Professor Chan Cheah wins Cancer Council WA Researcher of the Year 2023

Congratulations to Professor Chan Cheah, Clinical Haematologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, who has won the prestigious Cancer Council WA Researcher of the Year 2023 award.

Professor Cheah was recognised for his clinical research in lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

At the forefront of clinical research, Professor Cheah has been the lead investigator on numerous clinical trials and has contributed to 150 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals.

Professor Cheah, who was also awarded Cancer Council WA Early Career Cancer Researcher of the Year in 2018, said he was honoured to be named Cancer Council WA's 2023 Cancer Researcher of the Year.

"In five years we have created one of the most successful Haematology Clinical Research programs in the country, delivering cutting edge treatments to WA patients years before commercial availability," he said.

"More than one thousand Western Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer each year, and thousands more are living with the disease.

"While some are cured using chemotherapy, many are not. They need better treatments and clinical trials are the fastest way to deliver them."

Cancer Council WA CEO, Ashley Reid, said Professor Cheah's work has had a huge impact on blood cancer research, with enormously improved access to clinical trials and cutting-edge therapeutics for Western Australians.

"Professor Cheah is one of the most prominent lymphoma researchers internationally," he said.

"It is so encouraging to see passionate cancer researchers, such as Professor Cheah, striving to ensure the best possible outcomes for cancer patients and making such an important contribution to the global effort to defeat cancer."

The Research Excellence Awards were established in 2013 by Cancer Council WA to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Western Australia's finest cancer researchers.

The Cancer Council WA Researcher of the Year award recognises an individual who has made the most outstanding contribution to cancer research over the past three years.