Dunedin Colorectal Cohort

21/11/2024

Where DNA is our cell's blueprint or instruction manual, we can think of RNA as one of the workers which help carry out the instructions written in our DNA. RNA plays many roles to help our cells function.
We are proud to share soon-to-be Dr. Holly Pinkney's work from her time in the Diermeier lab, looking at the role of RNAs in predicting the return of bowel cancer and its potential to influence treatment decisions.

As always, thank you to all participants and whānau for enabling this mahi.

Find the University article here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/bowel-cancer-breakthrough
Find the publication here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41698-024-00728-1

Colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits significant genetic and epigenetic diversity, evolving into sub-clonal populations with varied metastatic potentials and treatment responses. Predicting metastatic disease in CRC patients remains challenging, underscoring the need for reliable biomarkers. While most....

14/11/2024

The DNCRC is excited to be working with Associate Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee on his upcoming project investigating potential drivers of Early Onset Colorectal Cancer (EOCRC). EOCRC describes bowel cancer diagnosed in people aged 50 and under.
Read the full post attached and well done Chatterjee Laboratory!

14/05/2024

The Dunedin Colorectal Cohort values its working collaborations with a diverse number of groups, including clinical staff. Recently, the DNCRC's assistant research fellow spoke with surgical theatre staff about their role in tissue collection for research. Talks like this foster discussion, enabling different perspectives and the opportunity to learn from one another.

08/04/2024

DNCRC collaborators, Assoc. Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee and Dr. Euan Rodgers (Dept. Pathology, University of Otago) shared their extensive and impactful work in epigenetics at the Colorectal Nurse Specialists Symposium, last Friday. Chatterjee's lab investigates how changes to the methylation of DNA (epigenetic markers) may drive metastatic spread in colorectal cancer. It is great to see how their mahi continues to grow in this space.
Chatterjee Laboratory

07/03/2024

A research team led by Otago Biochemistry’s Dr Sarah Diermeier has just been awarded a grant to improve an therapeutic molecule that will treat an aggressive form of breast cancer.

07/03/2024

Last December Brad Devery (PhD Candidate, Kemp Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Otago) presented his poster at the annual Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) Conference; investigating the role of myeloid (immune) cell populations in colorectal cancer, through a mātauranga Māori lens. Brad has been working to demonstrate the complexity and diversity of immune cells in cancer whilst pursuing research equity for Māori through targeted research outcomes for communities.


Sciences at University of Otago Health Sciences at Otago

27/09/2023

Dunedin Colorectal Cohort-supported researchers from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Otago, presented at the New Zealand Society for Oncology (NZSO) Conference held in Napier last week.

Did you know cancer talks to, and can trick, your immune system?
Rory Costello, PhD Candidate (Kemp Laboratory), shared his work investigating how cancer-associated cell types influence the immune system of patients with colorectal cancer.

The immune response to cancer can differ largely between people, so there is a need to consider this when looking at new ways to treat cancer. Dr. Kirsten Ward-Hartstonge (Kemp Laboratory) presented her work which proposes a way to incorporate complex and patient-specific immune responses in patients with cancer participating in clinical trials.

It is truly rewarding to see the amazing mahi UoO researchers can do with gifted patient tissue and data through their collaboration with the DNCRC.

Health Sciences at Otago

22/09/2023

Identifying biologically meaningful immune cell populations. Dr. Kirsten Ward-Hartstonge (Kemp Lab, Dept. Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago) presenting some awesome patient-derived immunology data at the New Zealand Society for Oncology conference in Napier. The DNCRC supports a lot of research investigating the role of the immune system in cancer. Thanks for sharing your mahi, Kirsten

04/07/2023

At the end of May, some of the Dunedin Colorectal Cohort presented at the Gut Health Network Patient Forum. The GHN Patient Forum was an awesome opportunity to share our work with the community and thank the patients who have made this work possible.

Rory Costello explained how the use of powerful microscopic imaging technologies can reveal the importance of complex cell types present in colorectal cancer.
Holly Pinkney shared the complexities of spatial transcriptomics and how this technique may aid the detection of novel colorectal cancer biomarkers in patient tissue.

Thanks to the Gut Health Network for hosting!

Image 1: Associate Professor Sharon Pattison (Chair, DNCRC), Holly Pinkney (PhD candidate supervised by Dr Sarah Diermeier, Dept. of Biochemistry), Sonya Fenton (Assistant Research Fellow, DNCRC), Rory Costello (PhD candidate, supervised by Professor Roslyn Kemp, Dept. Microbiology and Immunology).

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Otago
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago
Health Sciences at Otago
Gut Health Network

08/06/2023

The Dunedin Colorectal Cohort (DNCRC) would like to thank the University of Otago, Cancer Research Trust NZ and the Centre for Translational Cancer Research for their ongoing support. Of course, thank you to our nearly 2000 patients who have participated in DNCRC-supported research, over the years. Our work would not be possible otherwise!

The DNCRC have been operating since 1995 to research the spread and development of cancer, by facilitating access to patient's tissue and clinical data. Currently, we are working with several groups across the University of Otago to answer questions about colorectal cancer. DNCRC-supported research aims to improve patient outcomes in the future, which could mean improving the way we diagnose, treat or even prevent cancer.

Picture: Sonya Fenton, Assistant Research Fellow of the DNCRC, presenting at the Gut Health Network's Patient Forum.