Health News
Boost to world-class melanoma research

Boost to world-class melanoma research
World-class research into melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has been boosted with Dr Jessamy Tiffen, Head of the Centenary Institute’s ‘Melanoma Epigenetics Laboratory’, receiving a $447,000 project grant from Cancer Council NSW.
The grant will be used by Dr Tiffen to investigate new treatment approaches for patients with advanced stage melanoma.
Dr Tiffen said that new immunotherapies and targeted treatments provided hope for patients with advanced melanoma. However, for many patients, these treatments were ineffective or only worked for a limited time before the cancer developed resistance.
“Sadly, the majority of advanced melanoma patients will suffer relapse and die from the disease. There is an urgent need to identify new drugs for those individuals with no treatment options and to develop new drugs that can prevent recurrence of tumours,” said Dr Tiffen.
The focus of Dr Tiffen’s project will be the investigation of the histone methylation process which she believes plays an important role in driving treatment resistance in melanoma.
“Histone methylation involves protein activity around your DNA that can change the way your genes are expressed and can lead to changes in cell behaviour,” said Dr Tiffen.
“We believe that abnormal levels of histone methylation in both melanoma cells and dysfunctional immune cells could be causing resistance to treatment.”
In the laboratory, Dr Tiffen will be testing different approaches to control histone methylation in melanoma. She hopes the research will lead to new drug treatments to stop melanoma growth or reverse the deadly treatment resistance.
Professor Mathew Vadas AO, the Centenary Institute’s Executive Director, said the successful grant was a superb outcome for a vital project.
“The Centenary operates at the very forefront of this exciting aspect of melanoma research in Australia and I congratulate Dr Tiffen who has been awarded this important funding. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this research which has the potential to help reduce the tragic loss of life associated with melanoma in this country.”

Breaking News
NSW Expands Successful Short-Term Regional Health Deployment Program

Breaking News
Should Teachers Police Lunch Boxes? The Debate Over Healthy Eating in Schools

Breaking News
Public Health Alert: Suspected Case of Botulism Linked to Unregulated Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Breaking News
Coalition to Reinstate Full Medicare-Supported Mental Health Services

Breaking News
Does Watching TV Increase Dementia Risk?

-
Tweed Shire News2 years ago
A NEW TWEED HEADS
-
Motoring News2 years ago
Toyota Supra: Get Ready For A Fully Electric Version In 2025
-
COVID-19 Northern Rivers News4 years ago
Northern Rivers Local Health District COVID-19 update
-
COVID-19 Northern Rivers News4 years ago
Northern Rivers COVID-19 update
-
Northern Rivers Local News3 years ago
Fears proposed residential tower will ‘obliterate’ Tweed neighbourhood’s amenity and charm
-
Health News4 years ago
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic now open at Lismore Square
-
COVID-19 Northern Rivers News4 years ago
Lismore Family Medical Practice employee close contact
-
NSW Breaking News4 years ago
Vale: Former NSW prison boss Ron Woodham