Dr Kylie Mason
Dr. Kylie Mason is a Clinician Scientist at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical research and a Clinical Haematologist at Royal Melbourne Hospital. On a day to day basis she treats patients with leukaemia and lymphoma including bone marrow transplant patients. Kylie’s current research interests include manipulating the cell death pathway to treat blood cancers and the blood-clotting cell – platelets. A former Young Victorian of the Year, she was recently awarded the Victorian Premiers Award for Health and Medical Research and the L’Oreal Fellowship for Women in Science. However, Kylie’s story has been motivated by her personal experience and the many inspirational people she has met along the way. Kylie was diagnosed with acute leukemia on her 15th birthday and over the next two years underwent treatment, including chemotherapy, to overcome the disease. She said when a family member has cancer the whole family is affected and it was a difficult time. She completed year 12 and won the inaugural Ronald McDonald scholarship. She completed a medical degree then a PhD. and worked with a wide range of cancer patients. She said that although there have been many advances in cancer treatments there are still deaths and ongoing research is required, each small success makes a difference. She combines research with her true passion of patient care. She said among the areas being worked on are the long term management of cancers and new treatments with carrier cells and proteins which make cells.