Join HSANZ
On behalf of HSANZ Council, we are delighted to announce the position of HSANZ Company Secretary has been appointed, and we would like to introduce and warmly welcome Dr Jackie Yim, who will be commencing on Monday 19th May 2025.
Jackie is a healthcare leader with a PhD in Health Economics and over a decade of experience spanning clinical practice, research, and operations. His career has focused on advancing patient outcomes, driving innovation, and improving healthcare systems—particularly in oncology. He has held roles overseeing multidisciplinary teams, leading research initiatives, and developing programs that strengthen both patient care and clinical research. Jackie is also a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE) at the University of Technology Sydney.
With a unique blend of clinical, research, and operational expertise, Jackie excels at integrating insights across these domains to deliver sustainable, evidence-based solutions to complex healthcare challenges. He is nearing completion of his MBA and the AICD Company Directors Course, and looks forward to supporting the HSANZ Council in advancing the haematology profession through strong governance and strategic leadership.
HSANZ Council is excited to be working with Jackie; whose expertise, passion and leadership promises to propel HSANZ closer to fulfilling our inspiring Vision and Mission.
Jackie will be initially contactable at hsanz@hsanz.org.au and will be located in Sydney, NSW.
Due to delays in global regulatory approvals of the manufacturing site, Pegylated Interferon alfa2a (Pegasys) is anticipated to be of possible critical supply by 1 June 2025. Please refer to https://apps.tga.gov.au/prod/MSI/search/ for TGA updates on its shortage.
HSANZ advises prescribers and consumer communities to begin open conversations discussing personalised strategies to maximise and optimise current Pegasys supply, while minimising loss of disease control. Prescribers may need to consider avoiding starting new patients on Pegasys until the supply issue is resolved. If you have ongoing patients on Pegasys it may be necessary to have a back-up plan in case the supply becomes critical.
HSANZ MPN Specialist leads as the largest haematology group prescribers of Pegasys have begun discussions and coordination of mitigative strategies to maximise utility of prescribed supply of Pegasys. A video link is availale here where Dr Cecily Forsyth discusses possible strategies to consider in your practice.
Please note that patients should be strongly encouraged to discuss with their primary haematologists before utilising any change to their prescription or delivery.
HSANZ has begun to disseminate and share this information to the wider range of prescribers with various partner organisations. We encourage members to refer to the HSANZ news page for pertinent up to date information about this anticipated shortage. We would encourage close engagement with your respective state MPN and CTCL leads for any additional advice. In addition please feel free to forward any immediate queries to hsanz@hsanz.org.au and we will facilitate communication and connection.
Thank you.
A/Prof Hui-Peng Lee
HSANZ President
Developed by and for the Australian haematology community, these expert-driven, evidence-based guidelines offer:
Access the full guidelines here.
This initiative is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, facilitated by HSANZ, and supported by the Blood Cancer Taskforce and the Leukaemia Foundation.
Join us in Perth, Australia from 26-29 October 2025 for an exciting joint meeting of:
Submit your abstract today and be part of this exciting meeting!
HSANZ congratulates Rithin Nedumannil on being awarded an HSANZ / Leukaemia Foundation PhD scholarship to commence in 2025.
Rithin Nedumannil is a dual-trained haematologist, currently completing a Fellowship in Acute Leukaemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He has research interests in the use of novel targeted therapies in myeloid malignancies and the molecular mechanisms that lead to treatment resistance.
Lay summary of project:
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer with poor survival outcomes and around 900 people are diagnosed with the condition in Australia each year. A protein called menin is essential for the growth of cancer cells in certain subtypes of AML. Menin inhibitors are a promising therapy that has recently shown potential in treating these AML subtypes. However, resistance to this therapy can develop, making the treatment less effective over time. Dr Nedumannil’s research will use advanced technologies to investigate this resistance in an attempt to identify which genetic and epigenetic changes help leukaemia cells survive despite menin inhibition. By integrating data from these cutting-edge techniques, Dr Nedumannil hopes to uncover new therapeutic approaches to overcome resistance. This research has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients with menin-dependent AML by providing a deeper understanding of the disease and paving the way for more effective therapies.
Clinical Associate Professor Tracy King was unable to attend Blood this year to receive the HSANZ Leadership in Haematology Award in Brisbane, so was invited to the NSW meeting last night to receive her Award from Council member Adam Bryant. Tracy was the co-founder and past President of the HSANZ Nurses Group and has been tireless in haematology and specifically Myeloma both in Australia and globally. She is recognised internationally for her research and leadership in Myeloma
The photographer was very busy as usual at Blood and below are a few photos from the conference and Gala Dinner, including your Council under the jacaranda tree
Blood 2024 was a huge success, with compliments received from both delegates and sponsors, saying that this was a very friendly and collaborative conference.
One of the most important, rewarding and positive aspects of the Society is the support we provide for members to pursue haematology research through our Scholarships and Fellowships programs.
It is with great pleasure that we congratulate this year's recipients.
HSANZ LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION NEW INVESTIGATOR PHD SCHOLARSHIPS 2024 FOR 2025
Elizabeth Goodall
Elizabeth Goodall is a clinical haematologist and early career researcher at Monash Health, with specific interest in the patient’s end-to-end experience throughout their journey of lymphoma. Her PhD will examine the current gaps in Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PRO/Ms) collection and reporting, and then develop a more uniform reporting structure to accurately measure the patient’s experience during their cancer care. She aims to develop a framework that allows the streamlined use of patient-reported information to guide future drug development for better cancer therapies.
Sean Harrop
Sean Harrop is a dual-trained haematologist, currently undertaking a Fellowship in Aggressive Lymphoma at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He has research interests in novel immunotherapies in lymphoma and the mechanisms that lead to treatment resistance.
It is still unclear how CD4+ T cells contribute to killing DLBCL tumour cells after TCE treatment and if, in some circumstances, they have deleterious effects leading to disease progression or relapse. In his PhD project, Sean aims to dissect these T cell responses to TCE therapy and identify new immune targets for future combination therapies for DLBCL patients.
HSANZ New Investigator PhD Scholarship 2024 for 2025
Nathanael Lucas
Nathanael Lucas is a final year Joint FRACP/FRCPA Paediatric Haematology trainee who completed the majority of his training in Christchurch, New Zealand, and recently completed a Fellowship in Paediatric Haematology/Cellular Therapies at Manchester Children’s Hospital. He has a special interest in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes and optimising treatment for New Zealand patients.
Causes of Bone Marrow Failure (BMF) can be inherited or acquired. Inherited conditions often present at earlier ages and may be associated with additional clinical features and specific genetic findings in some, but not all, patients. In contrast, onset of acquired BMF can occur at any age. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve treatment outcomes of these conditions, some of which can progress to haematological and other cancers. Nathanael aims to expand the Aplastic Anaemia & Other Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes Registry (AAR) to include and analyse data from New Zealand, then create a model that can help determine whether a patient is more likely to have a germline or acquired BMF. Lastly, he wants to examine certain mutations known or suspected to be more prevalent in indigenous populations, and understand the implications of these diseases for patients and their families.
HSANZ New Investigator Clinical Fellowships 2024 for 2025 - we acknowledge support from Janssen and Novartis
Katie Lewis
Katie Lewis is an early career clinical and laboratory haematologist based in Perth, Western Australia. Her professional interests include genetic haematopathology, flow cytometry and the diagnosis and management of acute leukaemias. She is the recipient of a 2024 Western Australian Cancer Fellowship and is currently undertaking twelve months of haematopathology training in cytogenetics, to complete a RCPA extension of scope of practice certification.
Trung Ngo
Trung Ngo is a final year haematology trainee. He is interested in the intersect between myeloid malignancies and molecular studies. He will be based in the genomics laboratory at University College London Hospitals (UCLH).
Trung will focus on identifying biomarkers in myeloproliferative neoplasm with reduced life expectancy due to a predisposition to thrombosis and transformation to myelofibrosis or acute leukaemia. A clear map of the genomic landscape of essential thrombocythaemia is an area of unmet need. Trung will be based in UCLH’s spatial transcriptomics facility, where he will focus on identifying biomarkers in myeloproliferative neoplasms to aid with diagnosis and therapeutic targets.
HSANZ / ALLG Clinical Trials Fellowship 2024 for 2025
Arina Martynchyk
Arina Martynchyk is a qualified Haematologist from Ukraine. She had been working at the Department of Lymohoproliferative Diseases of the National Cancer Institute in Kyiv from 2007 to 2022, where Arina and her colleagues set up autologous stem cell transplantation. In 2022 she relocated to Australia where she is retraining as a haematologist (due to the requirement of AHPRA) and working as a Research Fellow at Austin Health and ONJ Cancer Research Institute.
Arina and her colleagues’ research project “Hearing Patient Voices in Blood Cancer Research: Patient Reported Outcome use, implementation and reporting in trials conducted by the ALLG” aims to fully analyse the use of Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs), methodology and results reported in ALLG clinical trials. The results will help to define the optimal PROs and the most appropriate timepoints of their application, improve development of new trials, aim to inform patient experience of treatments employed by the high-quality studies of the ALLG, and enhance the reputation for PRO research of this leading national trial group.
Albert Baikie Memorial Medal and Award
Yin Yuan (right), presented by President Peng Lee
At the HSANZ AGM Two Life Members were welcomed:
Anthony (Tony) Dodds
Pauline Warburton
HSANZ Mentorship in Haematology Award
Ian Irving
HSANZ Leadership in Haematology Award
Tracy King
Carl de Gruchy Medal and Oration
Prof Paula Marlton
Pitney Fellow 2025-2026
Prof Wendy Erber
HSANZ Nurses Group Awards
Best First Time Oral Presenter: Emily Minopoulos with Andy Steele, HSANZ Nurses Group Lead
Best Poster: Robyn Western
Best Oral Presentation: Ty Simpson
HSANZ Nurses Travel Grants
HSANZ has endorsed the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA) VAD Guidelines, Section 2: Vessel Health and Preservation
The launch event will be on Tuesday 19 March 2023
In 2021, CNSA launched the first topic of the Vascular Access Clinical Practice Guidelines: Patency, occlusion prevention and management. These guidelines have been implemented in healthcare settings across the country.
Since then, CNSA's Vascular Access Device and Infusion Therapy (VAD & IT) SPN has been working hard to draft Section 2: Vessel Health and Preservation, which incorporates device selection and difficult intravenous access for patients with cancer.
We invite you to join us for the on-line launch event on Tuesday 19 March - click here to find out more.
Despite the Australian health workforce becoming increasingly diverse, women from culturally or racially diverse backgrounds continue to face barriers relating to both gender and racial and cultural background. These barriers contribute to their under-representation in the profession and ultimately negative disparate outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals.
As part of our Link and Grow pillar of activities, The Link at ANU is delivering a Mentoring Program in 2024 which aims to grow the careers of mid-career culturally diverse (non-Anglo Celtic) women in medicine. The inaugural pilot program has been developed in partnership with Franklin Women and facilitated by Seredis Leadership consultants. It will also support mentors to better understand the unique experiences of culturally diverse women in the workplace and to become inclusive mentors and leaders.
The Link and Grow Mentoring Program is a 6-month virtual program that combines informal mentoring sessions between mentees and mentors, with facilitated and structured workshops and events. The workshops provide career, mentoring and inclusive leadership development of mentees and mentors. They also provide a safe place for participants to network, and to share and reflect on the experiences of culturally diverse women in medicine and discuss the role of leaders in shifting culture within teams and workplaces.
Individuals who identify as culturally or racially diverse women, and who are at the middle stage of their career (~3-12 years post fellowship), looking for a mentor and peer-support community to grow their careers. We expect mentees will want to mentor within the program in future.
Individuals of any gender who are trained in medicine and who are now in leadership roles in the healthcare and health and medical research sector. This includes but is not restricted to clinician researchers, specialist medical practitioners or executives who are committed to inclusive leadership practices. Mentors are not required to identify as culturally diverse.
Applications are open to individuals who would like to participate in the 2024 Mentoring Program as either mentees or mentors until Friday 29 March 2024.
There is a participation fee for Mentees to take part in this 6-month, expertly facilitated mentoring program. If you are interested in taking part, please contact the Link via email at international.health@anu.edu.au for associated costs. There is no fee for mentors to participate
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