Cancer Research Fellowship

^{Pictured: Associate Professor Michelle Peate}

Associate Professor Michelle Peate from Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health has been awarded the Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health Victoria a Cancer Research Fellowship to lead a project aimed at improving menopause care for people after cancer. The fellowship will fund a randomised controlled trial of a patient-driven, online stepped-care platform designed to help cancer survivors manage menopausal symptoms that commonly follow treatment.

Menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats affect a large proportion of female cancer survivors and can substantially reduce quality of life, disrupt sleep and undermine adherence to ongoing cancer therapies. Among people with a history of breast cancer, 74% experience menopausal symptoms and up to 63% report moderate-to-severe symptoms. The platform developed by A/Prof Peate seeks to fill gaps in access to care, particularly for women in regional or resource-limited areas, by offering a scalable, low-cost model of survivorship care.

The research will test whether a stepped-care, patient-led digital solution can reduce symptom severity and improve wellbeing. The project includes stakeholder consultation, qualitative interviews with people affected by cancer and clinicians, iterative platform refinement, and a phased implementation plan. Key milestones are participant recruitment and governance setup in 2026, data collection and interviews in 2027–2028, and final analysis and translation into practice by 2029.

A/Prof Peate emphasises the human need behind the research:

I’ve heard repeatedly how women feel they are expected to “just cope” after cancer. This research will improve their quality of life.

The fellowship recognises the potential of this innovative model to transform survivorship care beyond menopause management, offering a template for addressing other chronic symptoms that follow cancer treatment.