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Brought to you by the COGNO Outreach and Education Committee.
Gliomas are the most common form of brain cancer in Australia. Implementing effective early detection and management strategies is essential to improving outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for those affected.
This masterclass aims to provide clinicians and trainees with an in-depth, multidisciplinary understanding of current and emerging strategies in the management of low-grade glioma (LGG), with a focus on IDH-mutant gliomas, through expert-led lectures and interactive case-based discussions.
At the conclusion of this masterclass, participants will be able to:
- Understand the clinical aspects of low-grade glioma and their implications for diagnosis and treatment.
- Interpret relevant neuroimaging, histopathology and molecular findings to help inform clinical decision-making.
- Apply current best-practice approaches to the management of low-grade glioma, including surgical, radiotherapeutic, and medical strategies.
- Implement multidisciplinary perspectives to real-world clinical scenarios through interactive case discussions.
- Recognise current challenges and emerging trends shaping the future of low-grade glioma management.
Chair
Dr. Laveniya Satgunaseelan, Neuropathologist (NSW)
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Dr Laveniya Satgunaseelan is a pathologist in the Department of Neuropathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. Her main role is in the provision of molecular neuropathology services. She is the current secretary/treasurer of the Australia and New Zealand Society for Neuropathology. Her interests include cancer genomics and health equity in pathology.
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Dr. Joseph Sia, Radiation Oncologist (VIC)
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Joe Sia is a Radiation Oncologist in the Neuro-Oncology Unit at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and a Senior Clinical Research Fellow at WEHI. He did his medical training in New Zealand, radiation oncology training and laboratory-based PhD in Australia. He leads the Neuro-Oncology Translational Radiobiology Research Programme, a collaboration between Peter Mac and WEHI.
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Speakers
Dr Edward Chan, Neuroradiologist (NSW)
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Dr Edward Chan is a neuroradiologist with a public appointment at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney and works in private practice. While completing his MBBS at the University of Sydney, he concurrently obtained a MPhil for his published research on intracranial haemorrhage. Following general radiology training at Liverpool Hospital and various other major tertiary hospitals in Sydney, he embarked on a neuroradiology fellowship at Monash Health and regularly participated in the neuro-oncology, neuroscience and head and neck oncology multidisciplinary meetings.
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Prof Frank Saran, Radiation Oncologist (SA)
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Prof. Saran a senior radiation oncologist in Adelaide, South Australia, and has three decades of experience managing paediatric and adult patients with primary and secondary CNS tumours as well as other rare cancers.
Prof. Saran graduated at the University of Düsseldorf in Germany in 1992 and completed his training as clinical oncology. After a clinical research fellowship in London, he has worked as a consultant clinical oncologist at Velindre Hospital Cardiff (UK), the Royal Marsden Hospital London (UK), Auckland City Hospital Auckland (NZ) and the Royal Adelaide Hospital Adelaide. In addition, he holds an appointment at the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research (ABCPTR) and is an appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University of South Australia.
Prof. Saran has been a recognised national and international speaker and has given keynote lectures at meetings around the world.
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Dr Krishnan Iyengar, Neuropathologist (QLD)
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Dr Krishnan Iyengar is a Neuropathologist working for Pathology Queensland, RBWH, Herston. He has over 30 years’ experience as a specialist pathologist in Australia and overseas. Having previously worked in cytopathology, genitourinary pathology and dermatopathology, his current area of interest is neuro-oncology as well as all other aspects of neuropathology. He has research publications in international journals in these fields.
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Ms Marina Kastelan, Nurse Practitioner (NSW)
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Marina is the Neuro Oncology Nurse Practitioner based at North Shore Private Hospital in Sydney.
She completed a Master of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner & is currently endorsed as an NP in NSW. She has been in her current role since 2008 – this role encompasses coordination & management of newly diagnosed primary brain tumour patients; including education & coordination through the often difficult & confusing multiple modalities of ongoing treatment. As well as the patient, there is a great focus on supporting the Caregivers of people with primary brain tumours also.
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Dr Richard Shaw, Neurosurgeon (NSW)
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Dr Richard Shaw is a Sydney-based neurosurgeon currently working at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. In 2019, he was selected as the top candidate in Australia and New Zealand to commence advanced neurosurgical training.
During this time, he also served on the neurosurgical Surgical Education and Training board as the sole trainee representative in 2022. Dr Shaw has a subspecialty interest in complex brain tumours, including intra-operative adjuncts to optimise resection safety and efficiency. He is due to travel to Dallas, Texas next month to complete a fellowship in open and endoscopic skullbase oncology and cerebrovascular surgery.
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Dr Alex Yuile, Medical Oncologist (NSW)
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Dr Alex Yuile is a
Medical Oncologist with a keen interest in primary brain tumours. After
completing his fellowship in neuro-oncology and translational research
at Royal North Shore Hospital he began his PhD focusing on IDH-mutant
gliomas. Dr Yuile is currently working as a neuro-oncologist at Royal
North Shore Hospital and has particular interest in IDH-mutant gliomas
and neuro-oncology clinical trials. He is a member of the Scientific
Advisory Committee for the Co-operative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology
and the EviQ Neuro-Oncology Reference Committee.
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Additional Panellists
A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh, Radiation Oncologist (NSW)
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A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh is a Senior Staff Specialist in Radiation Oncology at the Liverpool Hospital and a Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales with over 20 years post fellowship experience in neuro-oncology care, clinical trials, imaging, supportive care and survivorship research across both adult and paediatric cancer. She is the Director on the COGNO Ltd Board and Chair of COSA Neuro-oncology Group, she has served in the past as the Deputy Chair of the COGNO Scientific Advisory Committee. She has been a key investigator across a broad portfolio of successful Australian and international brain cancer trials including the COGNO trial portfolio, with over $26m in Chief Investigator involvement.
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A/Prof Andrew Morokoff, Neurosurgeon (VIC)
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Andrew Morokoff is a neurosurgeon who completed training in Australia in 2006 and then continued to 2 years of fellowship training, in neuro-oncology at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, USA followed by a paediatric neuro-oncology fellowship in Paris, France. He also holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne in the molecular biology of brain tumours. In 2008 he returned to Melbourne to take up a combined clinical /research position as Neurosurgeon and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Surgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital and was appointed head of the Brain Tumour Laboratory. The focus of the lab is brain tumour-associated epilepsy as well as molecular biology of brain tumours, especially targeted treatments and stem cell biology of glioblastoma. He has published more than 60 articles in high-quality peer-reviewed journals, has 7 book chapters and has disseminated his research at international meetings such as the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
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A/Prof Hao-Wen Sim, Medical Oncologist (NSW)
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A/Prof Hao-Wen Sim is a Sydney-based medical oncologist specialising in adult neuro-oncology and biostatistics. A graduate with Honours from the University of Melbourne (receiving the James Stewart Bequest for Surgery and a place on the Margaret Whyte Honour Board), he also holds a Master of Biostatistics from the University of Sydney, where he earned multiple prestigious accolades, including the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia Star Graduate Award. He further honed his expertise with a neuro-oncology fellowship at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. A/Prof Sim plays key roles in advancing brain cancer research as Deputy Chair of the COGNO Scientific Advisory Committee, Chair of the International Clinical Research Subcommittee, and Clinical Lead for COGNO at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre. His clinical practice includes treating neuro-oncology patients at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. His research focuses on the development and implementation of national brain cancer trials.
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Dr Jim Whittle, Medical Oncologist (VIC)
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Dr. Jim Whittle is a Neuro-Oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer
Centre and Co-Head of the Brain Cancer Research Laboratory at WEHI. An
emerging leader in Neuro-Oncology, he combines a deep understanding of
basic biology with innovative drug development through patient-derived
models and novel Phase 0 clinical trials.
Dr. Whittle holds multiple leadership roles, including Co-Director of
Research Strategy at the Brain Cancer Centre, Management Committee
Member as well as Chair of the Outreach and Education Committee for
COGNO, and member of the research advisory committee for the Mark Hughes
Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research. He is also dedicated to
enhancing care and clinical trial enrolment for Adolescents and Young
Adults (AYAs) with brain tumours, and online survivorship and support
initiatives like braintumoursonline.org (led together with Prof Kate
Drummond at RMH).
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