CANCER SURVIVORSHIP AND EXERCISE ONCOLOGY
Professor Sandra Hayes, Director of Research
Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ), Brisbane, Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Brisbane, Australia | April 2025
Professor Sandra Hayes is the Director of Research at Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ), where she leads a comprehensive cancer research program encompassing cancer epidemiology, prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship.
With a BAppSci (Hons) and a PhD in exercise oncology, Professor Hayes’s expertise lies in quantifying the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on physical and psychosocial wellbeing, quality of life, and survival. She also evaluates innovative supportive care strategies, particularly exercise, to improve post-cancer lives.
Professor Hayes has authored 170 peer-reviewed publications, been a Chief Investigator on grants totalling more than AUD$20M, leading world-renowned randomised trials and longitudinal oncology cohort studies involving over 9000 participants across more than 10 cancer sites. Recognised internationally as an expert in exercise oncology, Professor Hayes has held executive positions on national and international committees, including the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and the International Society of Lymphology.
Her research has been funded by several organisations over the past 25 years, including government funding support through National Health and Medical Research Council grants and more recently the Medical Research Future Fund. Professor Hayes has also been supported from funding from organisations such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Cancer Council Queensland, as well as international funding from the World Cancer Research Fund.
Her professional activities include peer review for top oncology and exercise science journals and advisory roles for various cancer and exercise organisations. Her research impact includes leading national and international position statements on exercise for cancer patients, co-developing the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s physical activity guidelines, and creating resources for the International Exercise is Medicine® campaign.
She has also developed the YWCA Encore breast cancer rehabilitation program and lymphoedema diagnostic criteria used globally.
Source: Supplied
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7005-5184
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Paramedicine workforce across Australian & New Zealand
Liz Thyer is an Associate Professor in the Western Sydney University Paramedicine program and is passionate about innovations and excellence in health sciences teaching and learning.
She was an advanced life support paramedic with Ambulance Victoria for 11 years including roles as a clinical instructor and peer support officer. She has previously worked at Victoria University with the Paramedic programs and at Deakin University in Learning Futures.
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Cellular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury & concussion
Professor Melinda Fitzgerald is Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research at Curtin University, John Curtin Distinguished Professor and CEO of Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia.
She has published over 135 papers; recent highlights include Lancet Neurology, J Neuroscience, Nature Nano, ACS Nano, Biomaterials. Currently held grants/Projects total $10.1 million; CIA for $5.2 million of these; $18.5 million total research and equipment funding, $9.9 million as CIA; continuous category 1 grant funding as CIA since 2009.
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Nanoparticles & microparticles to combat antimicrobial resistance
Dr Anjana Jayasree is an emerging research leader in biomaterials, tissue engineering and nanotechnology, recognised internationally for her innovative work on antimicrobial nanoparticles and regenerative therapies. A Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Queensland, she operates at the intersection of materials science, drug delivery and cellular biology, developing advanced metallic-based nanotechnologies to improve both human and animal health outcomes. Her expertise spans nanoparticle synthesis, cell–material interactions, and the design of sophisticated in vitro models to investigate soft-tissue integration, osseointegration, angiogenesis and biofilm formation.
