Research supporting Indigenous maternal health and improving breast cancer screening recognised in the 2026 NHMRC ‘10 of the Best’

L-R: The late Professor John Hopper and Professor Cath Chamberlain.
L-R: The late Professor John Hopper and Professor Cath Chamberlain.

Research projects led by Professor Cath Chamberlain and the late Professor John Hopper AM have both featured in the 2026 edition of the NHMRC’s 10 of the Best. This annual flagship publication showcases ten significant, high-quality health and medical research projects funded by the Australian Government’s National Health and Medical Research Council.

Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future led by Professor Cath Chamberlain, from Onemda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, was one of the research projects recognised.

Developed and led by Aboriginal researchers, the project works with communities to understand how maternity and other parent support services can better identify and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents experiencing trauma.

“Becoming a parent is exciting, but for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, past trauma can make it challenging,” Professor Chamberlain said.

“All of our Aboriginal and non-Indigenous team feel very honoured to be included in this NHMRC publication. I want to acknowledge the research team and staff who generously shared their knowledge and time, and we hope they can be proud of what we have achieved together.”

Another project featured in the publication was Predictive imaging: Advancing breast cancer risk assessment with mammograms, led by the late Professor John Hopper who was a Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor and Dame Kate Campbell Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.

The project has found new and more accurate breast cancer risk predictors that can be identified through mammograms. The project laid the foundation for the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence, MyBRISK, which is advancing our understanding of how genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors interact to influence breast cancer risk – a lasting legacy of Professor Hopper’s work.

Associate Professor Shuai Li, an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Dame Kate Campbell Fellow who leads the Breast Cancer Unit at the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, accepted the award on behalf of Professor Hopper.

Associate Professor Li said, “Women at higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer will be more accurately identified during mammographic screening, allowing for tailored reporting and personalised management.”