The Melanoma Genomics Managing Your Risk Study is about understanding the impact of informing people about their personal genetic risk of melanoma, and to see whether this could be used as a new approach for helping prevent melanoma and other skin cancers. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, but in many cases it can be prevented and if detected early then the prognosis is usually good. An individual’s genetic variation can influence their chances of developing melanoma, and this genetic risk information (in combination with information on preventative behaviours and skin checking) is a new potential strategy for helping prevent melanoma and other skin cancers and encouraging early detection.

Sydney Catalyst met with Chief Investigator, Associate Professor Anne Cust and PhD Candidate, Amelia Smit to discuss the study.

Learn about the latest research from the Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney and the NHRMC Clinical Trials Centre including the potential of cannabinoids to treat cancer and manage symptoms.

- Associate Professor Judith Lacey, Head of Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse - The clinician as researcher and prescriber in the field of medicinal cannabis

- Dr Antony Mersiades - Clinical Trials Fellow, NHMRC Clinicial Trials Centre, The University of Sydney - The role of medicinal cannabis for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

- Professor Iain McGregor, Academic Director, Lambert Initiative, The University of Sydney - Examining the anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids

A Sydney lawyer turned patient advocate, Lillian Leigh hopes to use her personal experiences and those of whom she meets to create positive change and improve health outcomes.

Lillian is a member of Cancer Australia's Research and Data Advisory Group, and a grants review committee member of the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme. She is a Management Advisory Committee member of the Australasian Lung cancer Trials Group, and an Advisory Committee member of Woolcock's Lung Cancer Research Network. She represents patients on the National Oncology Alliance, and is also a volunteer advocate for Lung Foundation Australia, Rare Cancers Australia and Cancer Council NSW.

In December 2016, Lillian received a Patient Advocacy Award at the 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer Conference in Vienna.

You can read more about Lillian's advocacy at http://www.breath.org.au/ and follow her on Twitter @ProjectBreath

In this episode, I caught up with Dr Peter Fox, medical oncologist in Dubbo, Bathurst and Orange. We discussed the challenges of cancer care in regional NSW, and also some of the benefits of country life.

You can read Peter's article on cancer care inequality - https://www.sydneycatalyst.org.au/media/439766/mja_article.pdf

Dr Haryana Dhillon discusses the potential impact of cancer treatment on cognition, research into the phenomenon and potential interventions to aid recovery.

Haryana is a Research Fellow in Cancer Survivorship at the Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED) University of Sydney. She is also a member of the Board of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) and Council, and chair of the Survivorship Group of COSA.

Haryana co-leads a Cancer Survivorship Research Group based in the University of Sydney. The group is supported on peer-reviewed funding, allowing studies in cancer and cognition, physical activity in cancer populations, sleep disturbance and symptom control. She also maintains an active research interest in health literacy, communication in the cancer setting and patient education.

Read more - https://www.sydneycatalyst.org.au/events/speakers-ecr-debate/dr-haryana-dhillon.aspx

Professor David Thomas discusses genomic and the future of genomic medicine, particular for patients with rare cancers.

For more information on the Australian Genomic Cancer Research Program see https://www.garvan.org.au/our-work/genomic-cancer-medicine-program

This episode, I chatted with Lindsey Reece. Lindsey is director of the SPRINTER research team working in partnership across the University of Sydney and the Office of Sport within the NSW Government. Before arriving in Sydney, Lindsey managed a broad portfolio of research and consultancy, at Sheffield Hallam University’s (Yorkshire, UK) Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, focusing on the management of chronic disease through physical activity promotion including; Cancer Survivorship, Neurological conditions, Obesity Prevention and large scale Community Physical Activity and Sport program’s. She worked closely with Public Health England and Sport England to implement their national physical activity strategies and led numerous projects in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Care, British Lung Foundation, parkrun and Local Authority, NHS agencies.

A copy of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Position Statement on Exercise in Cancer Care is available online - https://www.sydneycatalyst.org.au/media/434357/clinical_oncology_society_of_australia_position_statement_on_exercise_in_cancer_care.pdf

SBS' Episode on The Exercise Pill is available online - https://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/tvepisode/exercise-pill

This month I chatted with members at our annual Postgraduate & Early Career Research Symposium and recorded the thoughts, insights and advice from our esteemed panel.

Phyllis Butow and Phil Hogg sat down to chat about the nuts and bolts of translational research and finding your niche in the cancer research space.

In our inaugural episode, Sydney Catalyst Program Coordinator Ellen Brodie, sat down with Professors John Simes and Michael Boyer to chat about Sydney Catalyst and the change of Director.