The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has acknowledged the promising future of cancer research in Australia, announcing $8.4million in grants to progress the work of four of the country’s most innovative research initiatives.
In an exciting first, the $8.4m will be shared between research teams from four separate Australian states. The funding will provide each research team with state-of-the-art technologies and facilities, the scope of which have the potential to make significant discoveries in the understanding and management of cancer.
CEO of the ACRF, David Brettell says “Never before have we so many such world-class proposals for cancer research, with applications for our grants this year totalling almost $50 million.”
“There are no other private sources to which researchers can turn for significant funding for cutting-edge technologies and facilities. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation is unique in providing leading scientists with the tools they need to speed up discoveries in prevention, diagnosis and cure for all types of cancer,” says David.
“Our donors and supporters from all over the country will be delighted that we’ve been able to contribute significantly – with $8.4 million – to research teams in four Australian states. We couldn’t have done this without their on-going, generous support.”
Today we are thrilled to announce that our grants recipients for 2013 are:
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane $2.6 million to develop the ACRF Centre for Comprehensive Biomedical Imaging
This new centre for biomedical cancer imaging will house advanced technologies specialising in measuring biological processes from the molecular level through to the anatomical. These resources will enhance pre-clinical testing of new treatments by monitoring cancer progression and tumour responses to therapies in incredible detail. Ultimately, this centre will speed up the development of more effective therapies for cancer.
Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI), Sydney $2 million to develop the ACRF Telomere Analysis Centre
At the ends of our chromosomes are stretches of DNA called telomeres, which protect our genetic data, make it possible for cells to divide, and influence how we get diseases such as cancer. Research into telomeres is relatively new in the field of cancer science, and this funding will allow an internationally unique consortium of telomere research groups to better understand the differences in telomere biology between normal and cancerous cells. A new ACRF centre at CMRI will facilitate the design of novel anti-cancer drugs that can be used to treat almost all types of cancers. It will become the national telomere testing centre for clinical and diagnostic purposes.
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC), Melbourne $2 million to develop the ACRF Translational Proteomics Facility
This funding will help to fit out a specialised centre within the new Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. This centre will incorporate a selection of emerging, cutting-edge technologies with the ability to identify and inform targeted drug design. By facilitating the complex analysis of proteins and phosphoproteins (from human cancer samples), its translational research focus will ensure promising new treatments reach pre-clinical trials faster.
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide $1.8 million to develop the ACRF Innovative Cancer Imaging and Therapeutics Facility
This facility will be housed within a new medical and research precinct in Adelaide, and it will play a key role in the rapid translation of basic biomedical research into novel cancer therapies. This state-of-the-art facility will house advanced technologies, not available anywhere else in the state, providing researchers with the tools they need to speed up the development of new treatments for cancer.
All grant applications are reviewed by the Medical Research Advisory Committee, comprising of esteemed, independent Australian cancer scientists, and Chaired by previous ACRF grant recipient, Professor Ian Frazer AC himself.
Since its inception the ACRF has awarded almost $95m to Australian cancer research institutes, making it the largest private funding body for cancer research in Australia.
Related Posts
