MHF Centre backs big ideas to beat brain cancer

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Big ideas in brain cancer research have been fast-tracked by the University of Newcastle’s Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research.

The MHF Centre has today announced $720,000 in funding for six research projects in the latest MHF Innovation Grant Rounds - where researchers are encouraged to ‘think big’ and be awarded up to $120,000 to fund blue-sky research into brain cancer.

MHF Centre Director and practising radiation oncologist, Professor Mike Fay (pictured right) said he was surprised and delighted to receive 47 applications from across the country for a diverse array of research projects.

Professor Mike Fay“It’s exciting that there are now so many researchers with great ideas in the brain cancer space,” Professor Fay said. “There was a huge amount of interesting and innovative ideas from across the country.

“Narrowing the selection down to the top six was a real challenge, but we are proud to be funding the best of an absolutely top-tier range of applications,” Professor Fay said.

From a Trojan horse method to deliver cancer-killing drugs directly to hard-to-treat brain tumours, to repurposing existing drugs to combat treatment resistance in brain cancer, to the establishment of the first site in a national brain cancer care trial – these funds will make an impact nationwide for people with brain cancer.

For over 10 years, the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) has been committed to funding vital medical research into brain cancer – the leading cause of death in Australians under 40 and children under 10. And now the MHF Centre is taking the scientific lead in awarding funding to the nation’s leading researchers and their novel ideas in brain cancer through the Innovation Grant Rounds.

Mark and Kirralee Hughes with University of Newcastle Associate Professor Paul TooneyMark and Kirralee Hughes with University of Newcastle Associate Professor Paul Tooney, a recipient of a 2025 MHF Innovation grant.

Co-founder of the Mark Hughes Foundation, Kirralee Hughes, said the level of interest this round demonstrated the MHF Centre was making a real difference and funding research that mattered.

“It’s exciting that the MHF Centre received so many applications for these Innovation Grants which means there is momentum being created and researchers want to work in this space, which for years we didn’t have.

“This movement in the brain cancer space is exciting for us all, especially brain cancer patients and their families, as it gives us real hope that better outcomes are just around the corner.”

The six successful grants awarded in this round are:

  • Dr Neda Haghighi from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre will lead a multi-centre study exploring if using three smaller pre-surgery doses of radiotherapy (rather than one) can lead to better outcomes and less impact on quality of life in secondary brain cancer.
  • Dr Paulo Martins, from the Tumour Immunology Laboratory at Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer, is set to lead a groundbreaking project investigating the use of CAR T cell therapy for glioblastoma, an aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. He has demonstrated that CAR T cells can be generated from third-party donors and effectively target glioblastoma cells. This work is a critical step toward a future clinical trial, bringing hope for new treatment options for patients facing this devastating disease.
  • Dr Ernest Moles, from the Children’s Cancer Institute NSW, will look at a new approach to using new technology to selectively treat Diffuse Midline Glioma with improved efficacy and low-toxicity – two major barriers to fighting this deadly childhood brain cancer.
  • Dr Duong Nhu, and a collaborative team from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) and Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Victoria, will initiate a Trojan-horse approach for anti-cancer drugs to help them cross the blood-brain barrier to kill high-grade brain tumours.
  • Dr Laveniya Satgunaseelan, from Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Royal Prince Alfred (RPA), will lead a project looking at new ultra-fast brain tumour diagnostics aiming to reduce anxious wait times for patients and putting treating doctors on the front foot by offering a diagnosis immediately after surgery.
  • Associate Professor Paul Tooney from the University of Newcastle and HMRI Drug Repurposing and Medicines Research Program, will re-purpose existing medicines to stop the DNA repair that underlies treatment resistance and destroy cancer cells that remain after surgery.

Each of these innovative projects align with the key scientific research streams at the MHF Centre driving collaboration with research teams across the nation.

Established in 2022 to build stronger relationships with brain cancer researchers nationally and globally – the MHF Centre is unifying brain cancer researchers and working together for better outcomes.

“Whether it’s through buying a beanie, or donating at a community fundraiser, everyday Australians are helping solve the deadly problem of brain cancer and funding new research,” Kirralee said.

HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and the community.

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