NCARD is proud to announce that PhD student Callum Flanagan has been awarded the Douglas Peter Swift PhD Top-Up Scholarship for 2025.
This scholarship, established through the ongoing generosity of the Swift family, honours the legacy of Douglas Peter Swift, who grew up in Wittenoom and died of mesothelioma at age 53. The scholarship recognises academic excellence and commitment to mesothelioma research and is awarded following independent peer review.
Callum is the fourth NCARD student to receive the award, following previous recipients Shaokang Ma, Synat Keam, and Alistair Nash. The continuing support of the Swift family has made it possible to offer this scholarship for a fourth time, significantly expanding opportunities for early-career researchers in asbestos-related diseases.
Callum’s research, supervised by Professors Jenette Creaney, Bruce Robinson, and Associate Professor Alec Redwood, focuses on why mesothelioma spreads rapidly through the body. His project explores the role of BAP1 gene mutations, which are frequently observed in mesothelioma and appear to have variable effects on tumour spread in different cancers.
“I aim to identify what causes the rapid spread of mesothelioma, the effect of BAP1 mutations, and test drugs that specifically block this process,” Callum said.
His PhD builds on Honours research at NCARD, which produced a surprising finding: cancer cells with BAP1 mutations were less invasive than those without. This has become a key focus of his current work.
Callum also brings a personal motivation to his research. His father’s experience with metastatic cancer—and successful response to targeted therapy—inspired a commitment to research that aims to improve outcomes for others. His connection to asbestos-related disease is also close to home, with a grandfather who developed asbestos scarring after a career in construction.
“Meeting patients through NCARD, including seeing one patient receive news of disease progression, has deepened my motivation. It’s a stark reminder of why this work matters.”
Callum Flanagan, NCARD
The scholarship will allow Callum to further develop experimental models of mesothelioma spread and test potential therapeutic strategies. It also offers vital financial stability.
“This support means I can spend more time on my research and less time worrying about financial pressure. I’m incredibly grateful to the Swift family for this opportunity.”
The Douglas Peter Swift Scholarship reflects the power of philanthropy to drive meaningful progress in mesothelioma research. It enables the next generation of researchers to build on NCARD’s strengths and maintain momentum in the search for better treatments and improved outcomes for people affected by asbestos-related diseases.
