2024 Breast Cancer Trials Award Winners

Winners of the 2024 Breast Cancer Trials Awards were presented at the 45th Annual Scientific Meeting in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

Winners of the 2024 Breast Cancer Trials Awards were presented at the 45th Annual Scientific Meeting in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

The awards and travel grants recognise the valuable contribution of BCT members to the Group’s clinical trials research program; provide professional development opportunities for members; recognise outstanding achievements by researchers, clinicians and scientists in their particular field; and help promote the research activities of BCT and encourage participation in them.

All BCT awards are at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

The Gold Medal

The BCT Gold Medal recognises the outstanding efforts and achievements of a member who has played an instrumental role in the development of breast cancer clinical trials research.

The 2024 recipient is our CEO, Soozy Smith.

During her 13 years at BCT, Soozy has made an enormous contribution to our organisation and to improved outcomes for women with breast cancer.

Soozy has had many achievements during this time and BCT is in a stronger position than ever before, thanks to her leadership.

The Alan Coates Award for Excellence in Clinical Trials Research

The Alan Coates Award for Excellence in Clinical Trials Research recognises an individual member of BCT who has made an outstanding contribution to BCT’s clinical trials research program and aims to assist the recipient in their professional development.

The 2024 recipient is Ms Leslie Gilham.

Leslie is the Chair of the Breast Cancer Trials Consumer Advisory Panel, and is a passionate advocate for clinical trials, and was a participant in the TEXT clinical trial.

She became chair of CAP in 2018 and is an Associate Investigator on a number of clinical trials and research projects throughout Australia & New Zealand.

She is a member of the BIG 3-07 / TROG 07.01 DCIS Steering Committee, a member of the Breast International Group Patient Partnership Initiative, the Roche Global Breast Cancer Council and an advisor to the TILs International Working Group.

The Robert Sutherland Award for Excellence in Translational Research

The Robert Sutherland Award for Excellence in Translational Research recognises Translational Researchers and their achievements and contributions to improved patient outcomes as well as scientific excellence.

The 2024 recipient is Professor Andrew Tutt.

Andrew cares for women with breast cancer as a Consultant Oncologist and as a member of the multidisciplinary Breast Units at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trusts. He is Professor of Breast Oncology and Director of the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research, London.

Andrew is a member of the St Gallen Early Breast Cancer International Consensus Panel, the Oxford Early Breast Cancer Trialists Cooperative Group (EBCTCG), and is Chair of the CRUK Experimental Medicine Expert Review Panel.

The John Collins Medal and Travel Grant

This grant was established to encourage potential academic breast surgeons to become involved in clinical trials research.

The 2024 recipient is Dr Christina Kozul.

Christina is a Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Accredited General Surgical trainee (SET 4) at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, who aims to subspecialise in Breast Surgery.

She is passionate about contributing to this field of research to improve outcomes for women with DCIS and breast cancer.

The Study Coordinator Prize

This award acknowledges outstanding commitment to BCT’s research program by a study coordinator at a participating institution.

The 2024 recipient is Ms Lisa Wilkinson.

Lisa has been a member of BCT 1996 and has over 25 years of experience as a Clinical Trials Coordinator involving a range of cancer types.

Education Travel Grants

Our Education Travel Grants recognise study coordinators and junior clinicians who are unable to access institutional or other funding to attend the Annual Scientific Meeting.

2024 recipients are: Caroline MacCallum, Cathie Reich, Jennifer Liu, Kayte Robinson, Petrina Burnett, Roger Liang, Rudo Manungo and Sandy Simon.

Trainee and Early Career Weekend Grants

Our Trainee and Early Career Weekend Grant is up to the value of $1500, which includes return economy class airfares, and accommodation for the duration of the weekend.

2024 recipients are: Jennifer Yeh, Thi Thy Duong Pham, Tam Bui, Harith Fernando, Sofia Mason, Tivya Kulasegaran, Michelle Li and Jasmine Kevric.