Grants

Implementing Australia’s first integrated germline-somatic precision approach to mesothelioma: Dust Diseases Board (iCARE) Research Translation Grant, A/Prof Steven Chuan-Hao Kao – LCI, Dr Milita Zaheed – CI, Dr Rebecca Tay – PI, Prof Tom John – PI, A/Prof Zarnie Lwin – PI, Dr Pei Ding – PI, Prof David Thomas – PI, Prof Nick Pavlakis – PI, A/Prof Surein Arulananda – PI, A/Prof Bryan Chan – PI, A/Prof Daniel Brungs, 2026-2029, $382,600

The application of a 3D cell culture model to assess the utility of novel immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of mesothelioma: TOGA Inspiration Research Grant, Dr Peter (Huaikai) Shi – CIA, Dr Ben Johnson, A/Professor Steven Kao, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti, 2024-2025, $50,000

Investigate gut microbiota influence on immunotherapy response in pleural mesothelioma mice model: Trevor and Shirley Seaman 2023, Dr Peter (Huaikai) Shi – CIA, 2 years, $50,000

Phase 1 study of Leptospermum polygalifolium extract in mesothelioma: NSW Dust Diseases Authority (iCARE) Discovery Grant (2023-25), A/Professor Steven Kao – CIA, Dr Peter (Huaikai) Shi – CIB, 3 years, $249,000

Unlocking the potential of cancer associated fibroblasts to defeat pancreatic cancer: NHMRC Ideas Grant 2023, Dr Zaklina Kovacevic – CIA, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – CIB, 2023-2025, $636,920

Identifying metabolic changes in pancreatic fibroblasts during development of pancreatic cancer to facilitate early detection: PanKind Innovator Grant 2023, Dr Zaklina Kovacevic – PI, Prof Paul Timpson, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – CIC, Dr Sumit Sahni, 2023, $99,077

Analysis of novel commercial innovation across the medical sciences and technology in a leading international intellectual property commercialisation company: REDI Fellowship 2023, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – CI, Perez S (IP Group), 2023, $200,633.40

A novel approach to identify and treat mesothelioma: NSW Dust Diseases Authority (iCARE) Discovery Grant 2023, A/Professor Yuen Yee Cheng – CIA, A/Professor Anthony Linton – Co-Investigator, 2024-2027, $249,520

An AI-enhanced Multi-analyte Blood Test: The Next Generation of Breast Cancer Diagnostics: UNSW Social Good Seed Fund 2021, Fatemeh Vafaee, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Associate Investigator, 2022, $20,000

Understanding the Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Mesothelioma Tumour Microenvironment: Philanthropy – The Ruth Rose, David Doust and Debbie Brewer Gift, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIA, 2022, $120,000

Extracellular Vesicles in Mesothelioma: Donation – Turner Freeman Lawyers, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIA, A/Professor Steven Kao, 2022, $25,000

Development of a self-powered dye sensitized solar cell sensor as a point-of-care (POC) device for portable and fast extracellular vesicles (EV)-based cancer diagnosis: USyd-UEdin Partnership Collaboration Awards, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Project Supervisor & Chief Investigator A, Michael Xianfeng, 2022, $20,000

Commercial glucometer as a point-of-care device for early cancer screening: Scottish Government SAPHIRE Grant: 2022, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator B, Michael Xianfeng, 2022, £10,000

High-throughput exosome sorting using affibody functionalized beads and inertial microfluidics: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited– COCKPI-T Funding 2020, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIB, M Ebrahimi Warkiani, 2021, $100,000

Extracellular Vesicles in Mesothelioma: Turner Freeman Lawyers, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIA, A/Professor Steven Kao, 2021, $25,000

Is epigenetic alteration implicated in the treatment response of pembrolizumab?: Dust Diseases Board (iCARE) Research Grant 2020 , A/Professor Steven Kao – CIA, Dr Peter (Huaikai) Shi – CIC, 3 years, $277,800

Extracellular Vesicles, a Gateway to Precision medicine: Immunotherapy in mesothelioma: The Dust Diseases Care Discovery Grant 2020, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – CIA, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIC, 3 years, $470,000

An immune-chemo-microRNA approach to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma: Tour de Cure Grant 2020, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIA, 1 year, $50,000

WEE1 inhibitor and durvalumab to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM): AstraZeneca 2020, Dr Peter (Huaikai) Shi – CIC, 2 years, $86,000

Circular RNAs as potential biomarkers for malignant pleural mesothelioma: NSW Dust Diseases Authority (iCARE) Discovery Grant, A/Professor Anthony Linton – PI, Dr Ben Johnson, 2021-2023, $295,000

A novel 3D model for drug screening in mesothelioma: NSW Dust Diseases Authority (iCARE) Discovery Grant (2020-22), A/Professor Anthony Linton – PI, Dr Peter (Huaikai) Shi – CIC, Dr Ben Johnson, Ling Zhuang, 2020-22, $300,000

Identification of plasma extracellular vesicles signatures in lung cancer patients with brain metastases versus those without: Sydney Catalyst EnRICH, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIC, A/Professor Steven Kao, 2019, $65,000

A novel regenerative therapy for treating osteoarthritis: Arthritis Australia Suzette Gately Grant-in-Aid, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIB, Jiao Jiao Li, C Gentile, Prof Christopher B Little, 2019, $15,000

A new regenerative therapy for treating thumb base osteoarthritis: The Lincoln Centre Research Grant, Li JJ, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIB, Jiao Jiao Li, C Gentile, Prof Christopher B Little, Prof Georges E Grau, 2019, $31,397

Predicting response to checkpoint therapy in lung cancer patients: Cancer Council NSW Competitive Grant 2018, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIB, 5 years, $758,033.50

A novel regenerative therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis: Lifespan Seed Grants, University of Sydney, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Chief Investigator/CIB, Jiao Jiao Li, C Gentile, Prof Christopher B Little, Prof Georges E Grau, 2018, $10,000

Expanding basic, clinical and functional genomic cancer research at Concord campus: Cancer Institute NSW Research Equipment Grant 2015, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIH, 2015, $385,470

Do changes to chemotherapy dose and increased toxicity explain poorer survival outcomes in advanced cancer patients with systemic inflammation?: Sydney Catalyst Pilot and Seed Funding 2015, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIE, 2015, $50,000

Lung cancer cohort – a platform to study serial biospecimens and matched clinical data (LC-PLAT Study): Sydney Catalyst top-down funding 2015, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIA, 2015-2016, $150,000

Expanding the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI) biobank to create a state-wide repository for research into thoracic cancers: Cancer Institute NSW Research Infrastructure Grant 2015, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIA, 2015-2018, $300,000

Multicentre Biobanking of advanced stage NSCLC – rapid onsite processing of fresh biopsy samples for comprehensive mutation testing and future studies: Sydney Catalyst Pilot and Seed Funding 2014, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIB, 2014, $50,000

Purification and characterization of exosomes derived from HP802 cells: Smith and Nephew, Dr A Ghahary – PI, Dr Elham Hosseini Beheshti – Associate Investigator, Dr ES Tomlinson Guns, 2014, $50,000

Implementing comprehensive next generation cancer mutation profiling in lung cancer: Sydney Catalyst Pilot and Seed Funding 2013, A/Professor Steven Kao – Associate Investigator, 2013-2014, $50,000

Mutation profiling study of cancer genes in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM): Sydney Catalyst Pilot and Seed Funding 2013, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIF, 2013-2014, $50,000

Clinico-pathological correlation of patients with asbestos-related lung cancer versus non-asbestos-related lung cancer – cohorts from the Dust Diseases Board: Pfizer Cancer Competitive Research Grant 2013, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIA, 2014, $50,000

Using proteomics to improve prognostication & prediction in malignant mesothelioma: Dust Diseases Board Research Grant 2012, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIC, 2012-2014, $245,700

Chemotherapy utilisation for malignant mesothelioma patients – optimal rate, barriers to access and patient preferences: Dust Diseases Board Research Grant 2012, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIA, 2012-2014, $211,535

Translating malignant mesothelioma research into better outcomes for patients and their families: Cancer Institute NSW Translational Program Grant 2011, A/Professor Steven Kao – CID, 2012-2019, $3,500,000

Biaggio Signorelli Foundation Research Fellowship – 2011, A/Professor Anthony Linton – Fellowship Recipient, 2011-2014, $300,000

The role of Excision Repair Cross Complementation group 1 and Thymidylate Synthase expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma: Cancer Institute NSW Research Scholar Award, A/Professor Steven Kao, 2010-2012, $28,013

Identification of predictive and prognostic factors in malignant mesothelioma: NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship, A/Professor Steven Kao, 2010-2012, $73,913

A quantitative analysis of the DDB data set of applicants with a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma (MM) from 2006-2007: Dust Diseases Board Research Grant 2009, A/Professor Steven Kao – CIC, 2009-2011, $155,210