2007 - $1.2 million capital works grant

Feature Outcome: Implementation of the Cell and Molecular Therapy Laboratories (CMTL) at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, to be known as the Australian Cancer Research Foundation Laboratory. The CMTL will be certified by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.  The facility is dedicated to the selection, expansion, gene modification of cells, and/or other cell culture aspects to conduct clinical trial. Funding by ACRF will permit the complete functioning of the CMTL 4 and will create new capacity for the delivery of cancer therapies and relevant research in NSW. The ACRF grant has been awarded for the specialist fit-out of one of the CMT laboratories.

Research Institution: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Cell and Molecular Therapy Laboratories

Director of Research: Professor John Rasko 

Production Manager:  Dr Rosetta Martiniello-Wilks

Background / Overview: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney South West Area Health Service are committed to the development of novel cell therapies and the subsequent improvement in survival and quality of life of cancer patients who’s needs are currently unmet due to inadequate or absent capacity of such facilities in NSW.  Cancer research supported by the CMTL will be performance driven and deliver meaningful and highly significant outcomes.  The CMTL are also committed to developing its own outstanding research as well as supporting the high quality cancer research of its collaborators in NSW, nationally and overseas

Further Details and Outcomes:   The CMTL will plan and conduct clinical trials for cell therapies following protocol approval by Human Research Ethics Committee(s), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and where necessary the Gene and Related Therapies Advisory Panel (GTRAP).  As such it is at the forefront of translational research and will offer sustainable capacity so that recent developments may be rapidly tested locally. 

Expected benefits of the ACRF (CMTL) Laboratories to cancer research outcomes:
More competitive and sustainable self-sufficient Cell and Molecular Therapy Unit; increased integration with molecular medicine initiatives nationally; research infrastructure that is vital to ensuring that cancer research capacity and quality continues to expand nationally;  enhanced NSW cancer research team collaboration and research outputs nationally; expansion of key state-wide research platforms and their ability to obtain national and international research funding; increased commercialisation of Australian clinical and biotechnology research;  and expanded patient access to leading-edge Cell and Gene Therapies in NSW, nationally and internationally.

The implementation of the new laboratories will directly expand capacity within NSW to undertake clinical cancer research in a fully-equipped containment facility. NSW requires this capability in order to introduce novel anti-cancer technologies based on cell therapies including (but not limited to): gene-directed pro-drug therapy; dendritic cell therapy; gene therapy; high-level manipulation of autologous and allogeneic cells; stem cell expansion and therapies to protect against radiation- or chemotherapy-induced tissue damage. To realise these goals we will focus expertise and technologies in one centre-of-excellence so that access may be available to the widest possible group of qualified clinical researchers in NSW.

Types of Cancer: All Cancers