The Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth has awarded its 2026 PhD Top-up Scholarships to four early career researchers in Victoria. The announcement coincides with World Cancer Day on the 4th of February, which advocates for coordinated action in cancer research, prevention, and care.

Established in 2023, the Centre’s PhD top-up scholarship program provides $10,000 per year for three years to support early career researchers in Victoria. Funded projects focus on priority areas such as detection, treatment, and supportive care in pancreatic cancer, which remains one of the most lethal cancer types.

The recipients of the 2026 Top-Up Scholarships are:

  • Alessia Airaghi, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
    Alessia is engineering B-cells to improve how the immune system detects and attacks pancreatic tumours. This project aims to enhance T-cell activity by disrupting the tumour’s protective environment and promoting immune responses.
  • Dr Ashray Rajagopalan, Monash University
    Ashray is developing a method to match patients with the most suitable chemotherapy using gene expression profiles from tumour tissue. This study will assess whether specific gene signatures can predict how individuals respond to treatment.
  • Sree Priyanka Jeevanandan, Monash University
    Sree is studying how immune cells influence tumour growth using laboratory models that simulate the pancreatic cancer environment. This research will examine how immunotherapy interacts with other treatments and why responses vary.
  • Tawany De Carvalho Gil, La Trobe University
    Tawany is searching for new blood-based biomarkers to support earlier diagnosis and better disease monitoring. This project focuses on tumour-specific antibodies produced by B-cells and uses advanced screening tools to identify potential diagnostic targets.

Two past recipients described the difference the scholarship made during their studies:

The Jreissati Pancreatic Centre PhD Top-Up Scholarship provided crucial financial support throughout my PhD. It alleviated living expenses and research costs, allowing me to focus intensively on my research without financial strain.

- Arian Ansardamavandi, 2024 recipient.

The JPCE PhD Top-Up Scholarship provided essential financial support during the most intensive final phase of my doctoral research. This support enabled me to devote sustained, full-time effort to my PhD

- Saeed Aslani, 2025 recipient.

The program is supported by the Victorian Government through the Victorian Cancer Agency.

Applications for the 2027 round will open in August.

Further information