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OVERVIEW

The Cancer Program is led by Professor Pilar Blancafort.

The mission of the Perkins Cancer Program is to transform cancer outcomes by uncovering the molecular and cellular causes, advancing early detection methods, and developing precision treatments for poor prognosis cancers, specifically women’s cancers (breast, ovarian), liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma and head and neck cancers.

Perkins Cancer Researchers are working towards understanding cancerdetecting it sooner and treating it smarter by: ​

  1. Uncovering how cancer starts, grows and resists treatment, to find new ways to stop it in its tracks.​
  2. Creating better tests and tools to detect cancer sooner and predict how it might respond to treatment.​
  3. Developing personalised cancer treatments, from new medicines to advanced immunotherapy, giving patients the best chance at beating even the toughest cancers.​
  4. Understanding the biological factors influencing poorer outcomes in Aboriginal people with cancer.​

Perkins researchers have made major discoveries in the field of cancer including uncovering the SLIRP gene which controls hormone production in breast and prostate cancers, the tumour suppressor gene HLS5 and a process for normalising blood vessels in tumours to allow more effective absorption of cancer-combating drugs. Detailed information about our cancer laboratories can be found below.

Professor Pilar Blancafort

Professor Pilar Blancafort

Cancer Epigenetics (Program Leader - Cancer)

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RESEARCH NEWS & EVENTS

Perth researchers awarded $6M national grant to establish WA Centre for Cell and Genome Engineering

Professor Ryan Lister AM, Program Head, Genome Biology and Genetic Diseases Program at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and The University of Western Australia and Associate Professor Timo Lassmann,…

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Perkins Professor Gina Ravenscroft awarded $2.5M to tackle unmet need in genetic diseases

Perkins Professor Gina Ravenscroft has been awarded more than $2.5M as part of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2026 Investigator Grant made to the University of Western…

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Professor Gina Ravenscroft appointed the Dr Patricia Kailis Chair in Rare Diseases

Internationally recognised leader in rare neuromuscular disease research, Professor Gina Ravenscroft has been appointed the inaugural Dr Patricia Kailis Chair in Rare Diseases at The University of Western Australia (UWA)…

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