SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH OR BEYOND CANCER TREATMENT
Dr Hannah Wardill, Hospital Research Foundation Fellow, University of Adelaide & Head of Supportive Oncology Group (Precision Cancer Medicine)
SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia | January 2025
Dr Hannah Wardill is a Hospital Research Foundation Fellow and lead of the Supportive Oncology Research Group (SORG), in the School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide and Precision Cancer Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). She is an Executive Board Member of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer / International Society for Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) and Chair of both MASCC/ISOO Patient Partnership Committee & the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC) Cancer Symptom Trials (Gut Dysfunction Node; supported by Cancer Australia).
While her research started in understanding how chemotherapy damages gut health, Dr Wardill’s research program has now expanded to include a range of symptoms and side effects including neuropathy, cognitive impairment, infection and malnutrition.
A fierce advocate for supportive cancer care, Dr Wardill is working to improve the visibility of this research area and remind people that optimal cancer control can (and should) involve high quality, evidence-based supportive care to ensure people living with or beyond cancer can live happy and fulfilling lives.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6613-3661
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Better biomarkers for predicting the incidence of having atherosclerosis and heart attack
Assoc Prof Bursill is a vascular biologist with interests and expertise in vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis and angiogenesis. She completed her PhD at The University of Adelaide in lipid metabolism then headed to Oxford University for five years to undergo a postdoctoral post in the Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine and Pathology. Her postdoctoral time triggered her interest in the mechanisms that cause atherosclerosis and in particular the role of small inflammatory proteins called chemokines.
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Healthcare associated infection prevention
Professor Philip Russo is an internationally regarded expert in healthcare associated infection prevention, and led the recently completed the Australian National Healthcare Associated Infection Point Prevalence Survey, the first in Australia for 34 years. He is also Past President of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), the peak body for Infection Prevention and Control professionals in the Australasian region.
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Life-changing donor milk for preterm babies
Dr Laura Klein is National Milk Research Leader at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is funded by Australian governments to provide life-giving blood, plasma, and transplantation and biological products.
Dr Klein works with clinicians and researchers across Australia to understand how donated breast milk can be used to improve outcomes for vulnerable babies. She’s passionate about generating evidence to improve the products and services that milk banks provide to donors and the families who receive donated breast milk.
