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Research

Working to outsmart lung cancer 

10 March 2026

When Dr Lavinia Tan processes the blood samples of cancer patients, she sees more than just the data – she sees the stories of people with lung cancer fighting to live longer and better. Her work at Peter Mac is revealing how lung cancer changes and resists treatment, and how we can outsmart it. Thanks to Discovery Partners – the monthly donors powering this research – Dr Tan is helping to ensure those stories end with survival.

Understanding how cancers change 

Targeted therapies have already transformed thousands of lives. These treatments work by homing in on specific genetic changes in tumour cells that cause them to grow. For many people with these mutations, the results can be remarkable – the drugs can stop lung cancer in its tracks. 

Yet over time, some tumours adapt and return

IMG 8139 1Dr Lavinia Tan is advancing research to make lung cancer treatment work better, for longer.

Dr Tan has been following patients’ blood and tumour samples over months of treatment, watching how their cancers evolve. 

“Every patient’s cancer is different. By studying tumour and blood samples, we can see how cancers evolve and design more personalised treatments so people can stay well for longer.” 

Turning discovery into progress 

Now, Dr Tan and her colleagues are building a national library of tumour and blood samples – a powerful resource that helps researchers understand how cancer cells persist and resist. 

She’s also exploring “persister” cells – the hidden cells that lie dormant during treatment and later re-emerge. Learning how to eliminate these cells could help existing therapies work for longer, improving both survival and quality of life. 

Research with heart

As both a clinician and a researcher, Dr Tan sees patients each week – a constant reminder of why her work matters. 

“I’m so grateful to Peter Mac donors. Their support means I can connect my research to the people I care for in clinic.” 

In 2025, Dr Tan was named one of three outstanding clinicians awarded a Discovery Partner Fellowship – a highly competitive program accelerating cancer breakthroughs. Funded through the generosity of Discovery Partners, the Fellowship provides dedicated time and resources to clinician-researchers like Dr Tan. It helps doctors carve out time for research, to turn bold ideas into real-world progress for people with cancer. Read more about the 2025 Fellowship recipients. 

Join the community behind the progress

Research breakthroughs like Dr Tan’s are made possible with the help of Discovery Partners – generous supporters who give each month to fuel life-changing progress. Their regular gifts mean our researchers can spend more time in the lab finding breakthroughs and developing new therapies.

Become a Discovery Partner today

 

Learn more about monthly giving

 

@Follow us on Instagram (@SupportPeterMac)

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