Two Peter Mac Researchers inducted into the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
24 October 2024
Peter Mac physiotherapist and clinician researcher Professor Linda Denehy and clinician scientist Professor Paul James were both welcomed as Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in a ceremony on 24 October.
Professors Denehy and James were elected by their peers as leaders in their fields, who have made a significant contribution to health and medical sciences.
Professor Karin Thursky, Peter Mac Acting Executive Director of Cancer Research, said being accepted into the Academy is a highly competitive process with both Professor James and Denehy very deserving of the honour.
“In her role as Professor of Health Services Research; Allied Health at Peter Mac Professor Denehy has a focus on improving cancer patient outcomes through exercise, diet and supportive care,” she said.
“She has pioneered rehabilitation in critical care and cancer and is considered a world expert.
“Professor James is also improving cancer patient outcomes and has brought about significant changes in clinical practice and policy in heritable cancer investigation, diagnosis and management.
“He is the group leader in Familial Cancer research at Peter Mac and leads a program of research involving familial disorders, focused on translating advances in genomics into clinical care and he is also Head of Adult Genetics in the Department of Genomic Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.”
You can read more about Professor Denehy and Professor James below.
Professor Linda Denehy FAHMS, Professor of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Linda Denehy is Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne, and a registered Physiotherapist. She has a joint appointment as Professor of Health Services Research: Allied Health at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne. Her overarching aim is to improve patient outcomes though exercise, diet, and supportive care. Professor Denehy is an experienced researcher and has managed randomised controlled trials funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) that were completed on time and on budget. She is considered a world expert in rehabilitation being in the top 0.1% of scholars (Expertscape, 9/2020). She has developed an interconnected and scholarly series of research with over 40 papers published specifically in the field of oncology prehabilitation/rehabilitation in the past five years. Her research team (CanREX; supporting recovery and exercise) undertakes research predominately in patients with lung, blood gynaecological and gastrointestinal cancers and currently the team are involved in several funded randomised clinical trials across different national hospital and community networks. Professor Denehy has over 200 publications, presented over 50 invited presentations and has secured grant funding success of over AUD $21million on the topic of rehabilitation. Professor Denehy is also an experienced and passionate mentor with 40 graduate research and post-doctoral completions, 4 current graduate research students and 6 current post-doctoral fellows, five of whom are Victorian Cancer Agency Fellows from four different allied health disciplines.
Professor Paul James FAHMS, Director, Parkville Familial Cancer Clinic, The Royal Melbourne Hospital (VIC)
Professor Paul James is a skilled clinician-scientist who, through his initiatives and international collaborations, has brought about significant changes in clinical practice and policy in heritable cancer investigation, diagnosis and management. He has led the Familial Cancer Research Group (FCRG) at Peter Mac since 2016, a unique group in Australia combining clinical and laboratory research into the inherited risk of cancer. He has secured $31 million in grants, including recent funds for significant studies including the PRiMO trial. His team manages the Variants in Practice (ViP) study, a major Australian cancer cohort with over 9,000 participants. The ViP study has influenced practice guidelines and contributed to advances in genetic testing. Professor James's work is highly cited, with 153 publications in the past five years and has had significant impact on international clinical guidelines and testing panels. He also leads national and international research initiatives and serves on several expert advisory bodies to integrate research into clinical practice.