Amgen Preceptorships Announced

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) and Amgen are proud to announce the four exceptional researchers selected for the 2025 Empowering Women in Cancer Research Preceptorship, a key initiative within our three-year partnership to advance female leadership in oncology. 

The four-day preceptorship, taking place at Amgen’s global headquarters in California from 8–11 December 2025, will provide international exposure, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for early to mid-career female researchers working on ACRF-funded programs. 

This year’s awardees are: 

• A/Prof Loretta Lau, The ACRF Child Cancer Liquid Biopsy Program, Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) 

• Dr Angela Pizzolla, ACRF Radiation Immuno-oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC) 

• Dr Brooke Pereira, ACRF Centre for Intravital Imaging of Niches for Cancer Immune Therapy, Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Garvan) 

• Dr Melyssa Grieve, ACRF Facility for Targeted Radiometals in Cancer, The University of Queensland (UQ) 

Through this fully funded experience, participants will engage directly with Amgen’s global leadership across various functions, explore cutting-edge innovation in precision medicine and digital health, and gain valuable insights into biopharmaceutical R&D strategy and cross-functional collaboration. 

The preceptorship is part of a broader partnership between ACRF and Amgen Australia, that commenced in 2025, which also includes: 

• An Annual Collaborative Funding Grant – $100,000 per year for three years 

• Women in Cancer Research Kick-Off Survey 

• Women in Cancer Research Leadership Webinar Series 

• Preceptorship Study Tour Grants for ACRF-funded researchers 

“We’re thrilled to see these outstanding Australian scientists recognised through this opportunity,” said Kerry Strydom, CEO, ACRF “The preceptorship offers a powerful platform for these researchers to connect, learn and lead — helping to accelerate the impact of cancer research for generations to come." 

Together with Amgen, ACRF is creating opportunities that empower women to lead transformative change in cancer research in Australia.