We are delighted to celebrate the recent grant successes of InSiGHT Council members Daniel Buchanan, Marc Greenblatt, Kevin Monahan, and Joanne Ngeow, whose research programmes continue to advance the understanding, diagnosis, and prevention of hereditary gastrointestinal cancers worldwide.
Daniel Buchanan awarded Cancer Australia Research Initiative funding
A/Prof Dan Buchanan is leading a multidisciplinary team that has secured three years of funding through the Cancer Australia Research Initiative (CARI) to investigate the drivers behind the rising incidence of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer (EOCRC).
The project will examine temporal molecular signatures associated with genomic, methylomic, microbiome, and microplastic tumour profiles, comparing contemporary EOCRC cases with historical cases to identify biological changes that may be contributing to the increasing disease burden. The research will also explore novel risk factors linked to these temporal signatures through comprehensive multi-omic analyses and advanced spatial profiling of the tumour microenvironment.
This consumer-driven research programme aims to deepen our understanding of the biology and aetiology of EOCRC and translate these insights into innovative strategies for risk prediction, prevention, and early detection. Ultimately, the findings could help inform more effective approaches to addressing the growing global challenge of colorectal cancer in younger adults.
The investigator team comprises A/Prof Dan Buchanan, Prof Mark Jenkins, Dr Lochlan Fennell, Dr Natalie Diepenhorst, Dr Peter Georgeson, Dr Brad Clarke, Dr Driss Ait Ouakrim, Dr Lisa Mielke, Dr Danielle Ingle, Ms Julie McDonald, Prof Ingrid Winship, Prof Finlay Macrae, A/Prof Christophe Rosty, Dr Bree Stephensen, Dr Michael Allen, Dr Kirsty Campbell, Prof Bernie Pope, and Mr Julien Wiggins from Bowel Cancer Australia.
Joanne Ngeow receives NMRC Clinician Scientist Award
Prof Joanne Ngeow has been awarded the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Clinician Scientist Award (Senior Investigator) for her project, Prospective Clinical Validation and Implementation of Long-Read Sequencing for Unresolved Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Syndromes in Asian Populations.
The programme aims to improve the diagnosis of hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes in Asian populations by combining long-read and short-read genome sequencing to identify complex genetic changes that may be missed by standard testing. Integrating functional genomics, transcriptomics, and CRISPR-based modelling, the research seeks to enhance variant interpretation and support personalised clinical care.
The project has the potential to improve cancer risk assessment, prevention, treatment, and family counselling, while also evaluating the cost-effectiveness and clinical implementation of long-read sequencing. Its findings are expected to inform future diagnostic guidelines and support precision medicine initiatives across the region.
Kevin Monahan contributes to major Lynch syndrome research grants
Prof Kevin Monahan has secured funding as a co-investigator on two major research grants focused on improving the early diagnosis of bowel cancer in people with Lynch syndrome.
These include the RED-LYNCH project, led by Dr Jia Li from the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, which aims to improve risk stratification and enable earlier detection of bowel cancer in individuals with Lynch syndrome. In addition, Prof Monahan is a co-investigator on a prestigious European Research Council (ERC)-funded programme supporting further research into risk stratification and early detection strategies.
Together, these projects have the potential to advance personalised cancer surveillance and improve outcomes for individuals and families affected by Lynch syndrome.
Continued support for the InSiGHT–ClinGen Variant Curation Expert Panel
The work of the InSiGHT–ClinGen Variant Curation Expert Panel (VCEP) has been awarded a further three years of funding by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute.
The grant is led by Principal Investigators Marc Greenblatt, MD (University of Vermont) and Sean Tavtigian, PhD (University of Utah), with contributions from many InSiGHT members from around the world.
The funding will support the VCEP’s ongoing efforts to:
- Develop and implement expert classification criteria for variants in genes associated with hereditary colon polyposis and cancer;
- Expand the use of large datasets and focused data-mining approaches to improve variant classification; and
- Collaborate with ClinGen data and software teams to facilitate large-scale variant curation and dissemination.
This continued investment reflects the critical role of international collaboration in improving the interpretation of genetic variation and advancing precision medicine for hereditary cancer syndromes.