Dr Kathleen Pishas awarded the inaugural Louise Davidson Fellowship
August 09, 2026
Dr Kathleen Pishas, a researcher at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, has been awarded the inaugural Louise Davidson Ovarian Cancer Fellowship – a joint initiative between the OCRF and the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation.
Designed to support the career development and leadership of mid-career ovarian cancer researchers, the $20,000 Fellowship is named in honour of Louise Davidson AM, co-founder of the Mother’s Day Classic (MDC).
The Fellowship will help Dr Pishas, whose research focuses on low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), to advance her career and her capacity to progress ovarian cancer research. The fellowship will support her to:
- Attend international conferences and specialised training programs
- Advance laboratory research into new targeted treatment approaches for ovarian cancer
- Strengthen collaborations with national and international researchers
- Build her leadership skills towards establishing her own LGSOC research program.
"For 29 years, the Mother's Day Classic community has united with one shared belief: that investing in research changes lives. By expanding our mission to include ovarian cancer research, we are continuing that legacy by investing not only in groundbreaking science but also in the researchers who will lead future discoveries. The Louise Davidson Ovarian Cancer Fellowship is a fitting tribute to Louise's enduring contribution and will help outstanding researchers like Dr Kathleen Pishas accelerate progress for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer both now and into the future," Zara Lawless, CEO of the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation said.
Louise Davidson AM said: "Mavis Robertson AM and I, together with the Women in Super network, founded the Mother's Day Classic with a vision that investing in research would create hope for generations of women and their families. That vision has been made possible by the extraordinary commitment of our volunteers, participants, fundraisers, donors and supporters over the past 29 years. Researchers like Dr Kathleen Pishas turn our community’s hope into action. I am delighted and deeply honoured to have this Fellowship established in my name and could not think of a more deserving inaugural recipient."
About the research
Dr Pishas is a senior research fellow working to improve outcomes for people affected by LGSOC, a rare and often difficult-to-treat disease. Her research focuses on investigating the molecular drivers of this cancer, which is resistant to chemotherapy.
Dr Pishas leads a large-scale drug screening study exploring thousands of potential treatments. Through this work, she is helping to uncover new ways to target LGSOC, offering hope to a group of women for whom treatment options have been limited.
Rare ovarian cancers worth the investment
Dr Pishas said she is committed to rare ovarian cancer research to amplify the voices of those who may go unheard - because every individual matters.
“Throughout my research journey, I have learned that meaningful progress in rare cancers requires persistence, patience, and a commitment to championing those whose voices are too often under-represented in cancer research,” Dr Pishas said.
"Rare cancers may affect fewer people, but every individual matters. Behind every diagnosis is a family, a future, and a life worth fighting for,” she said.
“We continue to face significant challenges. Ovarian cancer symptoms are often mistaken for common everyday conditions. Many women are diagnosed only after the cancer has progressed, creating a much steeper battle, reinforcing the need for better diagnostic tools and earlier detection,” she said.
Why does this award matter?
OCRF CEO Robin Penty said ovarian cancer remains under-recognised and historically underfunded. She said the new Louise Davidson Ovarian Cancer Fellowship invests in female researchers to help them overcome obstacles to career progression by building research capacity and leadership skills, and ultimately, keeping more female scientists in medical research.
“This is an exciting initiative and extension of the major grants we are co-funding with the Mother’s Day Classic,” Ms Penty said. “Retaining and supporting talented mid-career researchers is vital in ovarian cancer research, and programs like this Fellowship play an important role.”
“Our warm congratulations to Dr Pishas and heartfelt thanks to the inimitable Louise Davidson AM - and to every participant in this year’s Mother’s Day Classic - for your invaluable commitment to women’s health research,” Ms Penty said.
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