Australasian Dental Practice

Saturday, 15 February, 2025

31 Jan 2013 | Australasian Dental Practice

news > Spectrum > Page 38

Oral cancer targeted in research grant

Oral Cancer Grants

With the support of the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA), the Australian Dental Research Foundation (ADRF) has awarded the 2012 ADIA Research Grant to Associate Professor Hans Zoellner from the University of Sydney.


The grant supports research into the relationship of malignant cancer cells and those of healthy gingival structural tissue (fibroblasts). The findings of this research originated from earlier work studying aspects of oral cancer and have shed light on other forms of cancer.

The grant, funded by ADIA, is awarded each year to the primary applicant for the highest-ranked research project of those considered by the ADRF. Professor Zoellner's project, Characterisation of protein and mRNA exchange between malignant cells and fibroblasts, was considered by the ADRF Grant Committee to be ground-breaking research into how cancer cells behave and potentially evade treatment.

"We have recently observed that cancer cells exchange cellular material with fibroblasts, and the resulting cancer cell diversity may help cancer cells evade chemotherapy. Separately, from an immune standpoint, it seems likely that the cancer cells receive enough components of fibroblasts so that they are less recognised as foreign, while the fibroblasts now bearing cancer cell components would act as immune decoys", explained Professor Zoellner.

"In understanding this process, we hope to eventually inhibit the mechanisms through which it occurs and therefore increase the effectiveness of treatments," added Professor Zoellner.

The ADIA Chief Executive Officer, Troy Williams, said ADIA is proud to be funding the grant and is honoured to be associated with such important work. It is congruous with ADIA's mission to support product development within Australia, and through that the growth of the Australian dental industry.

"This type of research is important as it leads to new products and pharmaceuticals used in dentistry. ADIA is pleased to support researchers such as Professor Zoellner as we are keen to foster the development of new products in Australia, and this grant is one small step in securing that outcome," Mr Williams said.

The Australian Dental Research Foundation is jointly supported by ADIA and the Australian Dental Association (ADA) for the purpose of sponsoring dental research towards improving the dental health of the people of Australia.

Stream the latest dental videos...
SofaCON 2020: What does the future of Infection Control look like post-COVID-19?

Upcoming Events...

Jan 01 2025
Feb 18 2025

Siberian Dental Forum 2025

Krasnoyarsk, RUSSIA

Feb 27 2025

Maximising Recall Compliance

Live Online, AUSTRALIA

Feb 28 2025
Mar 04 2025
Mar 12 2025
Mar 15 2025
Mar 18 2025

TRIOS Café Webinar - A-Z Cosmetic Workflow with TRIOS

Australia & New Zealand, AUSTRALIA

Mar 19 2025

ITI Congress Colombia

Bogota, COLOMBIA

Mar 21 2025
Mar 21 2025

ITI Congress UK & Ireland

Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM

Mar 22 2025
Mar 24 2025
Mar 25 2025

IDS 2025

Cologne, GERMANY

Mar 29 2025
Apr 02 2025
Apr 10 2025
Apr 12 2025

ITI Congress Southern Africa

Cape Town, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Apr 15 2025
Apr 15 2025
Apr 17 2025

Dental Forum 2025

London, UNITED KINGDOM

May 01 2025
May 08 2025
May 12 2025
May 22 2025

ICOMS 2025

Singapore, SINGAPORE

May 23 2025

Famdent Show Mumbai 2025

Mumbai, INDIA

May 26 2025
May 28 2025
May 30 2025
Jun 07 2025
Jun 09 2025
Jun 11 2025
Jun 21 2025
Jun 25 2025
Jun 27 2025

ICOI Asia Pacific Congress 2025

Deagu, KOREA, SOUTH

Aug 01 2025
Sep 13 2025
Sep 20 2025
Oct 16 2025

ADOHTA-DHAA 2025 National Congress

Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA

Mar 20 2026
Apr 17 2026

IDEM Singapore 2026

Singapore, SINGAPORE