Avant Foundation case studies
![A scientist using a pipette to transfer liquid into a reaction tube](https://assets.avant.org.au/cdf6134c-01d7-0292-26f5-2f5cf1db96f8/d51ff43a-a171-4bf9-9c3f-072f4372f016/DT-3654-Case%20studies-Banner-860x700px-150dpi.jpg?w=3840&fm=jpg&auto=format)
![Photo of Dr Isobel Pye](https://assets.avant.org.au/cdf6134c-01d7-0292-26f5-2f5cf1db96f8/0cd0fed0-98e1-4929-86be-1a9d7b07dcf8/Dr-Isobel-Pye.png?w=3840&fm=jpg&auto=format)
2023 Member Grant recipient
Dr Isobel Pye
Investigating melanoma nodal tumour volume as an independent prognostic indicator for survival, to inform and refine pathological and radiological reporting of melanoma nodal metastases, as well as current and future melanoma staging systems
The primary objective is to determine if the volume of the largest lymph node dissected from patients with stage III melanoma may predict outcomes including overall survival and melanoma recurrence. Secondarily, the current state of lymph node dissection pathological reporting will be analysed to initiate the standardisation of this process. This vital information will bring us one step closer to the goal of the Melanoma Institute Australia which is to achieve zero deaths from melanoma.
![Photo of Dr Matthew Lennon](https://assets.avant.org.au/cdf6134c-01d7-0292-26f5-2f5cf1db96f8/6a6529c6-2105-46dd-97b4-81b64f7b5e19/Dr-Mathew-Lennon.jpg?w=3840&fm=jpg&auto=format)
2023 Member Grant recipient
Dr Matthew Lennon
Dementia prevention and blood pressure control – using big data and genomics to develop precision medicine
This study will use a consortium of longitudinal studies of aging including more than 43,000 participants to explore the effects of blood pressure, blood pressure variability and antihypertensive medication on cognitive function and dementia risk. It will also use the largest genetic database in the world, the UK Biobank, including more than 500,000 participants to explore how the genetic risk for high or low blood pressure affects cognition.