ProfessorAnna DeFazio

The research in the team is funded by the Fussell Family Foundation. Our research covers several areas: (1) Prevention research: Our research utilises epidemiological studies to evaluate risk factors for ovarian and also endometrial cancers in order to develop better strategies for their prevention. Current studies are focused on understanding racial and ethnic differences in ovarian cancer risk factors using international ovarian cancer consortia datasets [Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC), Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium (OC3)]. (2) Tertiary prevention research: Our goal is to improve the health of women diagnosed with gynaecological cancers by studying modifiable factors that may influence survival following a cancer diagnosis. Current projects focus on how the use of pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis aspirin and non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use may influence survival among ovarian cancer patients in the context of patient characteristics and tumour immune marker profiles. This project uses the exceptional resources in the Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium (OC3). (3) Modelling the future of ovarian cancer: The team is developing an innovative predictive modelling platform, called Policy1–Ovary. This highly sophisticated tool is being used to assess the potential impact of different interventions for ovarian cancer. Specific projects include development of histotype-specific models for epithelial ovarian cancer in Australia with a focus on evaluating opportunistic salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes during a pelvic procedure) for the prevention of the most common ovarian cancer (serous tubo-ovarian cancer).