An award-winning cancer immunologist, Professor Kemp has spent the last 15 years studying the immune response of people with colorectal cancer. 

Her ultimate goal is to help oncologists tailor treatments to each patient’s unique immune profile - offering a greater chance of success and restoring a sense of control during a very difficult time.

Over the past 10 years, Cancer Research Trust New Zealand has supported her mahi with four research grants totalling $300,000. It’s a relatively small investment in the world of medical research, but for Professor Kemp, it has been transformative.

“For scientists like me starting a laboratory with a completely new research programme, funding from the Trust was vital,” she explains. “They recognised the value of backing bold, innovative ideas, including using new technologies to explore the tumour environment.”

Our funding enabled her to apply cutting-edge technology that had never before been used in colorectal cancer research. As a result, her team identified a unique immune response within tumours - and discovered specific immune cells that are linked to patient outcomes, offering a new tool for diagnosis and treatment planning.

She has also developed a new model of colorectal cancer that closely mimics the human disease, creating a valuable platform for testing new interventions.

These findings have not only been published in leading scientific journals but were also presented to the very patients who donated tissue for the studies - a powerful full-circle moment for people affected by this disease.

Although Professor Kemp has been the driving force behind the research, she has worked closely with a team of postgraduate students. Many of these up and coming cancer researchers have also been supported by Professional Development Awards from the Trust.

“The backing of the Trust has been essential in establishing my research programme and in helping train the next generation of brilliant cancer researchers,” says Professor Kemp.

And it’s thanks to the generosity of our donors that this vital research has been able to thrive. Your belief in bright minds like Professor Roslyn Kemp is helping to change the future of cancer care. Thank you.