The 2025 NCARD Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was held on Thursday, 18 September, in Perth, Western Australia. The hybrid event, convened by A/Prof Alec Redwood, brought together around 40 participants in person and online to share research and build collaboration across asbestos-related disease research.
This year’s ASM covered a diverse range of topics, including detection and imaging, novel therapeutic approaches, clinical trials, and emerging technologies in mesothelioma research.
Session 1: Advances in Detection, Imaging, and Psychosocial Care
Following a welcome from Prof Jenette Creaney, the first session explored advances in detection, imaging, and psychosocial care. Prof Roslyn Francis provided an update on personalised imaging for mesothelioma through the ImmunoPET and IMAGER clinical trials, while Prof Fraser Brims presented research on identifying individuals at risk of asbestos-related lung cancer.
Dr Maria Ftanou, Director of Psychosocial Oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, joined us via videoconference to discuss the psychological impacts of asbestos-related diseases on those diagnosed and their families. Her presentation reinforced the importance of integrated, person-centred care in research and practice.
Session 2: Novel and Adjunct Therapies
The second session focused on innovative therapeutic strategies. Dr Jonathan Chee and Dr Nicola Principe presented on targeting lipid metabolism to overcome tumour immunosuppression, while Dr Kofi Stevens discussed improving immunotherapy outcomes by targeting copper.
Dr Alistair Cook examined how radiation can enhance immunotherapy responses in immunologically cold tumours, and A/Prof Alec Redwood shared progress on personalised neoantigen vaccines for mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Session 3: Clinical Trials and Translation
After lunch, the focus turned to clinical and translational research. Dr Melvin Chin presented on the DREAM trial, exploring new possibilities in mesothelioma treatment. Prof Tom John, medical oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, joined remotely to share insights on tumour-informed ctDNA assays and their potential applications in mesothelioma.
Session 4: Emerging Targets, Technologies, and Therapeutics
The final research session showcased emerging directions in the field. Alistair Nash, a final-year PhD student, presented on the role of BAP1 loss in the immune microenvironment of mesothelioma effusions. Dr Xiao Zhong discussed a benchmark analysis of somatic variant calling tools and their impact on neoantigen prediction.
Dr Chloe Choi shared research into new immunotherapeutic strategies for childhood cancer, while Dr Francois Rwandamuriye discussed insights from peptide-based neoantigen vaccines and their relevance to emerging mRNA technologies.
Flash Talks by NCARD Students
The session concluded with a series of engaging flash talks by NCARD students:
- Mackenzie Lighton: The effects of low-dose radiotherapy on tumour-associated macrophage polarisation in a mesothelioma mouse model
- Claudia Peh: Repurposing anti-copper drugs to improve cancer treatment outcomes
- Callum Flanagan: Exploring whether cellular plasticity drives invasion in mesothelioma
Consumer Perspectives and Collaborative Reflections
A valuable component of this year’s ASM was the closing session on research impact and consumer perspectives, facilitated by Dr Alec Redwood. Members of the NCARD Consumer Advisory Panel, including Mackenzie Lighton and Merryl Berry (joining via Teams from Queensland), contributed reflections on how the day’s research aligns with patient experiences and priorities.
The discussion reinforced the importance of embedding consumer input into all stages of the research process.
Poster Session and Awards
The poster session featured 11 research posters. Two prizes were awarded:
- Best Poster Prize: Cher van Heijden and Dr Nicola Principe (joint recipients): Targeting lipid metabolism to improve immune checkpoint blockade for cancer treatment
- People’s Choice Poster Prize: Mackenzie Lighton: The Effect of Low-Dose RT on Macrophage Polarisation
Acknowledgements and Conclusion
The day concluded with networking over refreshments, offering an opportunity for researchers, students, and consumer representatives to continue discussions and explore future collaborations.
Special thanks to A/Prof Alec Redwood for convening the 2025 ASM, and to NCARD Project Officer Thierry Ng for assistance organising the event. We also thank our interstate colleagues, Prof Tom John and Dr Maria Ftanou, for their contributions, and all NCARD researchers, students, and Consumer Advisory Panel members for their active participation.
The 2025 ASM highlighted the strength of collaboration across research, clinical practice, and consumer engagement. The discussions throughout the day reflected a shared commitment to improving detection, treatment and care for people affected by asbestos-related diseases.
