Centenary scientist fighting breast cancer wins Gender Equity Award
20 September, 2018 
A Centenary Institute scientist who is examining the role of the immune system in combating breast cancer, has won the 2018 Bank of Queensland Gender Equity Early Career Award.
Dr Shweta Tikoo, a researcher in Centenary’s Immune Imaging Program, is currently focusing on exploring a subset of macrophages (a type of white blood cell) in breast cancer progression and metastasis, with the aim of developing more effective treatment strategies to combat the disease.
Accepting the award at the Centenary Institute Foundation Fundraising Dinner at the Art Gallery of NSW last night, Dr Tikoo said she’s incredibly grateful to receive such a prestigious prize.
“During the course of my scientific career, I have interacted with several brave women who have fought the scourge of breast cancer. Yet all of these women live in constant fear that the cancer might come back. It’s a fear no person should have to live with,” Dr Tikoo said.
“The support provided by the Bank of Queensland will be used to develop a deeper understanding of how the body’s defence mechanism fails to prevent cancer spread and resurgence, and how a new system can be modulated to prevent this. I’ll do everything in my capacity to ensure this award is put to excellent use in ultimately leading us a step closer to curing cancer.”
Read the full media release.
