Our Col Reynolds Fellows

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Future proofing childhood cancer research by attracting and retaining scientists in the field.

Investing in the future of childhood cancer research

From a field of outstanding candidates across Australia, The Kids’ Cancer Project has funded the next generation of childhood cancer researchers through two rounds of Col Reynolds Fellowship applications. The Fellows represent a diverse range of research innovation and an investment commitment of $7.623 million. 

The Fellowships named to honour our Founder, Col Reynolds OAM, are designed to help future-proof the childhood cancer research sector by giving brilliant scientists and budding talent the resources needed to continue their lifesaving and life-changing work.

The vision of this investment is to ensure every child with cancer survives to live a long and healthy life free from any side-effects.

CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project, Owen Finegan, says that focusing funding on Australia’s next generation of scientists from the early stages of their careers is crucial to expanding our knowledge across all childhood cancers and reaching a day when 100% of kids with cancer survive and thrive after treatment. He says:

“The aim of Col Reynold Fellowships is to ensure extraordinary Australian scientists with great ideas are supported. This supports our mission to provide scientists with the funding they need to make discoveries, translate pioneering research, advance treatments and build support programs that will improve survival rates for all young people with cancer and allow them to thrive after treatment.

“The Col Reynolds Fellowships recognise that innovation is the only way a future cure will be found. We are proud to help power the pipeline of pioneering scientists who will be able to build on what has already been achieved. All of the individuals who are the inaugural recipients are exceptional and deserve to be congratulated on what they have already achieved.”

The Fellows are sure to deliver breakthroughs across a range of areas relating to childhood cancer. The successful candidates, along with their institutes were chosen by our expert Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and are listed below: 

Meet all our Col Reynolds Fellows

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Evangeline Jackson

Early-Career

Recipient: Dr Evangeline Jackson Institute: University of Newcastle Funding: $510,000 October 2024 - September 2027

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Michelle Tennant

Early-Career

Recipient: Dr Michelle Tennant Institute: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Funding: $508,299 September 2024 - August 2027

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Ryan Cross

Mid-Career

Recipient: Dr Ryan Cross Institute: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Funding: $618,000 January 2025 – December 2027

Col Reynold Fellow, Dr Emmy Fleuren

Mid-Career

Recipient: Dr Emmy Fleuren Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $616,293 April 2025 – April 2028

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Noemi Fuentes-Bolanos

Clinical Fellowship - Medical

Recipient: Dr Noemi Fuentes-Bolanos Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $267,000 October 2024-September 2027

Col Reynolds Fellow, Ms Rachel Edwards

Clinical Fellowship - Allied Health

Recipient: Ms Rachel Edwards Institute: Queensland University of Technology Funding: $204,000 October 2024 - September 2027

PhD Scholarship recipient, Lorna McLeman

PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Recipient: Lorna McLeman Institute: St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research Funding: $15,000 July 2024 - December 2025

PhD Scholarship recipient, Bryce Thomas

PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Recipient: Byce Thomas Institute: University of Newcastle Funding: $30,000 July 2024 - February 2027

PhD Scholarship recipient, Chelsea Valentin

PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Recipient: Chelsea Valentin Institute: Sydney Children's Hospital Network $35,000 July 2024 - December 2027

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Aaminah Khan

Early-Career

Recipient: Dr Aaminah Khan Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $460,543.20

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr David Mizrahi

Early-Career

Recipient: Dr David Mizrahi Institute: The University of Sydney Funding: $502,680.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Karin Plummer

Early-Career

Recipient: Dr Karin Plummer Institute: Griffith University Funding: $487,096.00

Col Reynolds Fellows, Dr Kenny Ip

Mid-Career

Recipient: Dr Kenny Chi Kin Ip Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $616,945.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Katherine Pillman

Mid-Career

Recipient: Dr Katherine Pillman Institute: The University of South Australia Funding: $616,945.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Teresa Sadras

Mid-Career

Recipient: Dr Teresa Sadras Institute: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Funding: $511,551.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Noa Lamm-Shalem

Mid-Career

Recipient: Dr Noa Lamm-Shalem Institute: Children’s Medical Research Institute Funding: $621,870.00

Col Reynolds Fellows Dr Rachael Lawson

Clinical Fellowships - Allied Health

Recipient: Dr Rachael Lawson Institute: Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service Funding: $204,000.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Marion Mateos

Clinical Fellowships - Medical

Recipient: Dr Marion Mateos Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $276,000.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Dr Joseph Yuan-Mou Yang

Clinical Fellowships - Medical

Institute: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Funding: $275,962.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Philipp Graber

PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Recipient: Philipp Graber Institute: Children’s Cancer Institute Funding: $25,000.00

Col Reynolds Fellow, Jacqueline Hunter

PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Recipient: Jacqueline Hunter Institute: University of Melbourne Funding: $30,000.00

Col Reynolds Fellowships, Megumi Hui Ai Lim

PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Recipient: Megumi (Meg) Lim Institute: Queensland University of Technology Funding: $20,000.00

Col Reynolds Fellowships, Dr Hannah Walker

PhD Scholarship - Top Up

Recipient: Dr Hannah Walker Institute: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Funding: $35,000.00

We're only able to commit $7.6 million to the Col Reynolds Fellowships thanks to the generous support of our community.

Funding the Col Reynolds Fellowships relies on the generous support of our visionary donor and corporate community. With continued generous support talented scientists can remain in the childhood cancer research sector as they work towards 100% The Kids Cancer Projects vision to see 100% of children, adolescents and young adults survive cancer and live with no long-term health implications caused by their treatment. 

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