Revolutionising the Detection and Diagnosis of Glioblastoma: Dr. Susannah Hallal

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Susannah Hallal is the winner of our 2025 Guardian Trust Early Career Fellowship.

This prestigious 5-year $575,000 grant will support Dr. Hallal’s promising research, which focuses on identifying circulating extracellular vesicle (EV) biomarkers for early, non-invasive detection of glioblastoma (GBM) recurrence.

For nearly a decade, Dr. Susannah Hallal has been dedicated to understanding and improving brain cancer diagnosis. Based at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney, her research focuses on extracellular vesicles (EVs)—tiny nanoparticles that cells release into the body. These EVs hold crucial clues about cancer, and Dr. Hallal is using them to develop a simple, non-invasive blood and urine test to detect and monitor glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of brain cancer.

Her journey into brain cancer research started with a fascination for EVs rather than the disease itself. During her PhD, Dr. Hallal had the opportunity to explore how GBM tumours use EVs to manipulate healthy brain cells, and she’s been committed to this work ever since. Now, her focus is on refining a technique that can analyse EVs from just a few drops of blood—offering a more accessible, accurate, and patient-friendly alternative to invasive brain scans. This could prove to be invaluable for communities throughout Australia, and especially for those living in rural and remote areas.

What makes Dr. Hallal’s work unique is her integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the combination of protein, RNA, and lipid biomarkers to create a powerful diagnostic tool. This innovative approach could allow doctors to detect tumour recurrence earlier—potentially before symptoms even appear—so patients can receive timely and targeted treatments.

Thanks to her Fellowship, Dr. Hallal has the funding and support to take this research to the next level. While it may take some time before a blood test is widely available in clinics, her work is laying the groundwork for a future where brain cancer is easier to track and treat.

Dr. Hamza Anwer, Head of Research at Cure Brain Cancer Foundation was thrilled to present Dr. Hallal with her well-deserved award and says, “Susannah has an unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for those affected by brain cancer. Her project demonstrates both innovation and a practical approach to advancing the treatment landscape for GBM. Her passion and dedication to finding a cure make her a deserving recipient of this award, and we are eager to see the impact of her research over the next five years.”

“This Fellowship is a tremendous honour and privilege for me and has come at a very pivotal time in my research career. It is an immense milestone, providing me with the time, support and funding I need to generate research that will positively impact patients.”