Olivia Bellas

Research Interests

Cancer Therapy Cognitive neuroscience Women's and maternal health

Ms Olivia Bellas

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

College of Health

Olivia Bellas is a PhD Candidate in the Supportive Oncology Research Group at Adelaide University. Her research focuses on improving the health, wellbeing and quality of life of people living with and beyond cancer, with a particular interest in the biological mechanisms underlying treatment-related side effects. 

Olivia’s PhD project investigates chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (“chemo brain”) and explores how disruption of the endocannabinoid system across the gut–brain axis may contribute to cognitive changes experienced during and after cancer treatment. Her work combines clinical cohort research with translational laboratory approaches, including biomarker profiling and preclinical models, to better understand the mechanisms driving cognitive symptoms and identify potential therapeutic targets to support cancer survivorship.

Date Institution name Country Title
2021 Flinders University Australia Honours Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science
2018 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences

Year Citation
2025 Bellas, O., Kemp, E., Roseleur, J., Edney, L. C., Oster, C., & Karnon, J. (2025). The role of general practice to address the supportive care needs of Australian cancer survivors: a qualitative study. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 31(3), PY24098-1-PY24098-11.
DOI
2025 Bellas, O. M., Cao, K., Bowen, J., Smid, S., Shakib, S., Crawford, G. B., . . . Wardill, H. R. (2025). Medicinal CANnabis (CBD/THC) to prevent the symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy in people with advanced CANcer (CANCAN): protocol for a phase II, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMJ Open, 15(3), e089336-1-e089336-10.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2024 Bellas, O. M., Mulholland, M. A., Sivertsen, N., Kemp, E., Prichard, I., Velardo, S., & Shipman, J. (2024). Staff perceptions of support for early menarche in Australian primary schools: a qualitative study. Sex Education, 24(5), 648-662.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2023 Wardill, H. R., Wooley, L. T., Bellas, O. M., Cao, K., Cross, C. B., van Dyk, M., . . . Price, T. J. (2023). Supporting gut health with medicinal cannabis in people with advanced cancer: potential benefits and challenges. British Journal of Cancer, 130(1), 19-30.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2022 Bellas, O., Kemp, E., Edney, L., Oster, C., & Roseleur, J. (2022). The impacts of unmet supportive care needs of cancer survivors in Australia: A qualitative systematic review. European Journal of Cancer Care, 31(6), e13726-1-e13726-26.
DOI Scopus33 WoS30 Europe PMC24

Year Citation
2025 Bellas, O., Cross, C., Bowen, J., Joyce, P., Anthony, W., & Wardill, H. (2025). Neuropsychological Complications of Chemotherapy and the Involvement of the Endocannabinoid System. In ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY Vol. 21 (pp. 1 page). WILEY.

Year Citation
2025 Cao, K., Bellas, O., Salter, A., Cross, C., Stanhope, J., Morcom, C., & Wardill, H. (2025). Cannabinoids for cancer treatment-related symptoms and side effects: investigating the interplay between clinical trial design and outcomes. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts for MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting as published in Supportive Care in Cancer. Germany: Springer.
DOI
2023 Cao, K., Bellas, O., Cross, C., Morcom, C., Stanhope, J., Wardill, H., & Salter, A. (2023). Cannabis as an adjunctive supportive care strategy for people undergoing anti-cancer therapy: a systematic review. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Conference. Adelaide.

The needs of girls with early menarche in South Australian primary schools: An exploratory mixed-methods study, $23,276 Flinders Foundation

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2026 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Characterising vaginal mucositis and microbiome disruption in mouse models of chemotherapy Adelaide University Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences Honours Full Time Ms Scarlett Smith

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