Professor Nikola Bowden

Professor Bowden has over 20 years of full-time research experience and has extensive experience managing and analysing large datasets of clinical information for melanoma, ovarian cancer and brain cancer studies. She leads the NSW Regional Cancer Research Network and Drug Repurposing at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute.

Cancer outcomes including rates of incidence, advanced disease and mortality for patients living in regional and rural areas are significantly higher than patients in metro areas for multiple cancer types. 

Professor Bowden and team will aim to understand how patients are receiving their cancer care and how this compares to the nationally endorsed recommendations. Their research will identify any variations between the care patients are receiving and provide important information which may explain the differences in the rates of mortality and survival of regional and rural cancer patients.