Federal MP for the Hunter Dan Repacholi is recognisable for two big things: his towering height, and his very impressive beard. So when word hit the street that Dan was shaving his beard – gasps were heard around town. Dan’s dedication to charity is legendary, and he’s donating the proceeds to three different charities and we’re very grateful that the Mark Hughes Foundation is one.
The team at MHF invited Dan Repacholi MP to visit the MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research to show him some of the world-class research that’s happening right here in the Hunter. Kris Buderus and Kasie Sheridan from the MHF welcomed Dan to centre HQ where he met MHF Foundation Chair and Centre Director Professor Mike Fay – who then proudly introduced the MP to the MHF Centre team.
How do you condense six research streams and teams of researchers into an hour tour? At a fast clip!
Dan walked through the office corridor on level 4, adorned with framed MHF Beanies representing each year since the Centre’s establishment, before meeting MHF Centre staff and researchers from our Imaging, Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Neuroscience Teams.
We swiftly headed downstairs to the Imaging Centre where Dr Bryan Paton, Deputy Stream Leader for Imaging, introduced Dan to Senior MRI Radiographer Shiami Luchow, before showing him around the Imaging Facility, where our research teams and patients are collaborating on and developing a greater understanding of this most challenging cancer.
At the end of the year we’re set to upgrade our MRI to one of the world’s best, thanks to funds raised by the MHF and the Men’s Trek. It will give our researchers even greater insight than ever before, allowing them to not only gain better views of the brains and tumours, but every single aspect that may well play a crucial role in unravelling the mystery of brain cancer.
We then moved up to level three where Associate Professor Paul Tooney showed Dan the MHF Biobank. More than 10 years of the Biobank, with more than 400 patient samples, means that brain cancer patients legacy lives on, helping us to understand the complex nature of brain tumours and identify targets for therapies. Dan also saw the lab spaces where new and existing drugs are tested in efforts to identify better therapies and one day, a cure for brain cancer.
Dan asked some great questions along the way, and shared his personal experience with brain cancer, losing his grandfather at an early age.
We’re thrilled to have such a strong advocate for health right here in the Hunter and could not thank Dan and the community more for his generosity.
