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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 an  National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recognised Centre of Research Excellence (CRE).

The NCARD aim is to enable the best Australian scientists, clinicians and researchers in the field, using the best available modern technology, to work cooperatively to prevent, monitor, treat, and/or cure asbestos cancers in the shortest realistic timeframe. 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 35 people make up the NCARD research team including; senior scientists, research assistants, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD and Honours students.

PROFESSOR ANNA NOWAK

DIRECTOR, NCARD

Professor Anna Nowak is the Director of NCARD, a Medical Oncologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and a Professor within the School of Medicine at The University of Western Australia.

PROFESSOR RICHARD LAKE

SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Professor Richard Lake is a molecular immunologist with a distinguished track record in asbestos related cancer, whose work in mesothelioma has received national and international recognition.

PROFESSOR JENETTE CREANEY

SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Professor Creaney is the Head of the Biomarkers and Discovery unit. The group is investigating biomarkers for improved diagnosis and monitoring of patients with mesothelioma and examining the use of biomarkers for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early detection of mesothelioma.

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.

DR JOOST LESTERHUIS

SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Dr. Willem (Joost) Lesterhuis is an NHMRC RD Wright Research Fellow with the School of Biomedical Sciences and the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases at the University of 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 SCOTT FISHER

RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Scott grew up in Karratha, Western Australia and graduated from Curtin University with a BSc (Hons) before receiving his PhD from the University of Western Australia.

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.

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.

Male researcher

DR IAN DICK

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Ian completed a BSc in biochemistry at the University of Western Australia. He then worked as a Laboratory Assistant at Murdoch University and then as a Research Assistant in Bone and Mineral Research at the University of Western Australia.

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.

Advisory Board

Melita Markey

MELITA MARKEY

ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR

Melita is a dedicated and respected corporate leader. As CEO of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc. she has worked tirelessly across Government and Industry to deliver; public/occupational education, relevant patient services and secure dedicated funding for medical research into treatment/cure for industrial lung diseases like mesothelioma.

Male researcher

E/PROFESSOR GEOFF STEWART

BOARD MEMBER

Emeritus Professor Stewart completed his BSc and PhD at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He was a Research Fellow at the Western Australian Institute for Child Health at Princess Margaret Hospital and an NHMRC Research Fellow. He was formerly the Head of Microbiology and subsequently the Head of the School of Biomolecular, Biomedical and Chemical Sciences at UWA. Geoff is currently Director of the Institute for Respiratory Health.

Female researcher

PROFESSOR MEL ZIMAN

BOARD MEMBER

Prof Ziman is an honorary Research Professor of Medical Sciences at Edith Cowan University and an Adjunct Professor at UWA. She is past Associate Dean of Research at School of Medical Sciences at ECU, past Chair of the Human Research Ethics Committee and co- leader of the Melanoma Research Group at Edith Cowan University (ECU).

Consumer Advisory Panel

Rose Marie Vojakovic AM

ROSE MARIE VOJAKOVIC AM

PANEL MEMBER

(ADSA Co-Founder, Counsellor & Executive Officer)
Rose Marie and Robert Vojakovic established the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc. ‘ADSA’ which has provided support services and public health awareness on asbestos issues since 1979. Rose Marie provides expert counselling to asbestos disease sufferers and their families, and also coordinates the Society’s fundraising activities and public events.

Robert Vojakovic AM JP

ROBERT VOJAKOVIC AM JP

PANEL MEMBER

(ADSA Co-Founder & President)
Robert and Rose Marie Vojakovic established the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc. ‘ADSA’ which has provided support services to asbestos disease suffers and their families since 1979. A former Wittenoom mine worker, Robert is regarded internationally as an authority on all aspects of asbestos and asbestos related disease.

Dr Greg Deleuil AM RFD MBBS

DR GREG DELEUIL AM RFD MBBS

PANEL MEMBER

Dr Greg Deleuil is a General Practitioner trained in diving medicine, a former SAS regimental medical officer and has lectured extensively in occupational health throughout the UK and Europe. He is the Resident Medical Officer at Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc. ‘ADSA’ and has a personal as well as professional connection to asbestos related diseases through his mother’s fight with Mesothelioma.

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.

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