Born and raised in Ballarat, Jason Kelly attended St Pauls from 1986 to 1989 before heading to St Martin's in the Pines for his VCE years, graduating in the Class of 1991. At school, he enjoyed the sciences, in particular Physics and Chemistry, and he was a member of the St Mick’s team that won the “Titration Stakes” at Ballarat University (now known as the RACI school titration competition).

Following VCE, Jason studied Medical Laboratory Science at RMIT’s city campus, and during this degree, he secured a job working in pathology at the Ballarat Base Hospital. His pathology career began in 1994 and included a 15-year stint at Dorevitch Pathology and 5 years at St John of God Pathology. He worked across all areas of both blood and tissue pathology and developed an interest in how various diseases, particularly cancer, manifest in people. The strength of this interest in cancer was such that when an opportunity to study cancer as a PhD student at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute (FECRI) arose, at the tender age of 43 he once again became a full-time student.

Jason’s PhD studies investigated the immune system and bowel cancer, in particular how certain immune cells that respond to bacteria may be contributing to the progression of bowel cancer. He published some of his findings last year and was fortunate enough to win some travel awards allowing him to present his work at conferences both Nationally and overseas. His most recent presentations saw him visit Adelaide, Bangkok and San Francisco, though the timing of the global coronavirus pandemic put a halt to his conference hopping.

Outside of his work Jason has maintained an active role in the Ballarat community. He is a committee member of the Ballarat Hash House Harriers (a “drinking club with a running problem”) and he is the current president of the Golden Point Cricket Club. He can also be found out and about in Ballarat watching his sons perform in various bands and he enjoys hiking through the Victorian countryside with his partner Esme.

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