Tony Ayers Lecture 2022: Simple Therapies for Global Oncology

Synopsis

Cancer is an increasingly urgent global health problem. Over 60% of cancers and 70% of cancer deaths now occur in resource-limited countries. In these countries, cancer now causes 7 million deaths annually: equal to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria combined. This mortality burden will double by 2040. Tackling the global burden of cancer requires an approach in which translational and clinical science are integrated, partnerships which span well-resourced and resource-limited countries, and development of a sustainable clinical and translational workforce. Many cancers in resource-limited countries are caused by infectious agents, and the development of simple immune-based therapies offers great promise to treat these within the available health infrastructure.

Speaker Biography

Mark Polizzotto is Professor of Medicine in the College of Health and Medicine, Group Leader in Cancer and Genome Science at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, and leads the newly-established ANU Clinical Hub for Interventional Research (CHOIR).

He is a clinical triallist whose work sits at the intersection of immunity, infection and cancer. He has a focus on developing new therapies to prevent and treat malignancy, particularly infection-related cancers. Mark's work on viral and HIV-associated cancers has influenced guidelines globally, including co-leading development of an oral immunomodulator for Kaposi sarcoma which led to the first new drug approval for KS in over 20 years.

Mark's work in clinical trials and therapeutic development has led to new therapy registrations and influenced treatment guidelines in Australia and internationally, while his contributions to translational science have led to paradigmatic shifts in our understanding of the pathogenesis of key viral malignancies and complications of HIV infection. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, at the invitation of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, he led international randomised trials of immunotherapies for COVID-19.

He has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, and to clinical research capacity development in resource-limited settings. He has a particular focus on inclusion of people with HIV and other chronic viral infections in clinical trials of novel cancer therapies, and has advised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on this topic. He has led trial capacity building efforts in West Africa and Indonesia for the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

About Tony Ayers Award

Tony Ayers Award for Excellence in Research in Translational Medicine is generously funded by the John James Foundation and recognises exceptional medical researchers at the ANU College of Health and Medicine.

The Award is named in honour of long-term JJF Board member Mr Tony Ayers AC. Mr Tony Ayers AC joined the John James Foundation Board in February 1998, serving for 16 years and guiding the transition of the Foundation from hospital owner through to becoming the largest medical charity in the Canberra region.

As a Federal Departmental Secretary and one of the Foundation's three non-member directors, Tony freely provided exemplary service, bringing his wise counsel and expertise in business, government, finance, and banking to the Boardroom table.

The Award takes the form of an Annual Public Lecture and will include an Award Certificate and $15,000. This Public Lecture is to focus on the research that has led to the award, including the translational aspects of the work.