The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) marked World Cancer Day 2026 with an educational and interactive event, co-hosted with the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS).
It was an opportunity for the public to step inside our research laboratories, discover cutting-edge science, and for our community and team to connect.
The demonstrations included:
- Digital twins, or AI-generated patient models, developed by Prof Nilmini Wickarasinghe, Dr Nalika Ulapane and Ranjan Dissanayake (LIMS). The LIMS team is currently collaborating with ONJCRI researchers.
- Models of cancer cell death by Dr Jascinta Santavanond and Serenay Demir (LIMS).
- NanoMslide technology developed by Prof Brian Abbey, presented by Tiago Coimbra Pimenta and Dr Saimon Morales Silva (LIMS). The NanoMSslide is a portable commercially available technology to help diagnose disease.
- Interactive laboratory experience with A/Prof Lisa Mielke (ONJCRI).
Our fantastic panel focused on bowel cancer and advancements in cancer diagnostics.
Our panellists included Bowel Cancer Australia Advocate Jemima, Austin Health clinician Dr Su Kah Goh, ONJCRI researcher Dr Gemma Trollope and LIMS researcher Prof Brian Abbey.
It told a bedside-to-bench-to-bedside story by providing patient, researcher and clinician perspectives in cancer research.
We are grateful to all who attended the event to learn about the technologies and science that are bringing the cancer treatments of tomorrow to life.
