Researcher Symposium 2023

Panel Discussion: Blood cancer spotlight

Every year, as part of Cure Cancer’s Researcher Symposium, we hold a panel discussion that is open to the general public and focuses on a particular cancer type. This year, we spotlighted blood cancer in an online panel that was moderated by Cure Cancer CEO Nikki Kinloch.

With 53 daily diagnoses and 16 lives lost daily, blood cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia. 

During the panel discussion, we heard from Dr Ashley Ng, a Cure Cancer alumnus we funded in 2011, who spoke about the progress that has been made in blood cancer research so far, the current challenges, and the hope for the future.

We also heard from two Cure Cancer supporters, Buzz Wilson and Clint Trofa, who have been personally affected by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), respectively.

Watch the Panel Discussion on Blood Cancer

Watch the Researcher Symposium presentations here!

Help kick-start more blood cancer research

Our panellists

Dr Ashley Ng

Cure Cancer alumnus, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute)

Dr Ashley is involved as a Principal Investigator for Phase I/II/III human clinical trials at the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG). For one of these trials, he worked closely with Buzz, a Cure Cancer fundraiser and the first ALL patient to join the trial. Thanks to the novel combination therapy, Buzz was put into a very deep remission in October 2022. 

Buzz Wilson

Cure Cancer fundraiser & acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) survivor

Buzz is a gamer and member of GenerOZity, a community of gamers who fundraise for charities. Ever since his own brush with advanced ALL at just 19 years old, Buzz has been a passionate advocate for cancer research and raising awareness of the devastating impact of this disease. He credits his recovery to a cutting-edge phase 2 clinical trial in which Dr Ashley Ng played a pivotal role. 

Clint Trofa

Cure Cancer fundraiser who is living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) 

Clint survived testicular cancer in his 20s, but 3 years ago, he received another diagnosis for CLL, which currently has no known cure. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic and focused on his passions, such as taking part in fitness events, advocating for cancer research, and spending time with his daughters, who are now 12, 14 and 17 years old.