Understanding pancreatic cancer using murine and patient-derived organoid models
Channel: The Royal Society of Victoria
Date: 19/08/2021

Pancreatic cancer is the 4th most common cause of cancer related death in Australia, with less than 10% of patients alive 5 years after their diagnoses. Most patients die within 6 months. 

Chemotherapy, being the only treatment, has not improved patient survival and new treatments are desperately needed. Pancreatic cancer can differentiate into low grade tumours or high grade tumours, where high grade tumours are associated with poor prognosis. Due to the limited treatment options available for pancreatic cancer, it is crucial to understand what causes the cancer to grow into different grades, which may involve better ways to select treatments for patients, in addition to identification of new treatment options.

Ronnie Low is a final year PhD candidate with the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research at the University of Melbourne. This presentation titled "Understanding pancreatic cancer using murine and patient-derived organoid models" comprises his entry to the Biomedical and Health Sciences category of the Young Scientist Research Prizes in 2021, an annual competition conducted by the Royal Society of Victoria during National Science Week in Australia. Ronnie is the Second Prize winner in this category. 

Produced with the support of the Inspiring Victoria program.