Kirralee Hughes Wins National Award for Brain Cancer Work

When Kirralee Hughes' husband Mark was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013, she faced a choice: accept the grim statistics or fight for change. She chose to fight, and now Australia has honored her with the 2026 Jeannie Ferris Award for transforming brain cancer care across the country.

Hughes co-founded the Mark Hughes Foundation with her husband, a former Newcastle Knights premiership player. What started as a family's determination has grown into one of Australia's leading brain cancer charities, raising more than $30 million in just over a decade.

"I am in a unique position of being the carer of someone who has brain cancer, and nothing motivates you more to make a difference than this very situation," Hughes said after receiving the award from Australia's Health Minister in Canberra. "But this position comes with immense responsibility, and I'll never lose sight of the trust that people place in us."

Under Hughes' leadership, the Foundation established the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle in 2022. The Centre now connects more than 100 researchers across 27 institutions nationwide, creating a powerhouse of collaboration that Newcastle had never seen before.

The results speak for themselves. The Centre has awarded over $10 million through its Innovation Grant Scheme, funding breakthrough research including the repurposing of an Alzheimer's drug for glioblastoma. Early results show promise in improving both survival rates and quality of life for patients.

In June, the Foundation made an $18.9 million gift to the University of Newcastle, bringing their total contribution to $36.6 million. It's the largest philanthropic investment in brain cancer research nationally and the biggest donation in the University's history.

The Ripple Effect

Hughes' work reaches far beyond research labs. Her advocacy has brought attention to a disease that remains the leading cause of cancer death in children and adults under 40, despite survival outcomes staying largely unchanged for decades.

The Centre is now translating laboratory discoveries into real treatments that doctors can use today. Every innovation funded, every researcher connected, and every breakthrough achieved means more families get the chance Hughes and Mark are fighting for.

The award honors the legacy of late Senator Jeannie Ferris, who dedicated her final years to improving cancer outcomes for all Australians. Hughes joins a group of leaders recognized for their outstanding contributions to the cancer community.

For Hughes, the recognition reflects the collective effort of everyone touched by brain cancer: patients, families, researchers, and supporters who refuse to accept the status quo. Together, they're building a future where brain cancer diagnosis doesn't mean accepting an unchanged prognosis.