Award for closing the gap

Menzies School of Health Research Associate Professor Gail Garvey has been awarded the prestigious Bupa Health Foundation award for Emerging Health Research.

Closing the Gap is at the heart of her research which, focuses on examining cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“I do this work because cancer has impacted on my family and my community and because it’s an important issue that needs addressing,” Dr Garvey said.

“My research looks at the participation of Indigenous people in prevention strategies such as cancer screenings, and investigates their support needs and how that can impact on their uptake of services.”

The best health and medical research requires innovation, determination and ingenuity, all of which the panel of judges recognised in Dr Garvey.

The award provides Dr Garvey with $25,000 to further her research in improving cancer treatment for Indigenous Australians.