Fiona Stanley Hospital research awarded grant to advance stem cell transplant care
Dr Allison Barraclough, Dr Duncan Purtill and Dr Stephanie Lam
A Fiona Stanley Hospital haematology research project investigating how the immune system rebuilds after a stem cell transplant has received a $25,000 grant through the Innovative Research in Precision Medicine Program.
The program awarded a total of $775,000 to 15 research projects across Western Australia.
Led by Dr Duncan Purtill, Dr Stephanie Lam and Dr Allison Barraclough, the QUOKKA project will study immune recovery in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) following a stem cell transplant.
The research aims to better understand why some patients recover more quickly than others and how treatments can be tailored to improve outcomes.
Dr Stephanie Lam said the research had the potential to improve outcomes for patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.
"A stem cell transplant can offer a cure for people with acute myeloid leukaemia, but recovery can be complex and unpredictable," Stephanie said.
"By better understanding how the immune system rebuilds after transplant, we hope to develop more personalised approaches that improve recovery, reduce complications and help patients achieve the best possible outcomes."
The project will bring together researchers from Fiona Stanley Hospital, PathWest and Murdoch University to explore new ways to reduce complications, prevent relapse and support faster immune recovery after transplant.
The findings are expected to guide future clinical trials and help advance precision transplant medicine in Western Australia (WA), providing patient- centered care for WA patients.