Trio of clinicians awarded 2026 WA Cancer Fellowships

Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) clinicians have been awarded three out of the four state government 2026 WA Cancer Fellowships to undertake research in the field of cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.

The almost $1 million in government funding supports clinician-led research to improve outcomes for people affected by cancer across Western Australia.

The 2026 WA Cancer Fellowship recipients from FSH are:

• Dr Claudia Leslie – studying patterns of care for upper gastrointestinal cancers to identify gaps and improve co-ordination of treatment across WA.
• Dr Li-Lin Neo – exploring how breast tissue density causes DNA damage and whether existing medications could help prevent breast cancer.
• Dr Shankari Wijayakhanthan – investigating colorectal cancer disparities among Aboriginal Australians to help inform culturally appropriate screening, diagnosis and treatment strategies.

South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) Chief Executive, Neil Doverty, said it was fantastic to see three FSH clinicians recognised for their world-class research that translates directly into better care for SMHS patients.

"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Claudia, Li-Lin and Shankari who were all selected from a highly competitive field across our state," Neil said.

"The Cancer Fellowship program is a great way to support our clinicians through specialised training and cancer research that extends beyond traditional clinical pathways.

"Each of their fellowships tackles critical areas in cancer prevention and detection, and together, they highlight the innovation within the SMHS health and research community as we continue to provide patient-centred care for all those who have received a cancer diagnosis."

Recipients will commence their fellowships in 2026 within the WA health system.

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