Project Description:

Professor John Hooper and his team from Mater Research at The University of Queensland is focused on developing agents that can both diagnose and treat epithelial ovarian cancer. The team’s goal is to evaluate a new radio-imaging agent to guide targeted therapy for women who have ovarian cancer, in the first study of its kind in humans. By administering this new agent, the team will attach a tracer to the ovarian cancer cells, which is expected to make detection of the disease easier during radiology scans, similar to what is currently performed with prostate cancer diagnosis. Professor Hooper says the project is the culmination of nearly 20 years of research - all the way from the initial discovery in the lab to being here on the threshold of conducting a clinical trial. The project is a wonderful collaboration of scientists and clinicians from very diverse backgrounds as well as patients and family members who are guiding the team on their journey.