian cancer (the OVARIAN Study)
  • a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial called the PROMISE study, evaluating the use of Patient Reported Outcome Measures in routine cancer care

Staff

  • Azam Majidi, Visiting Scientist
  • Catherine Baxter, Project Manager
  • Elizabeth Johnston, Affiliate
  • Karen Martin, Project Manager
  • Karen Tuesley, PhD Student
  • Kate Gersekowski, Research Assistant
  • Max Lau, Affiliate
  • Dr Nina Na, Senior Research Officer
  • Associate Professor Susan Jordan, Affiliate
  • Suzanne O’Brien, Research Nurse
  • Dr Tanya Ross, Research Officer
  • Therese Lawton, Database & Data Entry Administrator
  • Vicki Fennelly, Research Nurse

Internal Collaborators

External Collaborators

  • Associate Professor Susan Jordan, School of Public Health University of Queensland
  • Professor David Bowtell, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
  • Dr Anna de Fazio, Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Members of the OPAL Study Group

  • Professor Michael Friedlander, Prince of Wales Cancer Centre
  • Associate Professor Peter Grant, Mercy Hospital for Women
  • Professor Andreas Obermair

Members of the PROMISE Study Group including

  • Professor Ray Chan, Queensland University of Technology
  • Dr Bena Brown & Dr Laurelie Wishart, Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • Associate Professor David Wyld & Dr Melissa Eastgate, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
  • Professor Sabe Sabesan, Townsville Hospital
  • Dr Jasotha Sanmugarajah, Gold Coast Hospital
  • Dr Rebecca Nund, University of Queensland
  • Mr Martin Doyle
  • Ms Elizabeth Miller

Members of the OVARIAN Study Group:

  • Associate Professor Paul Cohen, St John of God Hospital
  • Associate Professor Susan Jordan, University of Queensland
  • Professor James Codde, Associate Professor Katrina Spilsbury & Dr Aime Powell, University of Notre Dame
  • Associate Professor Peter Grant, Mercy Hospital
  • Dr Christopher Steer, Border Oncology
  • Professor Colin Stewart, King Edward Memorial Hospital

Overseas Collaborators

  • OCAC: members of the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium
  • E2C2: members of the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium
  • MOCOG: members of the Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group

We gratefully acknowledge support from:

  • National Health and Medical Research Council (Investigator and Project grants)
  • Medical Research Futures Fund
  • Cancer Council Queensland – Accelerating Collaborative Cancer Research Grant
  • Brisbane Women’s Club
  • Zonta Clubs of Devonport & Toowoomba Garden City
  • Donald and Joan Wilson Foundation

STUDENT PROJECTS

Ovarian cancer pain management

Suitable for a Masters (preferably part-time) or Honours student. Some experience in biostatistics and data analysis is essential and a background in epidemiology and/or an interest in cancer are highly desirable. Background In Australia in 2022, around 1,815 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 1,000 lives were lost to the disease. Pain […]

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Use of complementary and alternative medicine and outcomes after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Suitable for a Masters (preferably part-time) or Honours student. Some experience in biostatistics and data analysis is essential and a background in epidemiology and/or an interest in cancer are highly desirable. The use of complementary therapies by cancer patients is common but contentious, particularly during chemotherapy. Survivors often use complementary medicine in the hope it […]

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Use of dietary supplements and outcomes after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Suitable for a Masters (preferably part-time) or Honours student. Some experience in biostatistics and data analysis is essential and a background in epidemiology and/or an interest in cancer are highly desirable. The use of dietary supplements by cancer patients is common but contentious, particularly during chemotherapy. Survivors often take supplements in the hope these will […]

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