Research Institute: Menzies Research Institute
Amount granted: $1.1 million
Year granted: 2006
The purpose of the grant was to establish an internationally competitive cancer genetics centre. The ACRF Tasmanian Inherited Cancer Centre (ATICC) used the Tasmanian population to identify genes that predispose individuals to cancer. It drew on a number of skills and initiatives already underway at the Menzies Research Institute and elsewhere in Tasmania, to build an internationally competitive cancer genetics program.
The ACRF grant has been awarded specifically for the purchase of three major components of the ATICC; fit out of the Cancer Genetic Laboratories; Genealogical Database and a DNA and Virtual tissue bank.
Researchers at the Menzies sought to identify, not only disease genes but to use its significant expertise in epidemiology to discover the environmental triggers to disease, making a significant impact on identifying the genetic predisposing factors to many familial cancers.
Funding for the new centre enabled researchers to have access to state-of-the-art instruments and laboratories that were not previously available in Tasmania. The centre provided infrastructure for the collection and storage of DNA and genealogical information from cancer patients.
Chief Investigators: Prof Simon Foote, A/Prof Alison Venn, Prof Ray Lowenthal, Prof James Vickers, Dr Briony Patterson, A/Prof Greg Woods, Dr Heather McGee, Dr Jo Dickinson, Dr Adele Holloway, Dr Brendan McMorran, Dr Gaetan Burgio, Dr Jim Stankovich, Dr Jac Charlesworth, Dr Russell Thomson
What your donations have achieved
Cervical cancer vaccine
We gave initial seed funding to Professor Ian Frazer’s research into the cervical cancer (HPV). Over 150 million doses of vaccine have been delivered worldwide to date.
The pill that melts away cancer
Our long term support of cancer research at WEHI has led to a treatment that melts away certain advanced forms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. It has been approved for clinical use in the US, European Union and Australia and is being trialed for other types of cancer.
Personalised cancer diagnosis
In 2015, we awarded $10 million seed funding to an ambitious cancer proteome project that aims to provide each cancer patient a personalised treatment plan within 36 hours. This will improve treatment outcomes and help avoid unnecessary treatments.
Zero childhood cancer
We are one of the founding partners of the initiative that will tackle the most serious cases of infant, childhood and adolescent cancer in Australia. It is a key step towards the program vision of one day helping to cure 100% of children with cancer.
