Scientific Advisory Panel
At The Breast Cancer Research Trust, our goal is to support only leading-edge research with outstanding researchers in our commitment to searching for radical results for a new, brighter, breast cancer-free future. In order to do this, we seek the advice and assistance of expert researchers nationally. We are indebted to the members of the Scientific Advisory Panel who have given of their time and expertise freely to assist us review grant applications.
The Scientific Advisory Panel recommends to the Board of Trustees the research grants to be awarded, based on the principle of peer review. Scientific Advisory Panel Members:
- Mr John Harman • Chair
- Prof Iain Martin
- Dr Jackie Blue
- Dr Nicole McCarthy
- Dr Pat Alley
Dr John Harman
MBChB FRACS Breast and General Surgeon
Founding and current trustee of The Breast Cancer Research Trust. John Harman graduated from Otago University and is now a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. In November 1993 he set up New Zealand's first breast centre in Auckland. John is a director of the St Marks Group, which has been instrumental in leading women’s health issues and in particular breast cancer management in New Zealand.
Internationally, he is a member of the following:
- American Society of Breast Disease
- American College of Surgeons
- Breast Society International Breast Cancer Study Group
In 1999 he was successful in his efforts (alongside other people in the field) in lobbying the Government to set up a nationwide screening programme. Subsequent to that, he set up New Zealand's largest screening programme which currently screens over 35,000 women per year.
John’s research interests include ultrasound, screening ultrasound of the breast, breast cancer reconstruction and psychosocial support for breast cancer patients. In 1999 he was awarded entrepreneur of the year for the service industry, a nationwide award presented by Ernst & Young in recognition of services to the community.
Professor Iain Martin
MBChB (Hons), FRCS, MD, MEd (Dist), FRACS
Professor Iain Martin was appointed to the role of Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland in September 2005.
Professor Martin joined the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences in 2000 when he was appointed as Professor of Surgery. This followed an academic career at the University of Leeds where in addition to obtaining an MD and working as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Surgery, Professor Martin obtained a Masters degree with distinction in Education.
A Fellow of both the Royal College of Surgeons (England) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Professor Martin’s clinical and research interests focussed on gastrointestinal disease, in particular cancer. At the University of Leeds Professor Martin was also very involved with the introduction of laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery in the early 1990’s.
In April 2003 Professor Martin was appointed Academic Head of Surgery and then in March 2004 Iain took up the role of Head of the School of Medicine for the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.
Dr Jackie Blue MBChB
Dr Jackie Blue, formerly a breast physician in private practice, is a Past President of the Australasian Society of Breast Physician and a current member of the Auckland Breast Cancer Study Group. She resigned as an elected member of the Auckland District Health Board on assuming her current position as a Member of Parliament where she has an Associate Health spokesperson role.
Dr Nicole McCarthy
MBBS (Hons), MHSc, FRACP Medical Oncologist
Nicole McCarthy is a Medical Oncologist at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Brisbane. Nicole obtained her medical degree from the University of Queensland and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. After completing her medical oncology training in Brisbane, Nicole undertook a three year fellowship in medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda where her clinical research interests focused on breast cancer including new antiangiogenesis agents and inflammatory breast cancer. During her fellowship, Nicole completed a Masters in Health Sciences in Clinical Trial Design through Duke University.
On returning to Brisbane, Nicole helped establish the Breast Cancer Clinical Trials Unit at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. In 2004, she was awarded the Breast Cancer Research Trust Senior Fellowship through the University of Auckland. Her breast cancer research in New Zealand involved neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the establishment of a pilot breast cancer tissue collection study and the use of new agents in the treatment of inflammatory breast cancer. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Breast Cancer Advocacy Coalition, a consumer advocacy group established to lobby government for better screening and management of breast cancer for NZ women.
Nicole is a member of Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group and sits on their Scientific Advisory Committee, American Society Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology Group of Australia. She has also published in a number of peer review journals and has presented her work at national and international meetings.
Dr Pat Alley
MBChB FRACS General Surgeon
Pat Alley is Director of Clinical Training for the Waitemata District Health Board. He graduated M.B.Ch.B from Otago and was made a Fellow of the RACS in 1973.
Pat is currently Associate Professor of Surgery in the University Department of Surgery at the University of Auckland School of Medicine. Further he is a vocational registered general surgeon and his major clinical research interest has been in bowel cancer having been the recipient of a number of grants from the Auckland Division of the Cancer Society of NZ. Pat is also involved with research on the impairment of wound healing occasioned by stress in surgical patients while he coordinates the Auckland activities of the Doctors' Health Advisory Service.
He is a member of the Clinical Ethics Advisory Groups at Waitemata and the Mercy Ascot Hospitals.