Cancer Institute NSW Awards $11 Million in Fellowships to 18 Researchers

Researcher	Affiliation	Focus Area
Associate Professor Rachael Dodd	Faculty of Medicine and Health; The Daffodil Centre	Evaluating implementation of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program
Dr. Zhaoxiang Cai	Faculty of Medicine and Health; Children’s Medical Research Institute	Improving cancer diagnosis and prognosis via generative proteomic foundation model and federated learning
Dr. Tingting Gong	School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health; Charles Perkins Centre	Revealing predisposing and acquired large genomic rearrangements in prostate cancer to reduce ancestral disparities
Dr. Samuel Ross	School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science	Interrogating RNA modification dynamics in cancer to expose vulnerabilities and uncover biomarkers
Dr. Peey Sei Kok	Faculty of Medicine and Health; Sydney Clinical Trials Centre	Transforming endometrial cancer care through molecular precision
Dr. Pamela Soh	School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health; Charles Perkins Centre	Developing

Cancer Institute NSW Awards 18 Fellowships to Emerging Researchers

Cancer Institute NSW Funding for University of Sydney Researchers

In a significant boost for medical research, the Cancer Institute NSW has distributed $11 million across 18 fellowships aimed at addressing the state’s persistent cancer burden. According to data from the institute, more than 50,000 people in New South Wales are diagnosed with cancer annually, with one in every two residents expected to receive a diagnosis by age 85. Despite these high rates, the incidence of cancer in the state has remained unchanged over the past decade, according to findings from the Cancer Institute NSW.

The University of Sydney secured eight of these competitive awards, which the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mike Ryan, described as a recognition of a diverse portfolio of work spanning laboratory discovery, clinical research, and health systems innovation. These fellowships recognise a diverse portfolio of work at the University of Sydney spanning lab discovery, clinical research, and health systems innovation, all aimed at improving outcomes for people affected by cancer, Professor Ryan said.

Our researchers are ambitiously tackling some of the biggest health care challenges in NSW, with the potential to make a global impact. These fellowships will support the career development of emerging researchers and build on the early successes of our mid-career academics, Professor Ryan stated

The funded projects focus on varied approaches to patient care. For instance, Dr. Zhaoxiang Cai’s research develops AI models that use protein data to improve diagnosis and predict treatment response, while enabling collaboration across institutions without sharing sensitive patient data. Dr. Tingting Gong’s project focuses on developing new methods to detect overlooked genetic variations that influence prostate cancer risk and progression, particularly in underrepresented populations. Dr. Samuel Ross is mapping RNA modifications in cancer cells to better understand how they drive tumour growth and survival, with a focus on aggressive cancers such as diffuse midline glioma and acute myeloid leukaemia. Dr. Peey Sei Kok’s program integrates molecular testing, clinical trials, and real-world care to personalise treatment for endometrial cancer.

Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Invites Early Career Fellowship Applications

Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Early Career Fellowship 2027/2028

For scholars operating within the humanities and social sciences, the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (Institute for Advanced Study) has officially launched its Early Career Fellowship Programme for the 2027/2028 academic year. The institute, which positions itself as one of Europe’s leading interdisciplinary academic environments, is accepting applications until 1 September 2026.

Unlike many research grants, the fellowship encourages scholars to define their own research agenda rather than work within predetermined thematic priorities. Founded on the principle of academic freedom, the Wissenschaftskolleg Fellowship allows scholars to focus entirely on their research without the teaching and administrative responsibilities typically associated with university appointments. The Institute brings together researchers from across the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and natural sciences, creating a vibrant interdisciplinary community where ideas are exchanged across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Successful applicants will participate in the 2027/2028 academic year fellowship, which includes a residency from September 2027 to the end of June 2028, providing approximately 10 months of uninterrupted research time. The extended residential format enables Fellows to immerse themselves fully in their research while benefiting from regular interactions with colleagues from around the world. The Institute believes that giving scholars the freedom to define and develop their own research questions fosters creativity, originality, and significant academic contributions. While the current announcement highlights the humanities and social sciences, the Institute also offers separate Early Career Calls for researchers in the life sciences and natural sciences.

Researchers Compare Cancer Institute NSW and Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Models

Divergent Paths in Academic Research Support

While both the Cancer Institute NSW fellowships and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin program target early-career advancement, their structural models reflect different academic priorities. The NSW-based fellowships are explicitly tied to health system outcomes and the development of new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. In contrast, the Berlin-based fellowship prioritizes the intellectual freedom and supportive environment necessary for self-directed, interdisciplinary study, according to the Institute.

For researchers, the choice between these programs depends on whether their work requires the clinical and institutional integration favored by the Cancer Institute or the independent, interdisciplinary immersion offered by the Wissenschaftskolleg. The current call for the Berlin fellowship is specifically targeted at researchers in the early stages of their academic careers, and the Institute’s goal is to provide Fellows with the intellectual freedom and supportive environment needed to pursue innovative research that may benefit from interactions with scholars from different fields.

Sources: Fundsforngos, europesays.com.