The Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation (AGCF) is pleased to announce the 2018 Cindy Sullivan Fellowship recipient is Dr Aime Powell.
Dr Aime Powell is currently employed by The Institute of Health Research, University of Notre Dame and is funded by St John of God Hospital Subiaco as an Early Career Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Her research project is entitled “Aboriginal women at increased risk of cervical cancer incidence and mortality: Quantifying the risk in an era of national prevention programs.”
In 2016, the National Framework for Gynaecological Cancer Control reported a critical need to improve gynaecological cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (including prevention of cervical cancer). Aboriginal women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and four times more likely to die from the disease when compared to non-aboriginal women. There has been no reduction in cervical cancer incidence and mortality for Aboriginal women despite the National HPV Vaccination Program and the National Cervical Screening Program.
Dr Paul Cohen, Director Gynaecological Cancer research, St John of God Hospital Subiaco, will be supervising Dr Powell in her research. Dr Cohen is a well-respected and active member for the Australian Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, The Australian and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group, and the Australian Society of Gynaecological Oncologists(ASGO).
The Cindy Sullivan Fellowship takes the form of a 2-year grant allowing payment of a stipend to the value of $100,000 per year plus an additional $10,000 per year for research support.
AGCF will continue to “fund brilliant minds to conquer cancer” and in doing so we are “funding research for a brighter future.” said Ms Diane Langmack OAM, AGCF chair.