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Backing the brightest: New PhD scholars leading Australia's fight against blood cancer thanks to the Leukaemia Foundation and HSANZ

Leukaemia Foundation

The Leukaemia Foundation and Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ) have again partnered to award three of Australia’s brightest blood cancer researchers and clinicians with PhD scholarships.

 

The 2025 recipients were announced last night at the annual Blood conference in Perth and include Dr Tamasine Stewart, Dr David Kipp, and Jessica Bowden, whose respective research projects will aim to improve the lives and outcomes of Australians living with blood cancer.

 

Leukaemia Foundation Head of Research Bill Stavreski said that the Leukaemia Foundation HSANZ PhD Scholarships are a critical component of the Leukaemia Foundation’s National Research Program, with the new scholars joining a prestigious list of previous recipients spanning eight years.

 

“The Leukaemia Foundation is thrilled to partner with HSANZ on these PhD scholarships which continue to mark one of our most important research announcements each year,” said Mr Stavreski.

 

“We extend our congratulations to Dr Stewart, Dr Kipp, and Ms Bowden who will each receive $150,000 to undertake some of this country’s most innovative and cutting-edge blood cancer research projects as a result of the funding we’re jointly able to provide.”

 

According to the Leukaemia Foundation, funding local blood cancer research is a crucial to reducing the devastating burden of blood cancer in Australia with incidence set to double in the next ten years[i].

 

“Every day, 55 Australians will be newly diagnosed with blood cancer and a further 17 will sadly lose their life to the disease with blood cancer remaining one of the nation’s deadliest cancers[ii].

 

“Research projects like those of the PhD scholarship recipients are fundamental to improving the survival rates of Australians diagnosed with blood cancer and accelerating research to realise advancements in blood cancer treatment.” 

 

The ongoing partnership between the Leukaemia Foundation and HSANZ ensures that the research conducted is of a high quality and that Australia’s most promising blood cancer researchers and clinicians have an opportunity to make impactful discoveries that transform the health and survival outcomes for blood cancer patients.

 

“Investment into blood cancer research is a key pillar of our work at the Leukaemia Foundation and to date we have funded over 65 million dollars of research,” said Mr Stavreski.

 

“We’re extremely proud of our legacy as Australia’s leading funder of PhD scholarships in blood cancer and for over two decades we’ve championed and supported the nations brightest emerging researchers.

 

“By further partnering with HSANZ since 2018 – an organisation who shares our goals and aspirations – the depth of research we’re able to fund has increased exponentially, further empowering groundbreaking discoveries, advanced treatments, and bringing hope to every Australian impacted by blood cancer.

 

“If we are to have any hope of reducing blood cancer mortality in this country, it’s paramount we continue to invest in local blood cancer research projects and continue to be the biggest supporters of Australia’s next generation of researchers and clinicians, so together we can find better treatments and one day a cure.”

 

The PhD scholarship recipients research projects will assist in paving the way towards realising the Leukaemia Foundation’s goal of less preventable lives lost to blood cancer, and additionally strongly align to HSANZ’s purpose to lead, communicate, and support excellence in haematology through independent education, professional development, and advocacy.

 

Information on the Leukaemia Foundation HSANZ PhD Scholarship recipients and their respective research projects below:

 

 

Dr Tamasine Stewart – Exploring the use of a new technology to improve diagnostic, prognostication and treatment for patients with bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition conditions

 

Dr Stewart is a Haematology Laboratory Registrar at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, whose research project aims to utilise a novel test and correct platform to improve diagnosis, prognostication and treatment for patients with bone marrow failure and germline predisposition to myeloid malignancies.

 

Bone marrow failure disorders are rare but serious and primarily affect children and young adults, preventing the bone marrow from producing healthy blood cells. This leads to life-threatening infections, organ damage, fatigue, and developmental problems – as well as increasing the risk of developing blood cancers such as leukaemia. 

 

Once cancer occurs, treatments are often less effective because of high-risk genetic changes, leaving patients with limited options, severe side effects, and poor outcomes. Families frequently endure long periods of uncertainty without clear diagnoses or guidance.

 

Dr Stewart’s research project seeks to:

• Improve the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of bone marrow failure disorders by using a new stem cell culture platform to study the underlying biology of these diseases to enable clearer and earlier diagnoses.
• Help doctors predict disease progression for more precise and timely care, and test whether existing approved medicines can be repurposed to improve treatment outcomes.
• Explore innovative approaches such as gene therapy, which holds promise as many of these disorders stem from single-gene mutations.
• Give patients and families faster and more accurate answers about their condition, provide doctors with better tools for personalised treatment decisions, and improve quality of life by reducing uncertainty, isolation, and treatment side effects.

Dr Stewart’s work will also lay the foundation for future research aimed at preventing cancer development and ultimately finding a cure, offering children, young people, and their families the gift of time, clarity, and renewed hope for the future.

 

 

Dr David Kipp - Targeting senescence to improve outcomes in myelofibrosis

 

The role of chromosomal instability and DNA sensing in cellular senescence in myelofibrosis will form Dr Kipp’s research with the aim to improve treatments so patients with the disease can live longer and healthier lives.

 

Myelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer that causes scarring and inflammation in the bone marrow, leading to severe fatigue, infections, and sometimes life-threatening complications. The disease can progress to a more aggressive form of leukaemia, which is often fatal.

 

Treatments can help manage symptoms of myelofibrosis but do not stop it from worsening or prevent its transformation to leukaemia. A key challenge is that damaged and ‘aged’ (senescent) cells in the bone marrow make it harder for healthy blood cells to grow and can reduce the success of stem cell transplants.

 

Dr Kipp, a clinical haematology and bone marrow transplant physician at the Alfred Hospital, will look at why these bone marrow cells become damaged and ‘aged’ while focusing on a specific signalling pathway called cGAS-STING that drives this process.

 

Patient bone marrow samples will be studied to understand how the disease spreads, which cells are involved, and what triggers harmful changes with the goal to find ways to block this pathway and other targets so it can be treated at its root rather than just managing symptoms.

 

By preventing bone marrow damage early, it could reduce the risk of developing aggressive leukaemia, improve the success of stem cell transplants, and lead to new therapies that target the disease itself rather than just the symptoms.

 

Dr Kipp’s research could transform how myelofibrosis and similar blood cancers are treated, giving patients better outcomes and hope for a cure.

 

 

Ms Jessica Bowden – Novel treatment regime to improve survival in acute myeloid leukaemia patients

 

A pathology scientist at the University of South Australia, Ms Bowden’s research will target CD93 signalling to overcome venetoclax resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

 

AML is an aggressive blood cancer that often returns after treatment. While chemotherapy and newer targeted drugs can be effective at first, most patients eventually relapse, and fewer than three in ten survive beyond five years.

 

One of the most promising new therapies, venetoclax, has brought hope to many patients – particularly older people who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy. However, over time many patients stop responding to venetoclax, and their cancer returns. Finding ways to overcome this treatment resistance remains one of the greatest challenges in AML care today.

 

Recent research has uncovered an important clue to why some AML patients stop responding to venetoclax. Scientists have found that a molecule called CD93 is much higher in patients whose cancer is resistant to treatment, with early findings suggesting that CD93 ‘switches on’ survival pathways inside leukaemia cells, allowing them to evade therapy and continue growing.

 

Ms Bowden’s research project will study CD93 in depth, seeking to understand how it drives venetoclax resistance, test existing approved medicines that could block this pathway, and use advanced laboratory models of AML to determine whether blocking CD93 can make leukaemia cells sensitive to venetoclax again.

 

By targeting the CD93 pathway, this research aims to:

• Help patients stay on venetoclax longer and reduce the rise of relapse.
• Improve survival rates and quality of life for people living with AML.
• Open the door to new treatment strategies using drugs that are already available – allowing patients to benefit much sooner.

Ultimately Ms Bowden is seeking to restore the effectiveness of venetoclax to bring new hope to people with AML and their families and loved ones.

 

 

Learn more about how the Leukaemia Foundation research program is helping to improve and save the lives of people living with blood cancer at leukaemia.org.au/research.

About us:

About the Leukaemia Foundation: The Leukaemia Foundation stands with Australia to help cure and conquer blood cancer – with care. Together we are attacking every blood cancer, from every direction, in every way we can. We stand beside every Australian to be their voice and their someone-to-turn to, fighting to get them access to the best care. We also accelerate research that is delivering rapid advancements in blood cancer diagnosis and treatments. Plus, we provide services and support that empower people living with any blood cancer to live well after diagnosis. You can learn more about the Leukaemia Foundation and blood cancer at leukaemia.org.au

Contact details:

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