Growing Ideas and Growing Careers 2026
Location: The TAG Foundation Family Grandstand University Oval No. 2 (B23) The University of Sydney
Join us for a special guest presentation from Dr Karl Kruszelnicki as he leads us through “How to give a science presentation” followed by a Q&A session.
Following Dr Kruszelnicki’s presentation we will hear from early and mid-career researchers who were recipients of Sydney Cancer Partners Seed Grants.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Julius Sumner Miller Fellow, School of Physics, University of Sydney.
Dr Kruszelnicki is a scientist, doctor and engineer whose fun-loving personality and gift for storytelling led him to become a well-known author and science communicator. In addition to his degrees in Physics and Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, and Medicine and Surgery, Dr Kruszelnicki has studied several non-degree years at various universities in Astrophysics, Computer Science and Philosophy.
Seed Grant Recipient Research Presentations
Dr Sirisha Tadimalla. Research Fellow, Institute of Medical Physics, University of Sydney. “Imaging Hepatic Reserve: MRI Biomarkers for Personalised Liver Cancer Radiation Therapy.”
Dr Rebecca Mercieca-Bebber. Senior Research Fellow, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney. “Improving the engagement and inclusion of participants from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in research involving patient reported outcomes (PROs)”
Dr Jixuan (Jessie) Gao. Senior Research Officer, Children’s Medical Research Institute. “Targeting the FANCM-BTR axis for cancer therapy.”
Dr Anna Singelton. NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, The Daffodil Centre. Joint presentation with Elisabeth Kochman. CEO, Cancer Voices NSW. “People living with/beyond cancer setting priorities in Cancer Survivorship research: who, how and what’s next?”
Dr Nicola Meagher. Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellow, UNSW Scientia Lecturer. “Population-based analysis of PARP inhibitor use in ovarian cancer.”
Dr Felix Marsh-Wakefield. Senior Research Officer, Centenary Institute. “Characterising cancer-associated fibroblasts in hepatocellular carcinoma.“
A/Prof Alison Pearce. Stream Lead, Health Economics, The Daffodil Centre. “What Cancer Survivors Want: Designing Better Support for Fear of Recurrence”
Program
9.00-9.30am. Arrival and registration
9.30-11.00am. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Guest lecture followed by Q&A
11.00-11.30am. Morning tea
11.30am-1.00pm. Research presentations
1.00-2.00pm. Networking lunch