RESEARCH, MENTORSHIP AND THE PHD EXPERIENCE Supervisor and candidate reflect on  confidence, independence and recognition

With
Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow,
Deputy Director Community Partnerships and Impact,
Molecular Horizons Research Institute UOW &
Group Leader, Targeted Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory
University of Wollongong

Dr Elahe Minaei,
Associate Research Fellow
University of Wollongong

SEGMENT
Filmed in Wollongong, NSW | September 2026

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with survival rates below 10 per cent and treatments often as harsh as the disease itself.

Finding better ways to treat one of the deadliest cancers has become the focus of a University of Wollongong research team, where the relationship between a PhD supervisor and candidate has also played an important role in shaping the next generation of researchers.

Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow, Deputy Director of Community Partnerships and Impact at the Molecular Horizons Institute and Group Leader of the Targeted Cancer Therapeutics Lab at UOW, leads research into improving the delivery of drugs directly to diseased tissue. Her team is particularly focused on diseases with high unmet medical needs, including inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Whilst being a PhD candidate,  Dr Minaei and her team developed biodegradable micro-implants that deliver chemotherapy and immunotherapy directly into tumours, targeting treatment at the source. This innovation reduces toxic side effects, activates the immune system, and makes powerful therapies safer and more effective.

Her preclinical studies show promising results, with industry partners calling the approach a “game changer” and clinicians hopeful it could finally make immunotherapy effective for pancreatic cancer.

For Dr Elahe Minaei, a recent PhD graduate and Associate Research Fellow in Vine-Perrow’s laboratory, the pancreatic cancer and immunotherapy project aligned closely with her background and research interests. Her previous experience in immunology and cancer cell and molecular biology helped shape her decision to undertake her PhD with Vine-Perrow.

The pair discussed their experience in a PhD Supervisor and PhD Candidate interview with Australian Health Journal, highlighting the importance of mentorship alongside scientific research.

“I think it’s very important that you know your supervisor,” Minaei said, emphasising the role of a supervisor in supporting both personal and professional growth.

Vine-Perrow said the progression of a PhD candidate towards independence was among the most rewarding aspects of supervision, particularly as the relationship ultimately develops into one between colleagues.

Source: Adapted from Shaping Australia Awards (Universities Australia) website and University of Wollongong media release (February 2026)