Dr Justine Clark, a cancer researcher at Telethon Kids Institute, is the co-recipient of the 2024 Australian Academy of Science Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist award.
The award recognises her work in precision cancer medicine, treatment that uses an individual’s genetic profile to improve cancer diagnostics, long-term management of cancer, screening and more.
Dr Clark, a PhD researcher in Indigenous genomics at the Telethon Kids Institute, is making ground in progressing precision cancer treatment in Australia. Her work is specifically targeted at closing the gap between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians’ cancer survival rates through this treatment.
“Aboriginal people are about 14 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, compared with non-Aboriginal people, and also about 20 per cent less likely to survive for five years after diagnosis,” Dr Clark said.
“This research must be guided by community priorities and aspirations, as well as clinical data identifying cancers that have the greatest burden on Indigenous Australians.”
Māori cancer researchers are also exploring how precision cancer medicine guided by genomics can improve treatment and survival rates for Māori peoples diagnosed with cancer.
Receiving the award from the Australian Academy of Science, Dr Clark intends to travel to New Zealand and work with them to inform her own research.
“The exciting thing about it is that we can learn about our DNA and find new treatments for cancer that are targeted to specific genes, and we can also find better uses for our current treatments, better diagnostics, better screening, and that’s what we call precision medicine,” Dr Clark said.
“Doing it together is the best way forward to create a global agenda where we can improve cancer outcomes for every Indigenous person.”
Dr Clark said she is “honoured” to receive the award and dedicates it to those who came before her and paved the way to get to where she is now.
“I always think of my ancestors – they were the first scientists in this country,” Dr Clark said, “and I think of the legacy of people that have come before me that have fought for a better future for our communities.”
Dr Clark is joined by Dr Joe Greet from the University of Melbourne, who is also receiving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist award. His recognition comes from his research into the management of Australian wetlands.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award from the Australian Academy of Science was established in 2018. Recipients are awarded up to $20,000 and additional support.
Applications for the 2025 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award are now open and close on June 1.