Empowering Early-Career Scientists « Charlie Teo Foundation

Empowering Early-Career Scientists

16 August 2024

This National Science Week, we are proud to spotlight brain cancer researcher and Charlie Teo Foundation Research Rebel, Dr Giulia Silvani!

Dr Silvani was a recent recipient of our Research Rebel Awards, receiving grant funding of $AU200,000. An early career researcher from UNSW with a background in biomedical engineering, Dr Silvani brings a fresh perspective to brain cancer.

At the Charlie Teo Foundation, we believe in investing in innovative minds who can deliver research of the highest quality. Our strategy values the pursuit of creative research and excellence, and it all starts with our investment in courageous researchers like Dr Silvani.

We are not only supporting Dr Silvani. This grant will also provide Dr Silvani with funding support to bring on a PhD student to work under her mentorship, fostering the next generation of bright minds in brain cancer research.

This grant signifies a key stepping stone for Dr Silvani as she starts to build her own team and will contribute to her competitiveness in securing long-term sustainable funding.

Giulia Silvani, PhD in the lab

We are proud to be part of Dr Silvani’s journey and to support her as she leverages her unique skills towards brain cancer research. Through your support, we’re making a difference in the lives of early career researchers and advancing the field of brain cancer research.

At Charlie Teo Foundation, we are investing in science, creativity, and the future health of Australian patients. 

Dr Silvani and her Charlie Teo Foundation research grant were also recently featured in UNSW Inside: Brain cancer researcher, pianist and women in STEM advocate.

Giulia is a biomedical engineer who is tackling one of the biggest challenges in oncology – the most aggressive type of brain cancer, glioblastoma or GBM. Her research focus is to develop a 3D microenvironment based on microfluidic technology to replicate cancer tissues to help understand the mechanism of their aggressiveness.

She says her recent $200,000 Research Rebels grant over two years from the Charlie Teo Foundation will enable a PhD student to work with her on her project.

“It’s very exciting for me because the grant means I can begin to build my own team and hopefully it will help when I apply for funding in the future, especially big grants like a DECRA [ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award],” Giulia says.

As a UNSW Women in Maths and Science Champion, it’s no surprise that Giulia “loves engaging with students and sharing her passion for science”.

“I really love teaching – I take care of part of a course in polymer science – and I also have a couple of students following my research in the lab. We have a lot of fun together,” she says.

UNSW Inside, Edition 14 2024

Giulia Silvani swimming off the Italian coast. Dr Silvani left Rome for Sydney almost five years ago after completing her PhD.
Find out more about this Charlie Teo Foundation Grant.