ANZSA Clinical Research Fellowship

This research program, led by Dr Liz Connolly, as part of her Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA) Research Fellowship, aims to improve how we understand and treat rare bone and soft tissue cancers (sarcomas) in children, adolescents and young adults. The main focus is on osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, where it is currently difficult to predict which patients are at highest risk of their cancer returning or spreading.

To address this, the research studies the proteins within tumour samples-key molecules that drive how cancers behave-to identify patterns that may help predict outcomes and guide treatment decisions. Alongside this, the program includes a clinical study exploring whether parts of intensive chemotherapy can be safely delivered at home, making treatment less disruptive for young patients. By combining laboratory research with real-world clinical studies, the goal is to better tailor treatments, reduce unnecessary side effects for lower-risk patients, identify new treatment targets, and ultimately improve survival and quality of life.