ACRF Molecular Genomics Facility opened by the Governor of NSW

Today Her Excellency Prof. Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW will officially open a world-class ACRF-funded facility at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Sydney.

The facility houses next-generation sequencing technology with the power to carry out internationally competitive research in cancer genetics.

The ACRF Molecular Genetics Facility was developed through a $5 million ACRF grant made in honour of founding trustee, the late Lady (Sonia) McMahon. A plaque in Lady McMahon’s honour will be unveiled today at the official opening of the centre.

“Without doubt, and over a long period of time, the Garvan’s researchers, led by Professor Rob Sutherland, have been up there with the best in the world and we know this new facility will further strengthen their work,” said ACRF Chairman Tom Dery.

“On that basis, we were thrilled to award them one of our largest-ever research grants and, in doing so, also acknowledge the magnificent contribution to our work made by the late Lady McMahon who served on our Board for 26 years.”

The Kinghorn Cancer Centre itself was opened only months ago – it has been heralded as a leader in a new era of cancer research and clinical care. The Centre is a joint venture of the Garvan Institute and St Vincent’s Hospital, and it places the patient at the centre of all decisions, maximising the rapid translation of research findings to new approaches for personalised cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Director of the Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Leader of Cancer Research at the Garvan, Professor Rob Sutherland, has said: “The ability to understand the individual genetic profile of a cancer means it is possible to better determine its progress and which treatments will work most effectively.

“To achieve this next-generation sequencing, which will be carried out in the ACRF facility, is critical – allowing us to integrate genomic information with clinical decision making. For cancer patients, this will mean earlier diagnosis, targeted treatment and better outcomes following diagnosis.”