Wellington, 28 April 2023 – Two researchers
committed to maximising Māori health gains are receiving
funding for their research into improving cancer treatment.
Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa (the Cancer Society of New
Zealand) and Hei Āhuru Mōwai (Māori Cancer Research
Leadership Aotearoa) partnered to award Māori cancer
researchers to address health inequities.
One
of the researchers receiving a Māori Cancer Researcher
Award is Danielle Sword (University of Otago, based at the
Malaghan Institute). Her PhD research focuses on CAR T-cell
therapy, a form of cancer immunotherapy. She will look into
improving the mechanisms of CAR T-cells in the laboratory
and investigate te ao Māori perspectives on CAR T-cell
therapy from patients, their whānau, and the
researcher.
“I would like to see our whānau have a
better chance at fighting against cancer. This Māori Cancer
Researcher Award means I can pursue a PhD that will utilise
both Western Science and Mātauranga Māori to explore the
emerging cancer treatment CAR T-cell therapy and its
potential impact on Māori,” says Danielle
Sword.
“I am very humbled and proud to be awarded
this scholarship. The support from Hei Āhuru Mōwai and the
Cancer Society with this kaupapa gives me more confidence in
my mahi as a wāhine Māori scientist and
researcher.”
Grace Young (University of Otago)
receives a Māori Cancer Researcher Award for her PhD
research into developing a better treatment for
triple-negative breast cancer, which is fatal to many
patients. This type of cancer is prevalent among young women
in New Zealand, and in particular Māori women.
Dr
Jonathon Koea, Māngai for Hei Āhuru Mōwai, says “These
awards demonstrate what can be achieved by mainstream and
Kaupapa Māori NGOs working together to grow the Māori
research workforce and answer research questions of
relevance to all New Zealanders.”
Tumu Whakarae of
Te Kāhui Matepukuku o Aotearoa Lucy Elwood adds: “The
Māori Cancer Researcher Awards demonstrate our commitment
to advance Māori aspirations in cancer research. We hope
that with these awards, we can change the
underrepresentation of Māori researchers in the cancer
space and reduce health inequities.”
Danielle Sword
> https://www.cancer.org.nz/about-us/cancer-research/research-grants/danielle-sword/
Grace
Young > https://www.cancer.org.nz/about-us/cancer-research/research-grants/grace-young/
Video:
Danielle Sword talks about her research > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aSB90VhOBs
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