Please click here, or on the image (right), to read our top stories on cancer research, fundraising around Australia, and ACRF news for November. This edition features the ACRF grant announcements, christmas giving ideas, and plenty of fantastic fundraiser stories from throughout the month.

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The Australian Cancer Research Foundation would like to congratulate Professor Michelle Haber AM, Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, on her recent award at the NSW Science and Engineering Awards.

Professor Haber was recognised for excellence in biomedical science, having dedicated her career to drug discovery and biomedical therapeutics for children with cancer.

That same night, at a separate ceremony at Taronga Zoo, Professor Haber was also acknowledged as one of four NSW finalists for the 2012 Australian of the Year Award, lending further weight to her incredible commitment to ground-breaking cancer research in Australia.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) is almost at an end, and ACRF would like to acknowledge the increased awareness, resources for patient care, and vital research that have been enhanced by some fantastic pink-themed fundraising over the last few weeks.

“Research and more research is the key to defeating cancer,” says Chief Executive, Mr David Brettell.

“Since the ACRF was established in 1984 we have given 16 multi-million dollar grants to research that is investigating preventative, diagnostic and/or treatment methods for breast cancer.”

Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Professor Douglas Hilton has been awarded the Milstein Award in Florence, Italy.

The Milstein Award is considered to be the pinnacle of scientific achievement in interferon and cytokine research, which involves the study of the immune system and cell communication.

We congratulate Professor Hilton on this most prestigious award and thank him for his contributions to cancer research.

Chair of the ACRF Medical Research Advisory committee (and co-creator of the cervical cancer vaccine), Professor Ian Frazer is currently working on a world-first strategy to combat skin cancer.

“This group of cancers (skin cancers)…may be started off by a virus infection – which presents a great opportunity, because the idea of vaccinating to prevent a cancer is enormously appealing,” Professor Frazer said.

Professor Frazer believes some virus types, including the wart virus or HPV, are embedded in the layers of the skin, and they pose a skin cancer risk when people with damaged or weak immune systems are overexposed to the sun.