Transplant Research Appeal into the Incidence of Cancer Among Transplant Recipients

01 January 2010

In recent years two people close to Transplant Australia have lost their lives from cancer. Both had enjoyed many years of health following transplantation but with those additional years came long-term reliance on immunosuppressant medication.

The link between anti rejection medication and health side effects is an issue that researchers, physicians and pharmaceutical companies are striving to solve.

Mark Cocks, former CEO of Transplant Australia, passed away three years ago from a Melanoma he contracted after an extra 27 years of life following two kidney transplants.

And this year Paul Andrews, one of our board members and an esteemed former Member of the Western Australia Parliament, died from lung cancer. Paul, like Mark, had received two transplants and managed some remarkable personal achievements in his life.

Transplants save lives and there is nothing greater than the gift of life. However a transplanted organ comes hand-in-hand with anti-rejection medication, vital to keep recipients alive and healthy.

The Mark Cocks Research Scholarship was established in honour of Mark. It is an annual scholarship awarded to an outstanding researcher by the Transplant Society of Australia and New Zealand. The 2010 scholarship has been awarded to renal transplant consultant Dr Robert Carroll to research skin cells after transplantation and cancer rates.

We need your help to support Dr Robert Carroll in this important research project. We wish to expand our research program and offer more scholarships to research ways to improve outcomes in transplantation.

Chris Thomas, Chief Executive Officer

Donate here - Please provide a donation towards the Mark Cocks Research Scholarship and help us improve the life of transplant recipients. (Nominate the Transplant Research Program)