Cancer Research Collaborative
The Cancer Research Collaborative is a network of researchers, clinicians and advocates at Western Sydney University who work at all stages of the cancer journey from prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, and palliative/end-of-life care. We are a multidisciplinary team including medicine (general practice), nursing, exercise physiology, psychology, Chinese medicine, epidemiology, public health and basic science with one shared goal – to improve the experience of living with and beyond cancer through our research.
The CRC strengthens and extends opportunities for members to collaborate on cancer research and service delivery and advocate for improved outcomes for people with cancer. Our activities include joint symposia, workshops and meetings both within the University and beyond, collaborative research funding applications, joint supervision of research students, and collaborating on advocacy initiatives. Activities are tailored to the needs of members and the Western Sydney community, and are guided by the strategic objectives in the 2023 Australian Cancer Plan.
The CRC welcomes all researchers and research students who are interested in research in people affected by cancer.
Academic Lead
Associate Professor Carolyn Ee (opens in a new window)
Principal Research Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute
Primary interests: cancer survivorship, cancer in primary care, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, supportive care, multimorbidity, weight gain after cancer, menopausal symptoms after cancer.
Academic Lead
Dr Carolina Sandler (opens in a new window)
Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellow, School of Health Sciences
Primary interests: understanding the pathophysiology, management (incl. physical activity & multidisciplinary interventions), clinician and patient education of fatigue as a sequalae of cancer (post-cancer fatigue) and acute infection (post-infective fatigue).
Core Members
Deep Bhuyan (opens in a new window)
Bobby Cheema (opens in a new window)
Carolyn Ee (opens in a new window)
Suzanne Grant (opens in a new window)
Kate McBride (opens in a new window)
Sheeja Pathrose (opens in a new window)
Carolina Sandler (opens in a new window)
Jane Ussher (opens in a new window)
Current Research Projects and Research Foci
Patient Navigation to improve outcomes in people affected by cancer from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the PEARL study (opens in a new window) (Suzanne Grant, Carolyn Ee) This MRFF-funded project aims to implement and evaluate a patient navigation program designed to reduce barriers to accessing healthcare that hinder Chinese and Vietnamese-speaking people with cancer at a critical point in their cancer journey - at the time of transition back to primary care after cancer treatment. |
Supporting Women with Cancer from Chinese, Vietnamese and Arabic Speaking Backgrounds after treatment (Suzanne Grant, Carolyn Ee) This Cancer-Australia funded project aims to co-design and deliver an evidence-based stepped supportive care program to assist women with cancer to transition to primary and community-based care after active treatment. |
Predictors of weight gain after breast cancer: findings from a longitudinal population-based study (Carolyn Ee) This study is funded by a Women’s Health Research, Translation and Impact Network Early-Mid Career Fellowship and aims to identify the predictors of weight gain in women who have had treatment for breast cancer. A/Prof Ee will analyse data from the midlife cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health. |
Online education (eLearning) for general practitioners, allied health professionals and patients focused on the diagnosis and management of post-cancer fatigue. Funded by Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellowship (opens in a new window) (Carolina Sandler and Carolyn Ee) |
The Exercise Harms Reporting Method (ExHaRM) (opens in a new window) (Carolina Sandler) |
Effect of acute exercise on endocannabinoid and mood responses in adults with cancer: A pilot study (opens in a new window) (Bobby Cheema) |
Harnessing the power of gut microbiota for anticancer therapy (Deep Bhuyan) |
Gut microbial metabolites against lymphoma: the mechanisms of action and the interactions with standard chemotherapy (Deep Bhuyan) |
The anticancer activity and molecular mechanisms of action of gut microbial metabolites against human breast cancer cell lines in vitro (opens in a new window) (Deep Bhuyan) |
The in vitro antiproliferative activity and mechanism of action of five selected Australian native fruits against the MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells (opens in a new window) (Deep Bhuyan) |
BreastScreen Plus (Kate McBride) Eight breast cancer deaths are prevented for every 1,000 women aged 50-74 years who undergo biennial mammographic screening. Despite the demonstrated benefits of (free) screening, many women fail to return for screening when next due, including women living with obesity. This NHMRC Targeted Call for Research project is evaluating a novel intervention nested within BreastScreen WA to improve the screening experience for both women with obesity and service delivery staff to increase rescreening participation in women with obesity (APP2015286) |
Out with Cancer: LGBTI experiences of cancer survivorship and care (Jane M Ussher) Funded by an ARC Libkage grant, the Out with Cancer study examined cancer survivorship from the perspective of LGBTQI patients, their carers and healthcare professionals. Levels of distress among LGBTQI patients was six times higher than the general cancer population, associated with discrimination in life and healthcare, impact of cancer on LGBTQI identities, physical and sexual changes, and low social support. Oncology healthcare providers reported lack of confidence and knowledge treating LGBTQI cancer patients and wanted more education. LGBTQI people were almost invisible in online Australian cancer information. Study findings have been translated into LGBTQI cancer patient resources. A Toolkit consisting of practice guidelines and a training package to inform LGBTQI culturally safe cancer care is currently being developed, funded by McGrath Foundation and Breast Cancer Trials Group. |
The construction and experience of fertility in the context of cancer: patient, partner and health professional perspectives (Jane M Ussher) Funded by an ARC Linkage grant, this project examined the nature and consequences of fertility concerns for men and women with cancer, and their partners, across a range of cancer types, as well as the knowledge and experience of health professionals. This will increase knowledge of this important health concern, and lead to the development of programs to reduce distress. |
Key publications
Jaye, K., Li, C. and Bhuyan, D. (2021), 'The complex interplay of gut microbiota with the five most common cancer types: from carcinogenesis to therapeutics to prognoses', (opens in a new window) Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, vol 165 .
Lam T, Cheema B, Hayden A, Lord S, Gurney H, Gounden S, Reddy N, Shahidipour H, Read S, Stone G, Mclean M, Birzniece V. Androgen deprivation in prostate cancer : benefits of home-based resistance training. (opens in a new window) Sports Med Open, 2020.
McBride, K.A.; Fleming, C.A.K.; George, E.S.; Steiner, G.Z.; MacMillan, F. Double Discourse: Qualitative Perspectives on Breast Screening Participation among Obese Women and Their Health Care Providers. (opens in a new window) Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 534.
Kularatna S, Allen M, Hettiarachchi RM, Crawford-Williams F, Senanayake S, Brain D, Ee C, et al. Cancer Survivor Preferences for Models of Breast Cancer Follow-Up Care: Selecting Attributes for Inclusion in a Discrete Choice Experiment. Patient. (opens in a new window) 2023;16(4):371-83.
Jones MD, Casson SM, Barry BK, Li SH, Valenzuela T, Cassar J, Lamanna C, Lloyd AR, Sandler CX. eLearning improves allied health professionals' knowledge and confidence to manage medically unexplained chronic fatigue states: A randomized controlled trial.
(opens in a new window) J Psychosom Res. 2023 Oct;173:111462.
Riggs, D., Ussher, JM, Robinson, K. Rosenberg, S. (2023) Trans reproductive and sexual health: Justice embodiment and agency, (opens in a new window) London Routledge. ISBN 978-0-367-68619-1.
Mindfulness based intervention for young people with cancer. Funded by Western Sydney University research development grants ‘Early Career Researcher Scholarship’ ‘Women’s Fellowship’ to develop developmentally appropriate Mindfulness based intervention for young people with cancer. The project is conducted in collaboration with Canteen Australia-a leading youth cancer organisation and received Partnership Grants in 2022. This collaborative project has resulted in development of user centred mindfulness based mobile app ‘mindfulnessbuddy’ for young people with cancer.
Pathrose, S. P., Wells, J., Patterson, P., McDonald, F., Everett, B., Ussher, J., Salamonson, Y., Biegel, G. M., Nguyen, T., & Ramjan, L. Contextualising an online mindfulness-based intervention for young people with cancer: A qualitative study. Collegian.