We were delighted to hear of the recent accomplishments of two of our exceptional scholars – Dr Michael Ashby and Dr Ritika Saxena – whose achievements highlight the impact and importance of investing in the next generation of researchers.

Dr Michael Ashby Represents Australia on the World Stage at ASH 2025

We are proud to share that Dr Michael Ashby, our 2023 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic PhD Scholar, attended the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting this month in Orlando, Florida—the world’s largest international haematology conference, drawing more than 27,000 attendees and showcasing over 8,000 scientific abstracts.

Michael presented two important pieces of research from his PhD:

Oral Presentation:

Relapse-associated aberrant DNA hypermethylation in AML post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation
This exceptional work earned Michael the ASH–HSANZ Abstract Achievement Award, presented jointly with the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand. This highly competitive award recognises one outstanding trainee whose abstract is judged the most meritorious across Australia and New Zealand.

Poster Presentation:

Peripheral blood CD34 donor chimerism and flow cytometry for measurable residual disease are complementary assays for predicting relapse of AML after allogeneic transplantation.

Reflecting on the experience, Michael shared:

“It was wonderful to attend ASH Annual Meeting 2025 in Orlando where I presented two pieces of work from my PhD, an oral presentation on methylation changes at relapse post-transplant that was also awarded the ASH-HSANZ abstract award and a poster presentation on post-transplant monitoring. It was excellent to contribute to such an amazing line-up of haematology research and inspiring listening to all the other presentations.”

Michael’s achievements highlight not only the global impact of Australian research but also the extraordinary talent emerging within our medical and scientific communities.

Congratulations, Michael, on this well‑deserved international recognition.

Celebrating Dr Ritika Saxena – A Double Achievement

We are equally thrilled to congratulate Dr Ritika Saxena, who has recently achieved two significant milestones.

Not only has Ritika been formally awarded her PhD, but she has also received the 2025 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Research from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

This prestigious honour is awarded to only six graduate researchers across a faculty of more than 2,000 researchers—an extraordinary achievement and a reflection of Ritika’s commitment, diligence and the outstanding quality of her work.

We have come to know Ritika as someone who excels in every challenge she takes on, and we are proud to have supported her through an Arrow/Hawkesbury Canoe Classic PhD Scholarship as she completed her research program.

Congratulations, Ritika, on both your doctorate and the Dean’s Award.

Proudly Supporting the Future of Haematology

Michael and Ritika exemplify the innovation, dedication and excellence that our PhD Scholarship Program aims to foster. Their achievements remind us of the critical role research plays in advancing patient care—and the importance of empowering talented clinicians and scientists to pursue discovery.

We are deeply grateful to the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic, whose generous support make these PhD scholarships possible and help outstanding researchers like Michael and Ritika bring forward new knowledge and insights that benefit patients across Australia.