The Morgan Mansell Prize (Young Melanoma Researcher of the Year) is a prize initiated by Melanoma Research Victoria and awarded annually for the most outstanding research project that could lead to a cure for melanoma.

The future of melanoma and skin research is bright. MSCAN is pleased to showcase the work of Australia’s awesome researchers. In this series, the three finalists of the Morgan Mansell Prize provide a summary of their research.

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My research has been largely focused on CD4⁺ T cells, immune cells coined “helper T cells” because of their ability to boost the activation of cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells and B cells during the initiation of an immune response. However, my research has revealed that CD4⁺ T cells play much more than just a helper role in the context of melanoma.

In our preclinical melanoma model, the transfer of CD4⁺ T cells showed remarkable protection against tumour development. We found that this response required CD4⁺ T-cell migration into the tumour microenvironment where these cells could employ a range of mechanisms to suppress or eradicate melanoma cells. Our study provides detailed insights into the genetic make-up, developmental states and functions of CD4⁺ T cells in tumours.

In addition, using microscopic live imaging, we were able to capture CD4⁺ T cell interactions with other cell types in tumours. Understanding how cells regulate one another in the tumour microenvironment is key to develop durable immunotherapies. Our research provides compelling evidence that these so-called “helper” cells exhibit great therapeutic potential and should be further investigated in patients of different cancer types.

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