Cancer Aetiology and Prevention Group

Team Leader
Dr Claire Vajdic

Main Interest Area
To better understand the relationship between immune dysregulation, infection and the development of cancer.

Listed below are three current projects conducted by Cancer Aetiology and Prevention Group:

Project 1. Incidence and risk factors for cancer after liver and cardiothoracic and transplantation
This 3-year (2008-2010) NHMRC funded project involves data linkage between the Australian registers of cardiothoracic and liver transplant recipients, the National Death Index and the National Cancer Statistics Clearing House. It is a collaboration with Professor Andrew Grulich at the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (UNSW), Professor Anne Keogh at St Vincent’s Hospital, Professor Geoff McCaughan at the Centenary Institute (USYD), as well as the Australia and New Zealand Liver Transplant Registry, the Australia and New Zealand Cardiothoracic Transplant Registry, and the Australian hospital solid organ transplantation units.

Project 2. Incidence and risk factors for cancer in HIV/AIDS
This project involves data linkage between the national HIV and AIDS registers , the National Death Index and the National Cancer Statistics Clearing House. It is being conducted by Marina van Leeuwen, a PhD student in the final year of her candidature, under the supervision of Claire Vajdic and Professor Andrew Grulich at the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW. Results will be available in 2008 and 2009.

Project 3. Incidence and risk factors for cancer in primary immune deficiency
This Cancer Institute NSW funded study involves data linkage between the Australian register for primary immune deficiency, the National Death Index and the National Cancer Statistics Clearing House. It is a collaboration with Professor Andrew Grulich at the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, UNSW, and Dr Sean Riminton and Ms Philippa Kirkpatrick at the Australasian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) PID Register. Results will be available in 2008/2009.

Group Members