Dr Benita Tse is leading research into colorectal cancer
There’s mystery surrounding the increase in diagnoses of colorectal cancer in young people, and Dr Benita Tse is hard at work at the Kolling Institute in St Leonards, leading research into the cancer’s prevention and treatment response, hoping to ultimately reduce the number of people affected by the disease.
“Colorectal cancer is particularly daunting at the moment because we know that in people under the age of 50, it’s one of the only cancers increasing in incidence and death for adults, which is a very scary thought,” Benita, 31, says. “Consistent with many other cancers, we really want to find a cure, but development of cures, and changes in the way we treat patients, is a slow process.
“Research is really needed to help our clinicians figure out the best ways to treat patients and to help them make the right decisions, which is why it’s nice to be at the Kolling Institute – we are right next to the hospital (Royal North Shore) and we can have that direct communication with the clinicians, oncologists and surgeons. It’s a good back and forth relationship.”
The NORTH Foundation, charity partner for the Northern Sydney Local Health District, recently recognised Benita on International Women’s Day as one of the women leading care, research and innovation across the district. The foundation raises vital funds to help progress medical advancement.
Benita has a passion for immunology, and is a postdoctoral research associate with the University Sydney, working under Professor Mark Molloy. She says the Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Lab group has multiple projects spanning across different stages of colorectal cancer development.
The team is looking at prevention, in terms of repurposing existing drugs they think may have preventative potential. They also study colorectal polyps showing the initial stages of cancer development and look at the mutations present, immune changes that are happening and changes in the gut microbes that occur in early development.
Benita says the research team also does some analytical work alongside clinical trials which are happening for new therapies, looking for biomarkers which indicate which patients will have a better response to therapy compared to a poor response.
Mum to toddler, Jacob, Benita balances her full-time-research role with family life. “The major challenge I’ve faced is juggling personal life goals with career goals, especially contemplating when to start a family and how that delays research projects, publications and grant opportunities,” she says.
The researcher acknowledges that flexible work environments are key for women in science, helping her to continue with her important research.
“I would love to say that we could cure colorectal cancer, but I don’t think that’s realistic at the moment.
“I hope that our research can decrease colorectal cancer incidents in Australia, especially in this early-onset cohort of under 50s. And in the unfortunate case of people being diagnosed, I hope that our research can extend their survival in a manner that they can still maintain quality of life.”
To make a donation and help drive groundbreaking research, visit northfoundation.org.au
