Researchers changing the future of bowel cancer
By Emily Usher | 23 May 2025
Bowel cancer is now the deadliest cancer among Australians aged 25–44, yet more than half of cases aren’t detected early, when survival rates are highest. Cure Cancer is backing bold, innovative research to change that.
Each year, more than 15,500 Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer and over 5,200 lives are lost. Alarmingly, 1 in 9 of those affected are under 50, often with no symptoms, no family history, and no warning.
The good news? When found early, bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, with survival rates nearing 99%. But too often, it’s missed. The only way to change these outcomes is by funding groundbreaking research driven by passionate scientists who are pushing boundaries and developing the next generation of life-saving solutions.
Read on to discover the incredible impact of Cure Cancer-supported research — and the breakthroughs shaping a brighter future free for bowel cancer patients.
Dr Kevin Fenix: Advanced new immunotherapy for metastatic bowel cancer
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research (BHI) and the University of Adelaide.
Dr Kevin Fenix’s work is driven by the patients he aims to help. After meeting people living with metastatic bowel cancer (many of whom have contributed to his work), Kevin was inspired to expand his research efforts.
While immunotherapy has transformed treatment for some cancers, its success in bowel cancer remains limited. Through his Cure Cancer-funded project, Kevin is investigating a novel approach: cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy. CIK cells are lab-made immune cells created by exposing a patient’s white blood cells to proteins called cytokines, enabling them to recognise and attack a wide range of cancer cells. Though promising, CIK cell therapy has seen limited adoption over the past 20 years, largely due to an incomplete understanding of how it works.
Kevin and his team are addressing this gap by using cutting-edge technologies to map the cellular makeup of CIK cell therapy, creating a ‘cellular atlas’ to identify the components responsible for its anti-cancer effects. These findings will then be validated by testing the components against bowel cancer cells grown in the lab. The aim is to strengthen the scientific understanding of CIK therapy, drive greater adoption globally, and pave the way for an Australia-first clinical trial for metastatic bowel cancer patients in Adelaide within three years.
Since receiving Cure Cancer support, Kevin has been awarded a Mid-Career Research Fellowship and now leads a major research program focused on CIK cell therapy. His contributions have earned international recognition as he was recently appointed to the board of the International Society of CIK Cells, where he is helping set global standards to advance this promising therapy.
Dr Peter Georgeson: Pioneering personalised genomic screening to prevent bowel cancer
Postdoctoral Cancer Researcher, University of Melbourne
Dr Peter Georgeson is committed to changing the future of bowel cancer prevention through cutting-edge genomics. Thanks to support from Cure Cancer, Peter is leading a groundbreaking project investigating how DNA sequencing can more accurately predict bowel cancer risk.
Bowel cancer typically develops from pre-cancerous growths called polyps. While most polyps remain harmless, some progress to cancer — and current screening guidelines are based largely on averages, leaving many individuals either over-screened or under-protected. Peter’s research aims to address this by identifying specific genetic markers that distinguish high-risk polyps from low-risk ones.
Preliminary findings from Peter’s team have uncovered a unique DNA ‘fingerprint’ that appears in high-risk polyps and is linked to accelerated ageing in the bowel. By using advanced sequencing and statistical modelling techniques, Peter is developing a personalised, genomics-based risk predictor to better guide screening decisions.
Through the University of Melbourne’s Colorectal Oncogenomics Group, Peter is leveraging an established bioinformatics pipeline that has already analysed over 1,800 tumour samples, providing clinically actionable results. His project will integrate genomic features into a machine learning model, alongside existing predictive scores, to assess the clinical effectiveness of adenoma-based profiling.
With one in two Australians developing at least one colorectal adenoma by age 60, the potential impact of this research is profound, both for individuals and in terms of easing the burden on Australia's healthcare system.
“This research has the power to change lives by allowing earlier, more personalised intervention,” Peter says. “If we can better understand who is truly at risk, we can prevent more cases of bowel cancer before they even begin. That’s what drives me — making a real-world difference.”
Dr Lisa Mielke: Unlocking new immune pathways for more effective bowel cancer treatments
Laboratory Head, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
Dr Lisa Mielke is passionate about developing better, more tolerable treatments for bowel cancer patients, and believes that understanding the immune system is key. With support from Cure Cancer early in her career, Lisa’s research is now investigating the role of specialised immune cells, known as gamma delta T cells, in protecting the bowel against cancer.
Gamma delta T cells are a unique population of immune cells that reside in the bowel, but their role in bowel cancer has been largely unexplored. Lisa’s research has uncovered key molecules that control the anti-cancer function of these cells, opening the door to the development of new immunotherapies. “We’re now following up on these findings to determine if these molecules could become targets for future treatments,” she explains.
Lisa’s Cure Cancer grant has been pivotal in shaping her career, enabling her to transition her immunology expertise into the field of cancer research. Her earlier work on the Tcf7 gene (a gene that plays an essential role in T cell function) directly led to her discovery of the importance of gamma delta T cells in bowel cancer progression. Today, her research continues to build on this foundation, with a focus on understanding how immune cells behave in both early-stage and metastatic disease.
Beyond the lab, Lisa’s work is deeply influenced by the experiences of bowel cancer patients. By involving patient advocates in her research projects, she ensures her work remains grounded in the realities of those facing cancer. “Hearing the stories of younger patients, especially those with early-onset bowel cancer, has really motivated me to develop treatments that are not only more effective but also less toxic,” she says.
Ultimately, Lisa hopes her research will lead to therapies that allow patients to live full, active lives, even while undergoing treatment.
Professor Robyn Ward: Pioneering genetic discoveries to transform bowel cancer prevention and treatment
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and Senior Vice-President; Monash University
Professor Robyn Ward AM has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for people with bowel cancer. An internationally recognised researcher, Robyn first received Cure Cancer funding in 1994 – a critical early step that helped launch her distinguished research career.
Robyn’s work has uncovered distinctive genetic pathways involved in bowel cancer development, including the discovery that some cases are inherited through specific DNA changes. Her findings have helped create better screening programs, identify high-risk families, and develop new prevention strategies. "We now know that chemical ‘labels’ on DNA, not just the DNA sequence itself, can determine how and when cancers develop," Robyn explains. "Understanding these markers has opened up entirely new approaches to diagnosis and treatment."
She also helped pioneer a bowel cancer screening test, confirmed the importance of detecting and removing polyps, and contributed to the development of antibody-based cancer therapies. Thanks to breakthroughs like these, bowel cancer is now highly curable when detected early. However, Robyn stresses the importance of using available tools more effectively. "We have the means to dramatically reduce bowel cancer deaths," she says. "Participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, now starting from age 45, is critical."
Beyond bowel cancer, Robyn has recently led an international effort to standardise cancer drug dosing for patients with impaired kidney function, addressing a challenge that had been overlooked for decades. Her work will ensure safer, more effective cancer treatment for people worldwide.
Reflecting on her career, Robyn says early-stage research funding is vital: "The support I received from Cure Cancer allowed me to pursue bold ideas that have since translated into real-world change. Investing in emerging researchers today will shape the treatments of tomorrow."
A/Prof Susan Woods: Engineering new ways to detect and treat bowel cancer
Senior Research Fellow, University of Adelaide
A/Prof Susan Woods’ path to bowel cancer research has been shaped by both scientific curiosity and personal experience. She received her first Cure Cancer grant in 2011 to investigate melanoma, and a second in 2016 to study tumour-supporting cells in bowel cancer. That project uncovered how these cells drive cancer growth and drug resistance and tested a new therapy that later progressed to clinical trials — a promising step toward more effective treatment options.
The success of this work laid the foundation for further funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and established Susan as a leader in gastrointestinal cancer research. In 2019, she founded the Gut Cancer Group at the University of Adelaide and now leads a growing program as a GESA Bushell Research Fellow.
Susan’s research currently focuses on early detection and precision treatment of bowel cancer. Her team is developing engineered bacteria to deliver therapies directly to tumours, a strategy designed to reduce harmful side effects. They also grow patient-derived organoids (miniature tumours in the lab) to study individual tumour behaviour and guide personalised treatment decisions for advanced disease.
With nearly 10,000 Australians dying from gut cancers each year, Susan’s research is urgently needed. “The earlier we find these cancers, the better the chance of cure,” she says. “Cure Cancer funding allowed me to pursue bold ideas that are now translating into real impact for patients.”
Today, Susan continues to drive innovative, life-saving discoveries, improving survival and quality of life for people living with bowel cancer.
Dr Lochlan Fennell: Shining a light on treatment resistance in bowel cancer
Laboratory Head, School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast
Dr Lochlan Fennell is pioneering a bold approach to cancer prevention by targeting one of its most fundamental risk factors: aging.
With support from Cure Cancer, Lochlan is exploring how cellular reprogramming technology can restore aged bowel tissue to a more youthful state, potentially preventing the genetic mutations that lead to cancer. His research focuses on the bowel epithelium (the tissue lining the gut) and how rejuvenating these cells could give healthy tissue a competitive edge over abnormal growths.
Given that the risk of bowel cancer at age 50 is ten times higher than at age 20, this work could transform how we approach prevention. “We’ve made incredible progress in treating cancer,” Lochlan says. “But by focusing on prevention, we can reduce the stress, pain, and suffering that come with a cancer diagnosis.”
Looking to the future: The importance of cancer research funding
Although bowel cancer survival rates are improving, there’s still a long way to go. Cure Cancer-funded researchers are pioneering bold ideas – smarter ways to detect cancer earlier, tools to assess individual risk, and treatments designed for better outcomes. But progress doesn’t happen without support.
You can help change what a bowel cancer diagnosis means. Your support powers the research that leads to earlier detection, more effective treatments, and better options for people facing bowel cancer. Every breakthrough begins with someone who chooses to invest in bold ideas. By backing brilliant researchers, you're helping create a future where more people survive and thrive.
If you’d like your donation to go specifically towards bowel cancer research and support groundbreaking projects like the ones mentioned above, click here to support this vital work.
Or, to help fund the most promising research across all cancer types – where it’s needed most – make a donation here.
Your support helps brilliant emerging researchers bring tomorrow’s breakthroughs to life.
Want to know who this research helps? Read stories from survivors like Natalie and Jacky whose experiences highlight just how urgently we need better ways to detect and treat bowel cancer.
