CQUniversity Honours student Gwenda Chapman will spend the next few months on the frontline of the battle against cancer, thanks to a very targeted scholarship provided by Rockhampton East Rotary Club...

The scholarship valued at $6700 will enable Gwenda to spend 10 weeks in a laboratory evaluating Queensland rainforest-sourced plant extracts for their anti-cancer potential.

Gwenda Chapman (centre) is congratulated by Suzi Blair (CQUni) and Michael Harris (Rockhampton East Rotary)

CQUniversity's Director, Development and Alumni Relations, Suzi Blair says the scholarship is a great example of how our community can support research at the University.

"This is a project that will provide beneficial outcomes for the scholarship recipient and the Central Queensland community while creating links and opportunities with leading researchers at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research, which will enhance the skills and experience of researchers at CQUniversity," Ms Blair says.

The scholarship enables Gwenda to work alongside anti-cancer natural product pioneers Professor Peter Parsons and Dr Glen Boyle at QIMR, where she will learn to use a variety of technologies - including laboratory robotics - to screen the action of plant extracts on cultured human cells. 

Back in 2010, Rockhampton East Rotary Past President Mike Gorman instigated a project to support the search for cancer treatments and generous donations from the public have assisted the scholarship, established under support from Dr Andrew Fenning and Associate Professor Nanjappa Ashwath at CQUniversity.

Gwenda Chapman (front) with Michael Harris from Rotary and other well-wishers from Rotary and CQUniversity L-R Murray Smith, Tamsen Clifford-Banks, Les McLean, Suzi Blair and Dawn Hay

Gwenda recently graduated from a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at CQUniversity.

She appreciates support from her employer Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, where she works as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

"I was able to get extended leave from work to attend QIMR. Hopefully this sort of experience will help in my goal to move into a laboratory research career," she says.

Under the scholarship, Gwenda will also have the role as an ambassador in providing feedback and presentations for Rotary Club members.

Rockhampton East Rotary Club members Michael Harris (president), Les McLean (treasurer), Murray Smith (secretary) and Dawn Hay (community relations director) recently gathered to congratulate Gwenda with her endeavours. Also in attendance were Suzi Blair and Tamsen Clifford-Banks from the Development and Alumni Relations Directorate at CQUniversity.