Dr. Claire Wakefield

Biography

Professor Claire Wakefield is a medical psychologist specializing in improving the quality of life for patients with medical illnesses, particularly children with cancer and life-limiting conditions. She leads research through her role at the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and serves as the Executive Director of the Behavioural Sciences Unit at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. Claire is recognized for her leadership as the Continental President (Oceania) of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), where she advocates for children and adolescents with cancer in Oceania and promotes research to enhance outcomes for childhood cancer patients. With over 340 published journal articles, Claire has secured competitive research grants totaling more than $55 million and has received numerous accolades, including the NSW Premier’s Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow of the Year. She is an active contributor to the World Health Organisation's Global Childhood Cancer Initiative and holds an NHMRC Investigator Grant and the Diamond Jubilee International Visiting Fellowship at the University of Southampton, UK. Her research interests encompass health psychology, palliative care, precision medicine, and the psychosocial challenges faced by children with complex medical needs.

Research Interests

Awards