Col Reynolds Fellows

A cohort of Australia's best researchers backed by a $7.6 million commitment.

Investing in the future of childhood cancer research

From a field of outstanding candidates across Australia, The Kids’ Cancer Project has funded the next generation of childhood cancer researchers through two rounds of Col Reynolds Fellowship applications. The Fellows represent a diverse range of research innovation and an investment commitment of $7.623 million. 

The Fellowships named to honour our Founder, Col Reynolds OAM, are designed to help future-proof the childhood cancer research sector by giving brilliant scientists and budding talent the resources needed to continue their lifesaving and life-changing work. 

The vision of this investment is to ensure every child with cancer survives to live a long and healthy life free from any side-effects.

CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project, Owen Finegan, says that focusing funding on Australia’s next generation of scientists from the early stages of their careers is crucial to expanding our knowledge across all childhood cancers and reaching a day when 100% of kids with cancer survive and thrive after treatment.

The Fellows are sure to deliver breakthroughs across a range of areas relating to childhood cancer. The successful candidates, along with their institutes were chosen by our expert Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and are listed below: 

The aim of Col Reynold Fellowships is to ensure extraordinary Australian scientists with great ideas are supported. This supports our mission to provide scientists with the funding they need to make discoveries, translate pioneering research, advance treatments and build support programs that will improve survival rates for all young people with cancer and allow them to thrive after treatment.

The Col Reynolds Fellowships recognise that innovation is the only way a future cure will be found. We are proud to help power the pipeline of pioneering scientists who will be able to build on what has already been achieved. All of the individuals who are the inaugural recipients are exceptional and deserve to be congratulated on what they have already achieved.

CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project, Owen Finegan

Meet all our Col Reynolds Fellows

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Evangeline Jackson

Recipient: Dr Evangeline Jackson Institute: University of Newcastle Funding: $510,000 October 2024 - September 2027 Early-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Michelle Tennant

Recipient: Dr Michelle Tennant Institute: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Funding: $508,299 September 2024 - August 2027 Early-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Ryan Cross

Recipient: Dr Ryan Cross Institute: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Funding: $618,000 January 2025 – December 2027 Mid-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Emmy Fleuren

Recipient: Dr Emmy Fleuren Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $616,293 April 2025 – April 2028 Mid-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Noemi Fuentes-Bolanos

Recipient: Dr Noemi Fuentes-Bolanos Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $267,000 October 2024-September 2027 Clinical Fellowship - Medical

Col Reynolds Fellow, Ms Rachel Edwards

Recipient: Ms Rachel Edwards Institute: Queensland University of Technology Funding: $204,000 October 2024 - September 2027 Clinical Fellowship - Allied Health

PhD Scholarship recipient, Lorna McLeman

Recipient: Lorna McLeman Institute: St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research Funding: $10,000 July 2025 - December 2028 PhD Scholarship - Top Up

PhD Scholarship recipient, Bryce Thomas

Recipient: Byce Thomas Institute: University of Newcastle Funding: $30,000 July 2024 - February 2027 PhD Scholarship - Top Up

PhD Scholarship recipient, Chelsea Valentin

Recipient: Chelsea Valentin Institute: Sydney Children's Hospital Network $35,000 July 2024 - December 2027 PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Aaminah Khan

Recipient: Dr Aaminah Khan Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $460,543.20 Early-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr David Mizrahi

Recipient: Dr David Mizrahi Institute: The University of Sydney Funding: $502,680.00 Early-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Karin Plummer

Recipient: Dr Karin Plummer Institute: Griffith University Funding: $487,096.00 Early-Career

Col Reynolds Fellows, Dr Kenny Ip

Recipient: Dr Kenny Chi Kin Ip Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $616,945.00 Mid-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Katherine Pillman

Recipient: Dr Katherine Pillman Institute: The University of South Australia Funding: $616,945.00 Mid-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Teresa Sadras

Recipient: Dr Teresa Sadras Institute: Olivia Newtown John Cancer Research Institute Funding: $511,551.00 Mid-Career

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Noa Lamm-Shalem

Recipient: Dr Noa Lamm-Shalem Institute: Children’s Medical Research Institute Funding: $621,870.00 Mid-Career

Col Reynolds Fellows Dr Rachael Lawson

Recipient: Dr Rachael Lawson Institute: Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service Funding: $204,000.00 Clinical Fellowships - Allied Health

Col Reynolds Fellow, Marion Mateos

Recipient: Dr Marion Mateos Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $276,000.00 Clinical Fellowships - Medical

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Joseph Yuan-Mou Yang

Institute: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Funding: $275,962.00 Clinical Fellowships - Medical

Col Reynolds Fellow, Philipp Graber

Recipient: Philipp Graber Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $25,000.00 PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Col Reynolds Fellow, Jacqueline Hunter

Recipient: Jacqueline Hunter Institute: University of Melbourne Funding: $30,000.00 PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Col Reynolds Fellowships, Megumi Hui Ai Lim

Recipient: Megumi (Meg) Lim Institute: Queensland University of Technology Funding: $20,000.00 PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Col Reynolds Fellowships, Dr Hannah Walker

Recipient: Dr Hannah Walker Institute: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Funding: $35,000.00 PhD Scholarship - Top Up

We're able to commit $7.6 million to the Col Reynolds Fellowships thanks to the generous support of our community.

Funding the Col Reynolds Fellowships relies on the generous support of our visionary donor and corporate community. With continued generous support talented scientists can remain in the childhood cancer research sector as they work towards 100% The Kids Cancer Projects vision to see 100% of children, adolescents and young adults survive cancer and live with no long-term health implications caused by their treatment. 

Latest news & stories

PhD top-up funding brings new insights for genetic testing

25/03/2026
Jacqueline Hunter, a Col Reynolds Fellow based at the University of Melbourne, has played a leading role in authoring an Australian paper that has been published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year that was!

24/03/2026
The Kids’ Cancer Project is celebrating the success of partnering with the City of Sydney for their Sydney Lunar Festival in 2026, engaging with more than 20,000 visitors and raising over $2,000 for...

From boardrooms to back nines: 2026 gets off to a flying start

23/03/2026
The Kids’ Cancer Project is celebrating the collective impact of its Partner Events that have seen 2026 get off to a flying start.

Belinda Hall on her Beau and the boy she knew

22/03/2026
Belinda Hall is the mother of Beau Hewitt, the boy who captivated Australia as he battled with a stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis.

The program that keeps Tasmanian kids close to home

20/03/2026
For kids with cancer like Boyd Beckett – a former leukaemia patient from rural NT and the face of our 2026 Easter Bear Appeal – access to services in rural areas can be hard to come by. Many drive...

Calling all families: How you can help our researchers

18/03/2026
The Kids’ Cancer Project funds 53 research projects across Australia, with many of them requiring help from families and patients who have experienced treatment for childhood cancers.

K’day kicks down the door in support of childhood cancer research

17/03/2026
The Kids’ Cancer Project is thrilled to share that K’day , the charity’s annual double donation day, has raised over $430,000 for kids with cancer.

Debra Singh concludes her role as The Kids’ Cancer Project Director

12/03/2026
The Kids’ Cancer Project wishes to extend its thanks to Debra Singh, who has concluded her role as a director on the charity’s Board of Directors as of February 2026.

Breaking barriers: How technology and empathy is changing childhood cancer care

07/03/2026
Dr Michelle Tennant reflects on her journey and research project with The Kids' Cancer Project – one which she won't shy away from despite the challenges that come operating across technology, allied...
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Support Funding the Future of Childhood Cancer Research

Our commitment of $7.6 million towards the Col Reynolds Fellowships is thanks to the generous and ongoing support of the community and our partners. Help us assist talented young researchers and keep them in the field by making a donation today.

Focused funding towards Australia’s best and brightest scientists from career outset to its pinnacle is crucial in expanding our knowledge and survival rates across all childhood cancers if we are to ensure 100% healthy survival of Aussie kids.

Donate now