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Leading Innovation And Discovery To Improve The Lives Of People Affected By Asbestos-Related Disease

Vision

Leading innovation and discovery to improve the lives of people affected by asbestos related disease

The National Centre for Asbestos-Related Diseases (NCARD) was established as a national cooperative research centre in 2007 in Perth, Western Australia by the Commonwealth government. NCARD continues as a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recognised Centre of Research Excellence (CRE).

The NCARD aim is to enable the best scientists, clinicians and researchers in the field, using the best available modern technology, to work together to prevent, monitor, treat, and ultimately cure asbestos cancers. This is expanded in our Strategic Plan.

NCARD has an excellent track record in attracting competitive research grants, both from Australian and international sources.

Biobank

Values

These attributes characterise how we conduct ourselves. Our values are central to everyone in the team and vital to how we achieve our vision and mission.

  • Collaboration: We foster collaboration within and outside the team
  • Commitment: We persevere and don’t lose sight of our purpose
  • Innovation: We continually build on our knowledge and work with open minds
  • Excellence: We embrace leadership, with scientific integrity underpinning everything we do
Collaboration Commitment Innovation Excellence

Research Leaders

More than 30 people make up the NCARD research team including; clinicians, senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, Honours and PhD students.

PROFESSOR JENETTE CREANEY

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

Professor Creaney is the Scientific Director at NCARD. She is also Head of the Biomarkers and Discovery unit, which investigates biomarkers for improved diagnosis and monitoring of patients with mesothelioma and examines the use of biomarkers for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early detection of mesothelioma.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ROSLYN FRANCIS

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Associate Professor Roslyn Francis is a Nuclear Medicine physician leading NCARD’s molecular imaging department. She is Assistant Professor of Molecular Imaging at the University of Western Australia and Deputy Director of the WA National Imaging Facility node.

PROFESSOR BRUCE ROBINSON

PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE

Professor Bruce Robinson is a respiratory physician and scientist, internationally recognised for his leading research into cancer immunology and asbestos related cancer over nearly four decades.

PROFESSOR ANNA NOWAK

SENIOR RESEARCH LEADER

Professor Anna Nowak is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University of Western Australia. Previously, she was a Medical Oncologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Director of NCARD.

A/PROF ALEC REDWOOD

RESEARCH FELLOW

Alec grew up in Thornlie, Western Australia and graduated from Curtin University with a BSc (Distinction) and First Class Honours. He received his PhD from Curtin University and continued his postdoctoral training at the University Western Australia.

DR JONATHAN CHEE

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Jon graduated with a BSc (Hons) from the University of Melbourne. He undertook his PhD in immunology at the St Vincent’s Institute (Melbourne) where he studied the development of islet-specific immune cells in autoimmune diabetes.

DR ALISTAIR COOK

RESEARCH FELLOW

Originally from Aberdeen in Scotland, Alistair completed his PhD in stem cell biology at the University of Edinburgh in 2010.

DR KOFI STEVENS

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Kofi graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology from Curtin University. He then undertook a PhD at Curtin University in cell biology where he studied how cells respond to stress.

DR TRACY HOANG

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Tracy graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology before completing a PhD in Brain Tumour Research at The University of Western Australia.

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DR XIAO ZHONG

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Xiao earned his PhD in bioinformatics and genomics from the University of Western Australia in 2020.

DR MELVIN CHIN

CLINICIAN SCIENTIST

Melvin attended Cambridge University, where he earned a BA in Pharmacology with first-class honours, followed by a medical degree and a subsequent Master’s degree.

Consumer Advisory Panel

We are grateful to the NCARD Consumer Advisory Panel members, who contribute to our research planning, conduct and implementation.

Carole Kagi

CAROLE KAGI

PANEL MEMBER

Carole has contributed to the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Ethics Committee and Community Advisory Council over several years. Her extraordinary working history included adoption officer, social work, child protection, domestic violence prevention, aged care, and remote and rural health. Carole’s parents moved to Wittenoom when she was 12, and she went back home on school holidays for about 6 years. Her father died of mesothelioma.

Corrine Naisbitt

CORRINE NAISBITT

PANEL MEMBER

After farming at Lake Grace and Newdegate, then running a surf shop in Joondalup for 20 years, Corrine semi-retired with her husband, Richard, to Dunsborough in 2013. Richard was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2014 and Corrine was his carer until his death in 2019. She is actively involved in fundraising and advocacy to support mesothelioma patients and their families.

LIZZ CLARKE

PANEL MEMBER

Lizz is a registered nurse who works with the not for profit, Reflections, as a Support Network Coordinator. She lost her husband, aged 45, to mesothelioma in 2020. Her choice to work with Reflections was made to honour her husband and help those affected by asbestos-related disease in navigating the health and community support systems.

Melita Markey

MELITA MARKEY

PANEL MEMBER

(ADSA CEO)
Melita is passionate about saving lives from preventable asbestos-related diseases. In her role as CEO of ADSA, Melita works to deliver public/occupational education, relevant patient services, appropriate compensation and secure dedicated funding for medical research into treatment/cure for mesothelioma and lung cancer. She believes there is still much work to be done to protect future generations from asbestos exposure in their homes and workplace.

Deirdre Louw

DEIRDRE LUOW

PANEL MEMBER

Deirdre Louw leads the advisory service at the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia (ADSA). A nurse practitioner with a Master’s in Nursing and diplomas in midwifery, community health, and occupational health, she has worked in community health across Western Australia. Deirdre’s expertise in community health nursing, primary healthcare, and medico-legal counselling informs her role on NCARD’s Consumer Advisory Panel.

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