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Postdoctoral Scientist Awarded Prestigious Fellowship

Postdoctoral Scientist Awarded Prestigious Fellowship

Dr Fiona Warner of the Centenary Institute was recently honoured with the AstraZeneca Career Development Fellowship.  The award, given annually by the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, will fund Dr Warner’s vital research into liver inflammation and cancer for the next three years.

Liver cancer is the fastest growing cancer in Australia, and is currently the seventh most prevalent cause of death in the world.  If left untreated, less than 15% of those with the disease survive.   

At Centenary, Dr Warner’s research focuses on how drugs that are normally used to treat blood pressure abnormalities may help organ injuries, primarily injuries to the liver which often lead to cancer. 

Dr Warner explains, “Liver cancer very rarely occurs without the appearance of liver injury or cirrhosis.  If we can understand how the liver becomes injured and possibly reverse this, then we can prevent liver cancer from occurring in the first place.”

The AstraZeneca Fellowship is recognition that Dr Warner’s work is both top in the field, as well as relevant to the global health of the community. This prestigious award is a rarity, as there are currently few fellowships that are offered to mid-career postdoctoral scientists.

Dr Warner says, “I’m not only honoured to receive this award, but I am also pleased to know that more money will now be allocated to doing the research that will end this disease.”  

Professor Mathew Vadas, Executive Director of the Institute says, “I am extremely proud of Dr Warner’s accomplishment. This fellowship is a true testament to her brilliant work at Centenary as well as her commitment to life-saving research.”