Gastro-intestinal cancer research

Pathways to a pancreatic cancer solution

Dr Angelica Merlot

Angelica’s grant is co-funded by Cure Cancer, Cancer Australia Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme and our principal supporter, the Can Too Foundation.

Angelica is based at the University of New South Wales.

Cancers of the pancreas have abysmally low survival rates that have barely shifted over decades. With continuing support from Cure Cancer, Dr Angelica Merlot’s research focuses on identifying new targets and therapeutic options for pancreatic and other aggressive cancers.

These solutions, says Angelica, a researcher at the Children’s Cancer Institute at the University of New South Wales, are obviously desperately needed. Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate (92%) of all forms of the disease.

her Research

With her colleagues, Angelica is assessing specific critical molecular signals that form part of a cell system in the body known as the endoplasmic reticulum. The signals are implicated in the progression of pancreatic cancer and its metastasis. They aim to develop treatments that target these signals to stop its growth and spread.

“Our findings will represent a big leap forward in understanding the role of crucial molecular pathways in cancer progression,” Angelica says. “It’s really exciting that it has the potential to lead to more effective treatments and better survival rates.”

Her work has received wide recognition. In 2019, Angelica was named New South Wales Young Woman of the Year, won the Premier’s Early Career Researcher of the Year Award for Biological Sciences and was a 2019 Young Tall Poppy Science Award winner.

ANGELICA’S INSPIRATION

At school she developed a strong interest in how the human body functions under normal conditions and when affected by disease. Today she views herself as lucky to have a rewarding career in which she can combine her curiosity and interests in biology to help people others.

“Like many Australians, my family’s been impacted by cancer,” Angelica says. “They have amazing stories to share. Their struggles are a huge encouragement to me to keep going with my research, to produce real outcomes, and ensure we improve patient survival rates.”

Angelica admits that the life of a scientist is never easy. It involves the juggling of multiple tasks like writing grants and manuscripts, conducting experimental work and managing staff and students. But she enjoys collaborating with other scientists, mentoring other researchers and watching them succeed in their own careers. “And all the hard work is worth it as we jointly strive for a cure,” she adds.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING

She sees her Cure Cancer grants as vital to this quest. Without them her research simply couldn’t continue. “It’s difficult to compete with more senior researchers and professors who have long-standing, proven track records,” she says. “So professionally it provides me with the opportunity to expand my research and develop my career. Personally it gives me great satisfaction to know I’m genuinely helping others.”

To donors and fundraisers she expresses grateful thanks. She would like people who have cancer and their families to know that she and her colleagues care deeply about them and are working hard to help increase quality of life and survival rates.

The best advice she has ever received: never give up, and she doesn’t intend to.

"It’s really exciting that my research has the potential to lead to more effective treatments"