The Australian Cancer Research Foundation’s $3.1 million grant, in the name of the late Mrs Berenice M McDonnell, to establish a dedicated childhood cancer drug discovery unit at the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA) was formally acknowledged by CCIA’s board and major supporters at a recent cocktail party. In attendance were some of Australia’s most respected philanthropists.
The funding is to establish a dedicated childhood cancer drug discovery facility at the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia, located at the University of NSW.
The world-class facliity will be dedicated to developing less toxic, more effective drugs for the treatment of a range of childhood cancers.
“There is no greater suffering than to see children unwell, especially from potentially curable disease” said Professor Mathew Vadas, ACRF Medical Research Advisory Committee.
“It is such a pleasure for ACRF to be able to offer an incentive to accelerate and intensify research work into the care and treatment of children’s cancer” added Professor Vadas.
In the last three years ACRF, a private foundation now in its 24th year of operation, has awarded over $30m to outstanding cancer research projects, including $10.9 million, in addition to the CCIA grant, for 2008.
ACRF’s Chairman, Mr Tom Dery, said “funding advanced facilities and major equipment to achieve better results for cancer patients is the Foundation’s sole focus. We have entererd a new era in cancer research since the dsicovery of the human genome. The chances of progress are better than they’ve ever been, but the costs for the latest equipment and facilities for our best researchers to achieve breakthrough results are also much higher”, he added.
The opening of the ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood cancer – May 2010
The ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer launch celebrations will be incorporated in the program of The Lowy Symposium, scheduled for 16th May 2010.
The symposium will gather international speakers and specialists at the forefront of world-class cancer research, promoting the link between research and achieving better health outcomes for people with cancer.
Media Contact : David Brettell 02 9223 7833
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