On The Frontlinewith Dr Amy Wilson

The White Shirt Campaign has been fortunate to attract high profile ambassadors, who have been instrumental in spreading vital awareness for ovarian cancer over the last 13 years. However, it is the unassuming research scientists on the frontline who continue to fight this insidious disease.

Photographed by Hugh Davies

Amy Wilson in Witchery x Maticevski White Shirt

On The Frontlinewith Dr Amy Wilson

Based in Melbourne’s Hudson Institute, Dr Amy Wilson is a dedicated, passionate ovarian cancer researcher tasked with the immense job of finding a new, effective treatment for ovarian cancer – something that hasn’t been done in over 20 years. We talk to her about completing her PhD, career highlights and her current work.

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What lead you to become a research scientist?

As a kid I was always interested in science, but when I finished school I was torn about my career path so I actually started a music degree! After a year I decided to pursue my interest in science by transferring to a science degree. I think what drew me to science was the unknown – I not only wanted to know what was happening at a biological and cellular level, but why. The biggest driver for me becoming a research scientist was the passing of my grandmother – unfortunately we lost her to Motor Neurone Disease, to which there is no treatment or cure. There are so many diseases that have more questions than answers, and I wanted do so something about this.

What lead you to specialise in ovarian cancer research?

Like many Australians, I didn’t know anything about ovarian cancer; it’s something that wasn’t talked about or is often confused with cervical cancer. Once I learnt about the frightening statistics: that only 46% of women or, people with ovaries will survive an ovarian cancer diagnosis; that most are diagnosed in the late stages and that the cancer is likely to reoccur; I felt like I needed to contribute. There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer and there is a large gap in effective treatments – I want to help change that.

There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer and there is a large gap in effective treatments – I want to help change that.

Congratulations on completing your PhD. Explain your PhD focus and what the whole experience was like.

Thank you! My PhD was focused on testing a drug which is usually used for type 2 diabetes to treat ovarian cancer as a new type of immunotherapy. Immunotherapies are therapies that boost the immune system to help fight the cancer, and they work pretty well for other cancers such as melanoma, but they often fail when used to treat ovarian cancer. We found that this drug could improve immune responses targeted against ovarian cancer.

I loved it, but to be honest, a PhD is hard! I was working full time in the lab and even though I had a scholarship, I had a few odd jobs like demonstrating in a university lab, and at the same time I was analysing data, writing up results, reports and papers. The most accurate thing someone told me was “a PhD is a marathon” – there are times where everything is going well and you’re running at a steady pace, and there are other times that you struggle to stay upright. Something I learnt the hard way throughout my PhD, is that mental health is the most important thing.

Following your PhD, you have moved over to Dr. Maree Bilandzic’s project within the Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers laboratory working specifically on therapeutic targeting of the leader cell population in ovarian cancer. Why is this project so important?

Yes, I am so excited to be working on Dr. Maree’s project! One of the biggest issues with ovarian cancer is that the disease often returns, at which point it often doesn’t respond to chemotherapy. This project is aimed at targeting the deadliest population of ovarian cancer cells called ‘Leader cells’. When Leader cells are eliminated, resistant ovarian cancer cells become sensitive to chemotherapy again.

This project is so important because it addresses the now – the people that already have ovarian cancer – in the hopes that it provides an alternative for those who have exhausted all other treatment options.

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Any career highlight to date?

My career highlight would probably have to be winning the Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School Early Career Ovarian Cancer Research Travel Award for Women in 2019 – a wonderful initiative run by students at the school. This award allowed me to travel to Kumamoto, Japan where I presented my PhD findings and met with several leading researchers from all over the world. I am also extremely grateful for the opportunity the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and Witchery have given me to raise awareness and talk about the importance of our research on this and other platforms.

Can you tell us how the Witchery White Shirt Campaign funding has helped your work at the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation?

Firstly, the White Shirt Campaign (WSC) raises much needed awareness for ovarian cancer. Over 50% of the population incorrectly believes a pap smear can diagnose ovarian cancer – this is completely false. This campaign starts the conversation about the vague and non-specific symptoms of ovarian cancer – including abdominal pain, bloating, feeling full, urinating often, fatigue, bleeding between periods or changes in bowel habits. I often bug my friends and family with this extremely important information because recognising these symptoms early and discussing them openly with your doctor is essential.

The WSC of course raises vital funds for ovarian cancer research which has allowed the Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers group to advance a potential early detection test to clinical trials, where it has shown promise in a small, high-risk cohort of women. The WSC also provides us with funds that allow us to develop new treatments for those currently battling ovarian cancer.

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What are your hopes for the future, when it comes to ovarian cancer research?

My hope is that no one lives in fear of ovarian cancer. I hope that one day we get to the stage where screening for ovarian cancer is part of a woman’s regular medical check-up, much like a mammogram or a cervical screening test.

How can people get involved in supporting the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation?

You can support the OCRF by buying a Witchery White Shirt or donating directly to the OCRF. You can also visit the OCRF website to find out about the facts and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and share these with your friends and family – it could save a life.

2020 has undoubtedly been a unique year, what have you learnt from living through a global pandemic?

2020 was tough for all of us, but at the same time I feel extremely privileged that I was able to work for the majority of lockdown. I have learnt a lot in the past year, the most important being do what makes you happy, and if you’re not happy, find what you need to do to change that. I took this opportunity to do things outside of work that I love, like painting and other forms of art, and also reconnect with friends who I hadn’t spoken to in a while. Coming out of lockdown I have also taken opportunities that I was perhaps too afraid to do beforehand, for example I joined a local choir (Melbourne Indie Voices)! So even though 2020 was a crazy year, I did learn a lot and I did what makes me happy.

What is next for Amy Wilson?

I have a lot of goals: both professional and personal. I would love to connect more with young future scientists, particularly young women that are passionate about science and are considering it as a career. I love my current job working for Dr. Maree and I would like to see it reach clinical trials. On a personal level I have a lot of mental health goals and I would also like to spend more time on my hobbies. Overall, I’m looking forward to the future and any opportunities it might bring!