Terran Nullius Cyprus – Episode 19: Childhood cancer researcher and innovator. Meet Dr Maria Kavallaris (31/8/2024)
In the 19th episode of Terra Nullius Cyprus, meet Dr Maria Kavallaris. Dr Kavallaris is a cancer researcher at NSW Uni Children's Cancer Institute. Born in Sydney, she went to primary school in Morphou, Cyprus, until war broke in 1974. Her family returned to Australia. At only 21 years old she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This inspired her to compete a PhD in cancer research. During her studies her 30 year old brother passed away from pancreatic cancer. Today her research focuses on childhood cancer, using nanotechnology to develop cancer therapies, and to determine mechanisms which lead to anti-cancer drug resistance. In 2011 she established the Australian Centre for Nanomedicine and today heads the Translational Cancer Nanomedicine Theme at NSW Uni Children's Cancer Institute. In 2019 she was appointed a member of the Order of Australia, in 2020 she received the NSW Premier's Woman of the Year Award and in 2022 she received a Cyprus Presidential Medal for her life’s work.