Melanoma on the Move: The role of the blood-brain barrier.

Melanoma is the third most common cancer in men and women in NZ. It often migrates to the brain and, sadly, over 350 people die each year from this aggressive disease.

Join Dr Akshata Anchan to learn about the specialised, protective barrier known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) - tightly packed cells in the blood vessels that prevent harmful substances from entering the brain. It protects your brain from injury and disease while also letting in substances that it needs, like oxygen and water. Dr Anchan will discuss her research into how melanoma cells interact with the BBB to travel into the brain.

About the Speaker:

Dr Akshata Anchan completed her PhD in 2021 and is now conducting post-doctoral research funded by a Neurological Foundation First Fellowship. Her specialty is researching how invasive cancer cells get through the protective blood-brain barrier. Dr Anchan currently has several projects in this area specifically investigating melanoma.