DAVID Croucher of Gymea has won the 2015 Young Garvan of the Year award for his work in cancer research.
Dr Croucher, 34, was born in Sutherland Shire, attended Caringbah High School and completed a bachelor of biotechnology (honours) degree and his PhD at the University of Wollongong researching how the protein "pai-2" and how radioactive molecules target and kill cancer cells.
In 2006 he received the Premier's Award for Excellence in Cancer Research for his research into prostate and breast cancer.
He is the son of Sutherland Shire councillor Tom Croucher.
Dr Croucher was named as winner of the award on Saturday, July 18, at Young Garvan's main annual fundraising event, the All Ribbons Ball, at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel.
Dr Croucher's research uses computational modelling to simulate the drug-specific effects of a number of mutations that bring on chemoresistance.
The ultimate aim of this work is to better predict the therapeutic options for patients with chemoresistant breast cancer, based on the patient's individual mutations.
He will use his $50,000 award to continue his work using targeted genomic sequencing to identify mutations associated with chemoresistance in luminal B breast cancer.
The award will also allow Dr Croucher to use multiplexing technology to develop a map of the pathways linking signalling activity to therapeutic response in luminal breast cancer.
"For a young researcher like me, this funding is very significant," he said.
"It means I have a level of freedom to pursue my work, and explore new approaches to improving treatment outcomes for people . . . with chemoresistant breast cancer."
