New ACT drug discovery platform Posted on February 6, 2017February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Today, Australian National University (ANU), the ACT Minister for Health and Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) will launch a new robotic system to fast-track the development of new drugs to fight cancer and other diseases. Projects using this platform will also help to screen existing drugs and novel compounds to identify if they are effective alone or in combinational therapies on cancer cells. This initiative was made possible in part by an ACRF grant of $2 million, awarded in 2015, to provide the equipment required to screen native Australian plants for anti-cancer properties. Professor Ian Brown, CEO of Australian Cancer Research Foundation says “ACRF is a private foundation supported by community members who are interested in advancing cancer research. It’s inspiring to see researchers at ANU push cancer research forward with this funding and turn it into tangible treatments that future patients will benefit from.” The High-Throughput Robotic Target and Drug Discovery Screening Platform at the ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics is the first technology of its kind in the ACT. The specialised robotics and precision instruments will enable researchers to test thousands of possible drug compounds against hundreds of disease cells, to find the best possible treatment for patients. ACT Centenary Chair of Cancer Research Professor Ross Hannan said the new technology would increase research collaboration and lead to more rapid drug discoveries in the fight against cancer and many other diseases. “This is an exciting time for research collaboration across the ACT. The multi-million dollar equipment will cut screening times from years to months,” Professor Hannan, Head of the Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics at ANU said. Until now, researchers in the ACT needed to travel to Sydney or Melbourne to use similar machines. They would also need to stay for months while the testing was done. Professor Hannan said the technology could give new hope to patients with diseases that have failed all standard therapies and who have no other options. “We now have the potential to repurpose drugs, testing against more than 4,000 drugs in the FDA drug library have been approved for use in humans to treat disease,” he said. Professor Hannan said that in the case of cancer, researchers will be able to take bone marrow and tumour cells, grow them in culture, and screen every known compound currently approved for use in humans against the cell lines to see if one could be used to treat the patient. “In one to two weeks we could identify existing drugs, repurpose them for new treatments, and rapidly set up trials,” he said. The Target and Drug Discovery Platform has been set up at JCSMR with the generous support of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and ACT Health.
Rosie’s story: Why I support cancer research Posted on January 13, 2017February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “It was 2007 and I was enjoying retirement after 30 years in nursing. But I had been experiencing stomach pain and weight loss for a few months. I’d ignored my friend’s continued pleas to see a doctor. Even though I knew there was a problem, I was in denial. I finally had a gastroscopy procedure which confirmed I had stomach cancer. The first words that came out of my mouth were ‘How long have I got?’ and I remember feeling calm. My husband Jeff and I immediately broke the news to our children, both of whom were living overseas. Without delay, they flew home to be by my side and also support their father. Over the next few weeks, I went through many different tests. A biopsy from my stomach showed it was a “rare lymphoid tissue lymphoma” and could be treated by antibiotics and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, a few weeks later another gastroscopy revealed the cancer was unaffected by antibiotics and it had spread through my stomach and developed into a high-grade lymphoma. The next move was a CAT scan to map out my stomach. I had to be given four minuscule tattoos as reference markers for my radiation treatment and I couldn’t wait to tell my son-in-law, who has a large tattoo on his arm, that now I had tattoos too! It was humour that often helped me get through each day. It was a frightening time but I was so hell-bent on fighting for my survival. It’s amazing how the body and mind can cope through such a nightmare. In early March, I started four weeks of daily radiation treatments. The treatments were successful and I was in remission until late June when I found a lump on the left side of my neck. A biopsy confirmed it was an aggressive type of cancer known as ‘diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.’ Surgery could only remove part of the node as it had adhered to my jugular vein so I began chemotherapy in August to help treat it. It was a particularly daunting time. I was nauseous, lost my sense of smell and taste and developed blisters in my mouth. I also became very forgetful, especially pots cooking on the stove. The loss of body hair made me feel very self-conscious. Thank goodness for wigs! To deal with the side effects of my cancer treatment, I started composing music and lyrics. I never thought in my wildest dream, I would compose the story of my cancer experiences through music. It became the best medicine for me, taking me to another world where I could disassociate my cancer pain and any other discomforts from my various treatments. After two months, the chemo treatment was finally over and I was back in remission in October 2008. I continued for another month on fortnightly MabThera IV treatment to kill off any stray cancer cells that might have been floating around my body. In March 2009 I had the best 60th birthday gift given to me, which was an offer to have my stem cells collected and stored for future use. but I hope I never have to use them! The chemotherapy did affect my immune system badly and in 2010 I was placed on monthly IV Intragam Therapy to help rebuild it. Finally, the good news came in 2011. The oncologist informed me that I was cured, but there was a caveat – cancer may come back in about ten years. My reply was, “I’m not going to worry about the future as new and better treatments will be found.” After experiencing cancer myself and losing friends who were not so lucky, I wanted to support cancer research. I know that researchers are working on new and improved treatments that will one day make our fear of cancer a thing of the past. After looking at various Australian cancer organisations I came across ACRF and was very impressed with how it functioned. Donations go towards grants that buy state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment for the best cancer researcher projects around the country. I have raised money for ACRF in many different ways over the years. I’ve sold my handmade chocolates, jams and musical pattern placemats and serviettes. I’ve also hosted morning teas and organised garage sales with my husband and a few friends. One of my favourite fundraising activities so far has been creating my album ‘Chrysalis’, a musical storybook of cancer experiences. Proceeds from the sale of this CD go towards ACRF. I wanted to make a touching and uplifting album written from the heart to help others who are going through similar experiences. I want to support others who need to talk about their feelings and frustrations when going through cancer. Anyone interested is welcome to visit my website and interact with me. Hopefully, they will realise they are not alone.” – ACRF supporter, Rosie Lee Organise an event Donate Share your story
Revolutionary advances in microscopy provide an opportunity to break a roadblock in cancer research Posted on November 14, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A $2.3M grant from Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) is being awarded to The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) today to establish the new ACRF Cancer Ultrastructure and Function Facility (CUFF). The nation-leading facility will provide cutting-edge imaging capabilities for tracking and visualising cancer. Researchers will be able to see cancer cells grow, spread and respond to drugs in real time. This will help them learn how cancer cells behave and change, and ultimately, develop new treatments to control cancer. “The need for this facility came from a realisation that we are at a crucial juncture in global cancer research. Despite outstanding developments in understanding the genetic changes in cancer, we still do not understand how these changes cause cancers to grow and spread,” says Professor Brandon Wainwright, Director, IMB. The researchers at IMB are hopeful that the revolutionary new advances in microscopy will provide the opportunity to break this roadblock. “Donations received by ACRF help to provide researchers with the most powerful tools available. The three new microscopes at IMB will allow researchers to observe the structure and function of living cancer cells in real time with unprecedented resolution, giving them the opportunity to optimally target and fine-tune cancer treatments. It is our hope that they will assist IMB in making significant contributions to the global understanding of how cancers grow and develop to improve treatments and patient outcomes,” says Professor Ian Brown, CEO of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. The new ACRF Cancer Ultrastructure and Function Facility represents an apex of multidisciplinary efforts. Biologists, physicians and chemists will work together to build a deeper understanding of cancer biology and pioneer new therapeutic approaches to beat the disease. ACRF has supported cancer research at The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience since 1994. Over the past 22 years, ACRF has awarded three grants totalling $4.8M to the institute for research into all types of cancer. “ACRF is proud to continue to support the cutting-edge research being carried out at IMB. It is our mission to do everything we can to provide Australia’s best researchers with the tools they need to end cancer,” concludes Professor Brown.
Support of cancer research in Australia turns ideas into information Posted on November 14, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit Each year, ACRF challenges the Australian cancer research community to propose projects that are bold and have the potential to make a significant impact on cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Eleven projects were submitted from across the country and evaluated by ACRF’s esteemed Medical Research Advisory Committee who were impressed by the quality and vision of the applications. From these, four were chosen to receive grants. “Thanks to the generosity of our many supporters from around Australia each year we are able to award high-impact grants, allowing Australia’s best scientists to embark on ground-breaking research projects. These initiatives in cancer research cover all types of cancer and speed up discoveries, ultimately working to save lives by saving time,” said Professor Ian Brown, CEO of Australian Cancer Research Foundation. The recipients of the annual ACRF grants in 2016 are: ACRF Tumour Heterogeneity Program – $2 million to learn more about the mutation, internal variation, location and the impact of time on growth and treatment of tumours. Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC), VIC ACRF Tumour Metabolism Laboratory – $2.5 million to determine the differences in nutrient metabolism by cancerous and normal cells to improve cancer treatments. Centenary Institute, NSW ACRF Cancer Ultrastructure and Function Facility – $2.3 million to provide microscopes that can see cancer cell behaviour and their response to drugs in order to stop the spread of cancer. Institute for Molecular Biosciences University of Queensland, QLD ACRF Blood Cancer Therapeutics Centre – $1.2 million to develop a national program to improve patient outcomes for multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukaemia. Monash University, VIC Since its inception, 32 years ago, ACRF has awarded $129.1 million in grants to Australian cancer research institutes across the country to pay for infrastructure and equipment. Funding from ACRF has helped get some of the most successful cancer research projects get off the ground, including the early support of the research that led to the cervical cancer vaccine. ACRF is dedicated to funding research in Australia that has the power to make significant breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and treatment and will continue to fund cutting-edge treatment until cancer no longer poses a threat to the health of Australians.
Technology boost to help address one of the biggest challenges facing cancer research today Posted on November 14, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A $2M grant from Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) has been awarded to a Peter Mac-led application from members of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) to establish The ACRF Tumour Heterogeneity Program. This investment will see world-leading researchers from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and the University of Melbourne join forces to address one of the biggest challenges facing cancer research today. Tumour heterogeneity occurs when more than one distinct cancer mutation exists, either within one tumour or when there are variations of cancer mutations between tumour types. These mutations can evolve differently over time and cause significant challenges in designing effective treatment strategies. The Program will work towards a better understanding of the diversity of evolutionary changes that result from tumour heterogeneity, gaining information that will be critical to the development of strategies that overcome and/or exploit this diversity and ultimately improve patient survival across many cancer types. While cancer research efforts have reached a high level of sophistication, knowledge of the full extent of tumour heterogeneity remains limited, hindering efforts to understand patterns of tumour evolution, select effective therapies and combat treatment resistance in the clinical setting. “New technologies now provide us with unprecedented opportunities to research and understand fundamental questions about tumour heterogeneity,” says Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Associate Professor, Sarah Jane Dawson, who led the application on behalf of the partnership. “With ACRF’s support, the combined power of our laboratory and translational research will deepen our understanding of tumour heterogeneity and accelerate discoveries so they can directly benefit patients with cancer sooner,” says Associate Professor Dawson. “ACRF exists to challenge researchers and encourages them to look at new ways of working together in an effort to realise new insights and bold ideas. We are proud to continue to support the collaborative efforts of the VCCC,” says Professor Ian Brown, CEO Australian Cancer Research Foundation. “Many of the research institutes involved in this new initiative have received grants in the past from Australian Cancer Research Foundation, including Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne and Walter Eliza Hall Institute. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation is proud to continue to support the world-class cancer research at these institutes,” says Professor Brown.
Understanding the diet of tumours to help in the development of new cancer therapies Posted on November 14, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A $2.5M grant from Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) is being awarded to The Centenary Institute today to establish the new ACRF Tumour Metabolism Laboratory. The grant is a continuation of support to help researchers better understand the way cancer cells metabolise dietary nutrients and provide critical information to the development of new cancer diagnostics and therapies. Researchers will be focused on three fundamental and interlinked areas: nutrient uptake into tumours, sugar metabolism and fat metabolism. From this, they hope to ‘outsmart’ the cancer cells that have evolved to the point where other forms of treatment have become ineffective. “For years cancer researchers have focused on identifying specific changes in a patient’s genes which have been associated with cancer formation and growth, and developing therapeutics to target these changes. While this information is still vital, it is becoming clear that many cancer cells are skilful at bypassing specific genetic changes and this makes many targeted therapies only briefly effective,” says Professor Philip Hogg, Head of the ACRF–Centenary Cancer Research Centre. This reality has led to a renewed focus on a fundamental property of cancer cells that was identified some time ago: their irregular metabolism of dietary nutrients. “Technological advances and insights into how cancer develops have unleashed new opportunities for researchers to pioneer alternative approaches to treating cancer. This project is a shining example of ACRF’s support of projects exploring new ways to beat cancer. We’re excited at the potential it holds,” says Professor Ian Brown, CEO Australian Cancer Research Foundation. “The chief drivers of cancer, whether genetic or inflammatory, operate through altered metabolism. This research has the potential of developing therapeutics applicable to a wide range of tumours”, says Professor Mathew Vadas AO, Executive Director of the Centenary Institute. In addition to funding from ACRF, the Cancer Institute NSW has committed to supporting Centenary Institute by providing funding for the scientists that will carry out the research. Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor David Currow, said, “The ACRF Tumour Metabolism Laboratory provides an opportunity to gain important new knowledge of changes at the molecular level of tumours. The Cancer Institute NSW is proud to be partnering with the Australian Cancer Research Foundation in this exciting new initiative. By supporting researchers working in the lab, we hope to accelerate these important discoveries.” Research at the ACRF Tumour Metabolism Laboratory will focus on the role of nutrient metabolism particularly in endometrial, brain and triple-negative breast tumours. These cancers are among the most difficult to treat of all cancers. Endometrial cancer is diagnosed in more than 2,200 Australian women each year, accounts for 9.4% of all new cancer cases in women and has a 5-year survival rate of only 26%. Glioblastoma is the most common and most malignant brain tumour and in terms of years of life lost is the highest of all the malignant cancers. It is associated with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5% and a median survival rate of less than 15 months. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of cancer that accounts for 10-15% of all breast cancer cases. TNBC lacks a targeted therapy, has an increased rate of recurrence, and a lower 5-year survival rate compared to other breast cancer subtypes.
Cancer research gave Dad 13 more years to spend with our family Posted on November 13, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “On April 8 I lost my dad to cancer. Just a month before, I watched as he walked up the hospital hallway by himself, achieving a goal he had been working towards with his physio team since his last surgery. It seemed impossible to most of us but he was always determined to get better. My dad lived with cancer for 13 years. There were many years where we thought to ourselves, ‘This is it. This is the last Father’s Day, this is the last Christmas’ but he always made it through. He had been fortunate that he qualified for many different medical trials throughout his illness. Every medication that came around, he would give it a go – no matter what. It was always something new, like a magic trick the researchers would pull out of a hat to give him more time. I am so thankful for cancer researchers. Their dedication to progress provided some of the newer treatments that not only gave him more time but improved his quality of life. This meant so much to him because it let him keep doing the things he loved, like travelling and spending time with his family. He was also able to keep working for the Fire Brigade. Everyone who knew my dad knew about his passion for his career, I feel like it was one of the things that kept him going. Following in his father’s footsteps, he first began as a volunteer firefighter and worked hard to earn a full time position as a fire investigator. He worked right up until the very end. He was such a fighter, not just as a fireman but in the way he refused to give up. Dad endured many different cancers over the last 13 years, including bowel, lung and bone. But it was brain cancer that took him in the end. I feel it was the worst for him to go through. My mum and I were playing all his favourite songs on his last day, dancing around his bed like mad women, he would have loved it. They say that hearing is the last thing to go, so I just know this would have made him happy. My dad always liked to make sure he thanked people when they helped him. So I wanted to thank cancer researchers on his behalf. I began supporting Australian Cancer Research Foundation to give other families more time with their loved ones. I know that together we can help researchers improve cancer prevention, detection and treatments for patients. It is my hope that one day cancer won’t be on anyone’s mind at Christmas.” – ACRF supporter, Jessica Broome Donate Share your story
Facts and Statistics about Common Women’s Cancers: Breast, Gynaecological, Cervical and Ovarian Posted on October 23, 2016September 18, 2019 by Carly du Toit Each day up to 170 women in Australia are diagnosed with cancer. With this alarming figure, ACRF is determined to make a difference in the lives of Australian women through cancer research. To raise awareness of the cancers that affect women this month, we’ve compiled a few interesting facts and stats. Women’s cancer facts and statistics at a glance 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer before the age of 85 There are over 200 types of cancer that can affect women The most common cancers diagnosed with Australian women are: non-melanoma of the skin, breast, colorectal, leukaemia and lymphoma Thanks to research, survival rates were highest for women diagnosed with thyroid cancer (97%), lip cancer (94%) and melanoma of the skin (94%) Breast cancer facts and statistics 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85 Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women Thanks to research, the 5 year survival rate is just over 90% Known risk factors are diet, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity Breast cancer in men accounts for around 1% of all breast cancer occurrences Gynaecological cancer facts and statistics The risk of an individual being diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer by age 85 is 1 in 22. Gynaecological cancers were the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer among females in Australia. Known risk factors include age The five year survival rate is 68% Gynaecological cancers include malignant neoplasms of vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, placenta and ovaries For more information on gynaecological cancer, click here. Cervical cancer facts and statistics The risk of a woman being diagnosed with cervical cancer by the age of 85 is 1 in 162. The five-year survival rate for women with cervical cancer is 72% In 2009, cervical cancer was the third most commonly diagnosed gynaecological cancer in Australia Since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program in 1991, the number of new cases of cervical cancer for women of all ages almost halved In 2006, Professor Ian Frazer and his team at the University of Queensland discovered a vaccine to prevent HPV, protecting women against most types of cervical cancer Ovarian cancer facts and statistics 1 in 75 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer before the age of 85 Most common most common cause of gynaecological cancer death in Australia More research is needed to increase the 5 year survival rate from 45% Known risk factors are family history and genetic susceptibility as well as obesity and physical inactivity Symptoms are often vague and can be similar to the symptoms of many other conditions Donate or Fundraise To Support Women’s Cancer Research By donating, fundraising for and supporting cancer research into all cancers that affect women, you are helping to fund the next big breakthrough in cancer detection and treatment. Our Woman’s Appeal aims to raise much needed funds for research into common women’s cancers, including breast, cervical and ovarian cancer. You can make a donation today to help fund research for women with cancer.
Gypsys Gift: fighting cancer with music Posted on October 19, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Gemma and her fiancé, Jimi, started the band Gypsys Gift five years ago. Since then, the duo have won an Australian Independent Music Award, achieved rotation on Foxtel’s CMC and will shortly release their highly anticipated, debut album Chapters. Over the weekend, the band unveiled the new music video for their single, Feed the Fire, alongside a special announcement. “We do not ask that you buy our new song – we’re doing things a little differently this time. In support of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, we aim to create awareness of cancer research with the release of Feed the Fire. Our ONLY intention is to raise as much money as possible for cancer research. All funds raised will go directly to ACRF, and this will be an ongoing campaign for us.” said Gemma. “The last couple of years have been both incredible and heartbreaking for Jimi and I. We have travelled the world and experienced remarkable growth, but we have also been on a tough road. Two Christmases ago we were faced with the hard news that my Mum, Joanne, was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. Mum underwent multiple major surgeries to remove half her liver, gall bladder, part of the bowel and lymph nodes. She then went through six months of chemotherapy treatment as a further measure to prevent the cancer coming back. This was a whole new world for my entire family. We felt very much in the dark as we had no experience and no understanding of what anything meant. It’s safe to say the journey was hard on all of us, especially on my Mum, step-dad and two brothers who lived through this every day. Slowly things began to feel normal again as Mum was recovering day by day. Although the physical and emotional scars of the cancer had not entirely faded, my Mum, being the warrior that she is, was soaring to better days. Then out of the blue, while I was on my way to a songwriting session, I received a phone call that would once again change the lives of myself and family. Mum had been re-diagnosed with terminal cancer of the liver. Hearing the news was like being in a movie. A fear that I have never felt, and didn’t quite comprehend, washed over me – I was now faced with losing my mother when she was only 48 years old. They say, as an adult you must carry on. But this time, it’s not been the case. This is now my life. I often describe it as living in a permanent nightmarish limbo-land. We all have our good days and our bad days, but my Mum has kept us all positive and moving forward. She has spent her entire life putting everyone else before herself, and even now, she wishes for nothing more than everyone else’s happiness. Mum has been fighting cancer for a couple of years now – in true grace. Her resilience, strength and courage is unfathomable and we stand by her side while she battles through this. This illness has turned the life of myself and my loved ones upside down, and this happens every day to families all over the world. Cancer does not discriminate; almost everyone has been touched by this illness in some way or another. This painful journey has inspired Jimi and me to help put an end to cancer, and we will not cure cancer without research. This is why we feel so passionately about ACRF. It is my belief that they are by far one of the most compassionate and forward-thinking foundations we know. We are determined to raise money for the research that we all so desperately need to stop this illness. Every little bit helps and I truly believe it raises the spirits of those struggling with cancer too. Great things happen when people work together.” ACRF supporters, Gemma & Jimi, Gypsys Gift. To support Gemma and Jimi, click here.
Cancer Research Breakthrough could help prevent breast cancer in high-risk women Posted on June 29, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Cancer researchers at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered that an existing medication could prevent breast cancer in women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene. By pinpointing the cells that give rise to breast cancers in women who have inherited a faulty version of the BRCA1 gene, researchers have identified that the drug denosumab may have the potential to prevent breast cancer from developing. If confirmed in clinical studies, this would provide a non-surgical option to prevent breast cancer in women with elevated genetic risk. People who carry a faulty BRCA1 gene are at high risk of developing aggressive breast cancer. Currently, many women with the gene mutation choose surgical removal of their breast tissue and ovaries to reduce their chance of developing cancer. Using samples of breast tissue donated by women carrying the faulty gene, Ms Emma Nolan, Professor Jane Visvader and Professor Geoff Lindeman were able to pinpoint the cells that give rise to breast cancer. “Cancer precursor cells in BRCA1-mutant breast tissue had many similarities to aggressive forms of breast cancer,” said PhD student Ms Nolan. “These cells proliferated rapidly and were susceptible to damage to their DNA – both factors that help them transition towards cancer. We were excited to discover that these pre-cancerous cells could be identified by a marker protein called RANK.” Professor Lindeman, who is also a medical oncologist at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, said the discovery of RANK as a marker of cancer precursors was an important breakthrough because inhibitors of the RANK signalling pathway were already in clinical use. “An inhibitor called denosumab is already used in the clinic to treat osteoporosis and breast cancer that has spread to the bone,” he said. “Which is what led us to investigate what effect RANK inhibition had on the cancer precursor cells in BRCA1-mutant breast tissue.” The research team showed that RANK inhibition switched off cell growth in breast tissue from women with a faulty BRCA1 gene and curtailed breast cancer development in laboratory models. “We think this strategy could delay or prevent breast cancer in women with an inherited BRCA1 gene mutation,” Professor Lindeman said. A clinical trial has already begun to investigate this further. A concurrent study led by an Austrian group had also identified the importance of RANK. Both studies suggest that targeting RANK offers hope to women at high genetic risk for breast cancer. Professor Visvader said the discovery had its basis in more than a decade of investigations of breast stem cell function. “By thoroughly dissecting how normal breast tissue develops, we have been able to pinpoint the precise cells that are the culprits in cancer formation,” she said. “It is very exciting to think that we may be on the path to the ‘holy grail’ of cancer research, devising a way to prevent this type of breast cancer in women at high genetic risk.” The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported WEHI by providing three grants, totalling AUD 5.5million towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology. The research was published in Nature Medicine. The original news post was published on the WEHI website.
Ashleigh’s Dinner for a Difference Posted on June 24, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “My name is Ashleigh Mills, I’m a 26-year-old living in Sydney. In June 2015, a few months after finally saying goodbye to six years of tertiary education, I started my first permanent full-time role at a legal firm – Holding Redlich. At that time, everything seemed to be going according to plan. Then, one night on a weekend away with friends I felt a weird sensation in my throat. A friend who had heard this complaint noticed that there was a visible lump on the side of my neck. I had absolutely no idea where it came from, or what it was, but I was pretty quick to assure her that it was nothing – obviously. I’d been to the doctor about the sensation in my throat a few times, but each time I was told that it was likely a response to stress – something that I didn’t question. When my friends noticed a lump I assumed that it would be nothing and told them so. Thankfully, they didn’t take no for an answer and made sure I went to the medical centre the following day. One week later the biopsy results were in. That lump turned out to be cancerous and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. For someone who had always planned their day down to the nth degree, the diagnosis came as a stark reminder that no-one can ever really know what life has in store around the corner. I still can’t really comprehend everything that happened in the months following my diagnosis. But I remember that for me, one of the hardest things was learning how to deal with telling the people you care about most. In mentioning the word cancer, a subconscious fear sweeps across people’s eyes for just a moment and, as the affected person, you can’t escape how it makes you feel. That’s the thing with cancer, it doesn’t follow a script and it certainly doesn’t come with a manual. You can’t always control it, but you can control the way you respond to it. It is easy to fear cancer but I don’t think we can afford to. We need to replace that fear with action because every moment is truly important. By August 2015, my thyroid had been removed and I had commenced radioactive iodine therapy. While thyroid cancer itself is often highly treatable, many cancers are not and each year too many people lose control of their lives to a disease that poses more questions than answers. Cancer remains the second biggest killer in Australia. It is an awful and indiscriminate disease, but it is not invincible. Nor should we accept it to be. With that in mind, I decided that I needed to do something in the fight to end cancer and that I needed to do it fast. I approached the Australian Cancer Research Foundation with a small idea and it grew into something much, much bigger. Then last Saturday night, after months of planning, I hosted a charity black tie gala event called Dinner for a Difference. We raised over $26,000. Honoured premium sponsors and partners on the evening, Toy ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us, said: ‘The support from the attendees was overwhelming, most of the guests knew Ashleigh personally and most had a very strong connection with her. It was such an exciting night filled with great positivity and joy. The effort that was put in by Ashleigh and all those involved was outstanding and it was so great that all the hard work paid off’. I chose to support the ACRF because I immediately felt buoyed by the focus of the organisation to end cancer – for good. While I appreciate the importance of programs that are targeted towards raising awareness of the disease and providing post-diagnosis assistance, I truly believe that the key is research. To me, cancer research is more than important, it’s absolutely crucial. By funding cancer research, we are getting closer to a breakthrough that will change the way we think about cancer and the many lives that it continues to affect. Thanks to ACRF and its supporters, cancer researchers are being armed with the tools that they need to make breakthroughs. Thank you to everyone who joined forces with me to support the ACRF, including all 180 guests who attended and Holding Redlich who generously signed on as a gold sponsor of the event. Thank you for believing that together we could make a difference. I am so blown away by everybody’s generosity – blown away and inspired to do more.” – ACRF supporter, Ashleigh Mills.
Cancer researchers uncover new insight into MLL translocated leukaemia Posted on June 21, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Cancer researchers at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne have found a new lead that could fast-track the development of a more targeted and effective treatment for MLL Translocated Leukaemia. More than 80% of infants diagnosed with either Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), and up to 10% of diagnosed adults, have a sub-type known as MLL Translocated Leukaemia. Prognosis for MLL Translocated Leukaemia is particularly poor with only 40- 50% of diagnosed infants likely to survive, and the five-year survival rates in older adults remaining at less than 20%. Peter Mac’s Professor Mark Dawson has studied Acute Leukaemia and this particular sub-type for a decade. He says the latest findings provide a step towards next-generation therapy for the disease, for which treatment has changed very little since the 1970s. “Every other disease that I’ve treated in my time as a haematologist has had one if not many, new drugs come along to improve treatment but this has not been the case for AML,” Professor Dawson said. “This is a disease where patients affected are often young and fit when first diagnosed but do not respond to conventional therapy.” Research by Professor Dawson’s team along with international collaborators has – for the first time – explained the role played by two proteins (BRD4 and DOT1L) which are known to be key regulators of MLL Translocated Leukaemia. His research identified a previously unknown cooperation between these proteins, showing how they depend on each other to progress the disease. Drugs which target both of these proteins are now in separate clinical trials as potential leukaemia treatments. Professor Dawson’s research suggests a combination therapy involving drugs that target both proteins at the same time may be an effective strategy against the disease. Professor Dawson’s findings explaining the interdependence of BRD4 and DOT1L in MLL Leukaemia has been published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. “We’ve always known that these leukaemias needed these regulators but what we didn’t know was why, and we didn’t know that they spoke to each other to drive the disease,” Professor Dawson said. “The good news is we don’t have to develop new drugs in light of this research because they are already here and in clinical trials,” Professor Dawson said. The original article was published on Peter Mac’s website. The image of Professor Dawson was provided courtesy of Peter Mac. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre by providing three grants, totalling AUD $7million, towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology.
ACRF teams up with H&R Block to provide tax calculator that shows the true value of donations to cancer research Posted on June 2, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit This tax season, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) has partnered with tax accountants, H&R Block to deliver an online calculator that tells individuals how much tax they will receive back from their donation, as well as exactly what their donation has the capacity to fund. The creative concept and implementation of the calculator was all thanks to pro-bono work done by M&C Saatchi’s creative team. “We hope that by being transparent and showing donors how much influence even a small donation can have on the work that’s being done in cancer research, it will help them understand how truly valuable their support is,” commented Professor Ian Brown, CEO of the ACRF. Last year, donations to the ACRF went towards equipment that is being used to further develop personalised cancer treatments, detect lung cancer before it spreads, and examine native Australian plants to see if they can be used to develop new cancer treatments. The ACRF has been a driving force behind cancer research for over 30 years. However, with success rates now less than 14 percent for applications to grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the organisation is keen to do all it can to increase the availability of vital funding. Advancements in technology are allowing researchers to analyse data like never before. But such technology is difficult to get funding for. The ACRF is the only national charity in Australia whose sole purpose is to make advanced equipment and technology more accessible to Australian cancer researchers, regardless of the type of cancer they study. This is helping prevent the best and brightest scientists from moving elsewhere or changing jobs. The support of H&R Block, as well as other corporate partners, continues to help ACRF provide the sector with the lifeline that it needs. “At H&R Block we value the health and wellbeing of all Australians, so we’re proud to assist ACRF in its goal to deliver the highest impact in an area of vital need. Too many people are suffering from the effects of cancer, so being even a small part of the solution is both humbling and gratifying,” said Brodie Dixon, managing director of H&R Block.
New research study explains how cancer cells resist treatment Posted on May 31, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Cancer researchers at grant recipient, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne have worked out how a new class of anticancer drugs kill cancer cells. The finding also helps explain how cancer cells may become resistant to treatment. Dr Zhen Xu, Professor David Huang, Dr Stefan Glaser and colleagues studied a class of anti-cancer drugs called BET inhibitors, which are considered promising new drugs for the treatment of blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphomas. BET inhibitors reduce tumour growth by blocking BET proteins, a family of proteins that control whether genes are switched on or off. Although it has been known that BET inhibitors are effective at halting tumour growth, it has been unclear whether the drugs kill cancer cells outright. The research team found that when tumours are treated with drugs, some resistant cancer cells can survive and continue to grow, leading to disease relapse. In the process, they identified potential ways in which cancer cells may develop resistance to BET inhibitors. The experiments revealed that BET inhibitors principally act to kill cancer cells through the process of programmed cell death (apoptosis). For BET inhibitors to successfully kill lymphoma and myeloid leukaemia cells the presence of a protein called BIM, which brings on apoptosis, was critical. “We found that when apoptosis was impaired, for instance by the loss of BIM, the BET inhibitors were no longer effective,” Dr Xu said. “This suggests that cancer cells that acquire mutations in genes that drive apoptosis will lose sensitivity to BET inhibitors and thus will be able to survive treatment, leading to disease relapse.” Dr Glaser said that knowing how BET inhibitors worked could help researchers develop improved strategies for using these drugs to treat cancer. “Understanding how the drugs work gives us the opportunity to investigate new treatments, for example by using combination therapies, or altering the dosage and timing of treatment to prevent drug resistance from emerging,” Dr Glaser said. The original news post was published on the WEHI website. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute by providing three grants, totalling AUD 5.5million, towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology.
Stevie saddles up for cancer research Posted on May 26, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “Dad was a typical country guy. He was always dressed in a flannel shirt with his shoulder-length hair tied into a ponytail. Nine years ago we lost him to lung cancer. I was just 12-years-old and my older sister was 15. Since then, my family has participated in various events to help raise funds for cancer research, including an annual charity walk. This year, I was inspired to do something a little different. I’d recently been thinking about the loving horse my dad left to my sister and me when he passed away. I realised this beautiful horse is one of the last things I have of my dad. So I decided I would plan a Horse-riding Fundraiser to honour him and support cancer research. His horse is named Boston and they had a really beautiful connection – my dad adored her and you could tell that she really loved him too. She would always come right over when he called her. My sister and I now look after her. She’s a very quiet and gentle horse, but she’s also the boss – and she knows it! Our family has always had a love for horses. Both my parents rode – mum used to ride in competitions all the time, but dad did it just for the love of it. When my sister and I were growing up we loved listening to all their horse stories and going on rides with them. It was so special to have that time together and I’ll always cherish those memories. I now have a beautiful one-year-old daughter and it saddens me to know that she’ll never get to meet her pop and that my dad will never get to meet his granddaughter. I hope that together we can make great memories of horse-riding too. Even before she could walk we would sit with her on the back of Boston and gently lead her around, she loved it. I’ll actually be riding Boston on the day of the charity ride. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy a day with these beautiful animals and show their support for cancer research. People are encouraged to bring their horses along. We’ll be organising market stalls and entertainment to help make the day as fun as possible. The fundraiser will be held at Chapman Valley Horse Riding. They have generously donated the use of their 8,000 acres to the cause. It’s located in Howes Valley, which is an hour drive from Pokolbin and a two-hour drive from Sydney and Newcastle. There will also be a camping area for people to stay overnight and make a weekend of it. The only fee for the day will be $35 per person to ride and $10 per car to camp on the grounds. Cancer research is a cause close to my heart and being able to do this in the memory of my dad means the world to me. I’m so proud to be doing my part to help support the amazing researchers who are working to end cancer.” ACRF supporter, Stevie Lee Ackley To register or learn more about the event, please contact Stevie directly at stevie.ackley@hotmail.com. If you can’t attend but would like to help Stevie reach her fundraising goal, click here.
More genetic risk factors for endometrial cancer uncovered Posted on May 24, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit Cancer researchers at ACRF grant recipient, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, along with research teams from the University of Cambridge and Oxford University, have discovered five new gene regions that increase a woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer affects the lining of the uterus. It is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women, with nearly 2,500 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2016. The study was led by the head of the Molecular Cancer Epidemiology laboratory at QIMR Berghofer, Associate Professor Amanda Spurdle, and has been published in Nature Genetics. Associate Professor Spurdle said the findings helped to paint a clearer picture of the genetic causes of endometrial cancer in women who do not have a strong family history of cancer. “Up until now, we have only known about four gene regions in women in the general population that contribute to the risk of developing endometrial cancer,” Associate Professor Spurdle said. “In this study, we have identified another five, bringing the total to nine. This finding doubles the number of risk regions we know of, and therefore significantly increases our knowledge of the genetic drivers of endometrial cancer.” The study also looked at how the identified gene regions might be increasing the risk of other cancers, and what the implications would be for the future treatment of endometrial cancer patients. Interestingly, several of the gene regions we identified in the study were already known to contribute to the risk of other common cancers. “As we develop a more comprehensive view of the genetic risk factors for endometrial cancer, we can start to work out which genes could potentially be targeted with new treatments down the track,” Associate Professor Spurdle said. “In particular, we can start looking into whether there are drugs that are already approved and available for use that can be used to target those genes. Our genetic findings may also be useful, together with our knowledge of other risk factors, to identify women at risk of endometrial cancer so they can be regularly checked and be alert to the signs and symptoms.” The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute by providing three grants, totalling AUD 6.65million, towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology. The original news post was published on the QIMR Berghofer website.
Introducing our 2016 City2Surf Ambassador! Posted on May 20, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit We’re excited to announce our first ever Team ACRF City2Surf Ambassador, Jessica Broome. Jess is an incredibly positive young woman with a close connection to cancer research. We are honoured to have her join us this year as our Ambassador. The last time Jess ran with Team ACRF was in 2014. Her Dad had been diagnosed with cancer eight years earlier, and she ran in support of his journey. After crossing the finish line, having raised over $1,600 for cancer research, she celebrated with a toast to her Dad. This year Jess will be running again. “I’m passionate about cancer research because I lost my Dad to cancer in April this year. A month before we lost him, I watched him walk up the hospital hallway and achieve the massive goal he had been working towards with his physio team. It seemed impossible to most of us, but he was always determined to get better. He was a fighter, not just as a fireman, but in the way he refused to give up. We were fortunate that he qualified for numerous medical trials which managed to get him through each year. For ten years they kept coming back with something new, like a magic trick that the researchers would pull out of a hat. Each new trial medication that came around, he would give it a go – no matter what. There were many years where we thought to ourselves: ‘This is it. This is the last Christmas, this is the last father’s day’…but it never was. Thanks to those trials our family was able to spend more precious time with him, which meant so much to us. Dad loved to travel, so we were able to get in some extra holidays together. He also had the chance to ensure his family, including his now 94-year-old Mum, would be okay. We even managed to squeeze in a few more parties with him! Mum and I were playing all his favourite songs on his last day, one of those songs was Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett. We were dancing around his bed like mad women.They say that hearing is the last thing to go, so I just know this would have made him happy. He suffered many different cancers over the last ten years, but it was brain cancer that took him in the end. I feel that was the worst for him to go through. I’d really like to see a trial medication to treat this, other than steroids and pain killers. I know researchers are going to get there in time. This is why I have decided to participate in this year’s City2Surf for cancer research. It’s a great way to support a great cause. I’m not the best runner, but I really enjoy it. I think it will probably be quite a challenge as I haven’t been running for quite a while. My Dad was always telling me to get back into it, so now I’m doing it! I think he would really love that I’m getting involved. He always liked to make sure he thanked people when they helped him. So this is my thank you on his behalf. I’ll know I’ll probably cry through the finish line, but afterwards, I plan to throw one hell of a party! That’s how he would do it!” Jessica Broome ACRF City2Surf Ambassador
New genome sequencing technologies for childhood cancer patients Posted on May 18, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit Australian children with high-risk cancer will have access to new genome sequencing technologies that could help guide their treatment thanks to the Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project. The Zero Childhood Cancer Program launched in September 2015 and is currently one of the most detailed genetic and biological analyses of children’s cancer globally. The Lions Kids Cancer Genome project will serve as an important new component to the program as it expands its efforts. Whole genome sequencing will take place following diagnosis or relapse of cancers with the poorest prognoses, such as brain tumours. Sequencing looks at each child’s entire genome and its 20,000+ genes in order to define the genetic changes associated with a given cancer. This makes it possible to develop personalised cancer treatment by integrating genetic information with other biological and clinical data. In addition, the study will identify genetic changes in each child’s DNA that might predispose a person to cancer, helping to build up a database of genetic risk factors that could assist with prevention and treatment strategies in the future. At any one time in Australia, over 2,000 children, adolescents, and young adults, are on active treatment for cancer or at risk of relapse. In most cases, the treatments used are general, non-targeted, cytotoxic drugs and the side effects from treatment can be serious and lifelong. The Zero Childhood Cancer Program is a national initiative of Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) and The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, giving hope to children with the highest risk of treatment failure or relapse. Genome sequencing and analysis for the project will be carried out at Garvan Institute of Medical Research’s Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics. The Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project is supported by the Lions Club International Foundation and by the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation. The project will roll out through the Zero Childhood Cancer Program to children’s hospitals across Australia in 2017. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) welcomes the new initiative and partnership which will contribute towards improving children’s quality of life and ending all childhood cancers. ACRF has supported Children’s Cancer Institute, including the Zero Childhood Program, by providing three grants, totalling AUD $5.1million, towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology. ACRF has also supported cancer research at Garvan Institute of Medical Research, including the Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, with three grants, totalling AUD $6.13million. The original news post was published on the CCI and Garvan websites.
A taste of hope Posted on May 17, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF corporate supporter, Bob Warner, is the owner of Betta Buy Wine. He has been funding cancer research since 2010. “Ending cancer is one of the paramount issues in health today. Sadly, I have had many close friends who have lost their lives to this terrible disease. Cancer can affect any one of us – children, the fit and healthy, and the aged alike. It knows no boundaries. We must help to bring it to an end. Here at Betta Buy Wine we thought it was time to, again, support our friends at the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) to help raise funds for vital cancer research. When we delved into the history of fundraising we found that many wineries around the world have been involved in raising funds for an assortment of different community causes. So we decided to source a selection of fantastic wines that are among the top boutique wineries in Australia. And to encourage people to support ACRF, we’ve discounted them. When customers purchase from this range, we will donate $25 from the sale to ACRF. I have been supporting the ACRF for a number of years because I know that the dollars raised go to where funding is needed the most. By supporting our wine fundraiser you will receive great value, and at the same time help end cancer. We hope everyone enjoys these magnificent wines and the goodwill feeling that goes along with supporting a worthwhile cause. I would encourage everyone to get on board and support cancer research in any way they can, because every dollar counts.” Bob Warner, ACRF Corporate Supporter – Betta Buy Wine
Celebrating a special group of people Posted on May 12, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit This week, Volunteering Australia are celebrating all the benefits that volunteers bring to Australia with the theme Give Happy, Live Happy. And we want to take this opportunity to thank all the ACRF volunteers who play a large part in our mission to end cancer. “There is so much more to volunteering than simply giving your time and skills to help others,” says Brett Williamson, OAM, CEO Volunteering Australia. “This week we say thank you to the six million Australian volunteers and celebrate that they are living healthier, happier and more meaningful lives by volunteering.” Associate Professor Dr Thomas Nielsen, University of Canberra, says “Volunteering is a core part of the community and plays a critical role in Australian society, and in Australia’s economy. Volunteers form a formidable workforce powering many essential community services and supports.” This is certainly true at the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Our volutneers play a vital role and so we are extremely grateful for all that they do. With their help, we can continue to reduce the impact of cancer by funding world-class cancer research. A special thank you goes out to the individuals that give their support in our office and to the ACRF cheer squad who encourage our runners at marathon events. We are also very appreciative of the amazing Cancerian Committees who host events across the country to raise funds, and to our corporate partners who volunteer their time to and share their professional skills. Volunteering is a positive and inspiring way to help any cause and your enthusiasm, positivity and a dedication are the only qualifications you need! If you would like to find out more about how you can volunteer with the ACRF, click here. To register interest for ACRF volunteering opportunities please email info@acrf.com.au or call us on 1300 884 988 to see what is available.
The forever kind of friend Posted on May 11, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF supporter, Brett will be participating in Perth’s Run for a Reason in memory of his best friend Steph. “Twenty years ago, at 18 years old, Steph and I met through a friend and grew close from that day on. We were quite similar – we both loved to socialise and have fun. We were always laughing and never took life too seriously. Her quick, witty humour was my favourite part about her. Throughout our years of friendship, I would have to say, she helped shape me into the person I am today. Just under two years ago, Steph found out she had bowel cancer. It was devastating news but we thought, since she was young, her chances of survival would be good. They weren’t. When the tests came in we were told she had stage four cancer and it had already spread throughout her body. Steph, being the trooper that she was, fought a hard eight months and went through 20 rounds of chemo before passing last year. And she did it all with the utmost grace, I will always admire that. I decided to raise funds for cancer research because I felt I had to do something to help. This is the first time in my life that something like this has happened. Before Steph, I’d never lost anyone close to me. I believe it’s so important to support cancer research. Cancer is such and cruel and unforgiving disease and until it affects you or a loved one, you don’t realise how important it is to improve early detection and treatments for patients. This is my first running event. Since Steph’s passing, I was looking for a way to play some part in raising money for cancer research and Run for a Reason seemed like the perfect opportunity. Thank you to all my generous friends and family who have been so keen to support me. I hope that, by sharing this story, I can encourage others to get involved and come together to help end cancer.” – Brett Stubbs-Mills, ACRF supporter If you would like to show your support for Brett, please click here.
Cancer research develops new drug to enhance cancer treatment Posted on May 4, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Cancer researchers at the ACRF grant recipient, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research have developed a new drug that could be used to repair blood vessel defects and allow for more targeted and effective cancer treatment delivery. Current treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy can struggle to enter a tumour because the blood vessels that fuel it have become malformed. Tumours require a lot of nutrients so many times this causes blood vessels to re-direct towards the tumour, leading to abnormalities in the vessels. The drug that was developed by Woodside Professor Ruth Ganss and her team discovered that smooth muscle cells that line blood vessels to give them shape and help them pump blood often break down in tumours. Once the smooth muscle cells break down, the blood vessel becomes leaky, reducing blood flow and preventing chemotherapy and immune cells from travelling into the tumour. Professor Ganss said the new drug works by repairing the smooth muscle cells and returning normal blood flow to the vessels, allowing anti-cancer drugs to reach the tumour’s core. “To achieve greater absorption of anti-cancer drugs, the blood vessels are really key,” Professor Ganss said. “Helping stem the spread of cancer.” Professor Ganss said the defect in smooth muscle cells lining blood vessels in cancer could also be a catalyst for the cancer to spread. “It could be that once the smooth muscle cells break down and the blood vessels become leaky, cancer cells are able to slip out of the tumours and migrate through the bloodstream to spread to different parts of the body.” “We are currently investigating whether our drug could help stem the spread of cancer in a patient by repairing the leaky blood vessels.” The original news article was published on the Harry Perkins website. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research by providing two grants, totalling AUD 3.6million, towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology.
How will you celebrate this Mother’s Day? Posted on April 29, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and many of us are starting to think about meaningful Mother’s Day gifts. Wouldn’t a world without cancer be the greatest gift of all this Mother’s Day? These three gift ideas will make mum smile and fund research to end cancer. Donate in lieu of a gift Many ACRF supporters choose to make an in-celebration donation in lieu of traditional gifts. A Mother’s Day donation is a thoughtful gift idea that will help fund world-class cancer research. And as thanks, we’ll send your mum a lovely card to acknowledge your generous contribution. Click here to make a donation. Purchase an Entertainment book for her Get her an Entertainment Book! It’s full of deals on things you could do together. From each book purchased, 20% percent of the sale will go directly to cancer research. Click here to order. Order a Mother’s Day hamper Treat your mum to a gorgeous charity hamper filled with luxury products. 10% of proceeds will help scientists advance research into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. View the hampers here. Your support will bring new hope to cancer patients and their families around the world. Families like Gemma’s. “For a couple of years now, my mum has been fighting cancer with unfathomable strength and courage. While our family has had both good and bad days, Mum is a true warrior and has kept us positive and moving forward, as we stand by her side. She has spent her entire life putting everyone else before herself, and even now, she wishes for nothing more than everyone else’s happiness. This illness has turned all our lives upside down, and this happens every day to families all over the world. We are determined to help end cancer, and we cannot do this without research.” We are very grateful to have supporters who choose to mark special occasions such as Mother’s Day by contributing to the fight against cancer. Read more on Gemma’s story here.
I’m still standing Posted on April 28, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit “Ian and I will have been married for 46 years next month. We have spent very little time apart in those years. We have three adult children and four grandchildren. We both grew up in the country but spent some time in Brisbane before settling in the rural town of D’Aguilar, Queensland. On Valentine’s Day in 2004, a year after we moved, I found a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to undergo a major operation and travel to the city for daily radium treatments. Not only did cancer have a physical impact on my body, but it also affected me emotionally and financially. For a number of years after, I suffered panic attacks and became a recluse which made it incredibly difficult to work. Six years after my first diagnosis the breast cancer was back. Thankfully we managed to get through it all together. We never used to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but we do now because I am all clear and have been for six years now. However, our fight against this disease wasn’t over. A week before Christmas in 2014, Ian went to see the doctor in severe pain and he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors told him that unfortunately there was nothing they could do for him and that he should go home and get his affairs in order and enjoy what time he had left. After we had got all of our affairs in order, our son suggested we have a “wake” as Ian was always saying how unfair it was that you’re not there to party with your friends and family when you die. So we had a pre-departure wake last year. It was just what we both needed – over 120 people came and it was a fantastic day. During the day of celebrations, Ian told everyone to save the date for an ‘I’m Still Standing’ celebration in 2016 as he would still be here. And he was right. Because Ian was keeping well, his doctors did an endless amount of scans, blood tests, and biopsies and discovered that he had a Neuroendocrine Tumour. This is a slow-growing form of pancreatic cancer, but it is still terminal. It has been an endless roller coaster ride of emotions, with a lot of twists and turns, but we are grateful for this extra time to enjoy together. Cancer is an insidious disease that affects so many people. In the past five years, we’ve lost two brothers-in-law, I very recently lost my brother, and now I’m losing a good friend, and my husband – all to terminal cancer. I nearly lost Ian at Christmas this year, but the fantastic staff at the Redcliffe Oncology performed a miracle and like Ian had promised, he is still here. My darling Ian is such a fighter, so I have decided to make his “I’m Still Standing” celebration day into a fundraiser for cancer research. I wanted to make a difference and help the dedicated and hardworking researchers bring an end to cancer. We have been very humbled by the wonderful love and support of family and friends and even strangers. While I have been organising the fundraiser I have been blown away by people’s generosity. Thank you to everyone who has kindly helped this day come together. It’s going to be a fantastic event filled with lots of music, laughter, great prizes and everyone is welcome. We’ll also hold an auction, a cut and colour for cancer and have an open mic for anyone who wants to sing on the day. I would really encourage others to donate or fundraise for cancer research because you may one day help save someone you love! I hope that maybe our story will give someone else some comfort in their own struggle with cancer.” ACRF supporter, Carol Robinson
The Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove thank ACRF supporters Posted on April 21, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The Canberra Cancerians Committee is one of the most successful fundraising groups for cancer research in Australia. To date, they have raised more than $3.2 million for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Over the years, they have earned a reputation for staging some of the most sought after and glamorous events on the Canberra social calendar, which includes their prestigious annual Gala Dinner. The ACRF is very grateful for the efforts of this incredible group of volunteer fundraisers. Last week the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove hosted a reception to recognise the efforts of this committee and thank them for their generous contributions to cancer research over the years. Below you will find his speech. “On behalf of Lynne and I, I welcome you to Government House. Everyone here knows what a terrible disease cancer is. It kills nearly 50,000 Australians every year. And we all know someone, a relative or friend, whose life has been deeply affected by it. What we need to do is beat this disease. We often hear the phrase ‘imagine a world without cancer’. Well, wouldn’t that be a great thing? But imagination only goes so far. A world without cancer can be achieved but it will be achieved through research: world-class research that helps us to better prevent and diagnose cancers and develop new treatments and cures. This is what will beat cancer. This is what will save lives. This is what drove the ACRF’s founders, Sonia McMahon and Sir Peter Abeles, and it is what lies at the very heart of your work and the work of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Today is about recognising the Canberra Cancerians and the foundation they support. It is about saying thank you. Thank you for the $121 million in grants provided by the ACRF to hospitals, universities and researchers across Australia. Thank you for helping researchers at the University of Queensland find new ways to detect lung cancer before it gets a chance to spread. Thank you for supporting the John Curtin School of Medical Research to see if our native plants may hold the answers to new cures and treatments. I could go on and on, but in short it will suffice to say that thanks to supporters like you, the foundation has transformed the scale and scope of cancer research in this country. So take a moment to be proud of yourselves and all that you do—because what you do is remarkable, it is making a difference and it is appreciated by so many. You are giving back, you are saving lives and you are part of a wonderful community and a wonderful foundation that is tackling cancer—head on. And as tough as cancer may be, we’ll beat it, you’ll beat it—because not even cancer is a match for the spirit and determination I see in this room.”- His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd)
Australian melanoma rates improve Posted on April 13, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit A study found that rates of invasive melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, have started to decline in Australia and are predicted to keep falling over the next 15 years. Researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute have found that Australia no longer has the highest per capita rates of invasive melanoma in the world, after being overtaken by New Zealand. Researchers compared the rates of melanoma in six populations over a 30-year period from 1982 to 2011. The six populations were Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and the caucasian population of the United States. The researchers found that melanoma rates in Australia increased from about 30 cases per 100,000 people in 1982 and peaked at nearly 49 cases per 100,000 people in 2005. The rates then declined to about 48 cases per 100,000 people in 2011. Invasive melanoma rates in New Zealand reached about 50 cases per 100,000 people in 2011. Professor David Whiteman, who led the study, said Australia was the only one of the six populations where melanoma rates had begun to fall overall. “We think the main reason for this decline is that Australia has put a huge effort into primary prevention campaigns since the 1980s,” Professor Whiteman said. “Australians have become more ‘sun smart’ as they have become more aware of the dangers of melanoma and other skin cancers. Schools, workplaces and childcare centres have also introduced measures to decrease exposure to harmful UV radiation.” “This has contributed to a decline in melanoma rates in people under the age of about 50.” “Unfortunately, rates of melanoma are still increasing in people over the age of about 50. This is probably because many older people had already sustained sun damage before the prevention campaigns were introduced, and those melanomas are only appearing now, many decades after the cancer-causing exposure to sunlight occurred.” Despite the fall in average melanoma rates per 100,000 people, the overall number of invasive melanomas diagnosed in Australia is still rising and is expected to increase from 11,162 cases per year from 2007-2011, to 12,283 cases per year from 2012-2016. Professor Whiteman said this was due to the ageing of the Australian population, as well as overall population growth. “Melanomas occur most commonly in older people. As Australia’s population ages, the number of melanomas diagnosed will continue to increase,” he said. “The picture in Australia at the moment is mixed. While it’s good news that average melanoma rates have started to fall, the fact that the actual number of cases is still rising is bad news.” The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported cancer research at QMRI Berghofer by providing three grants, totalling AUD 6.65million towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology.
Mark’s eyes are on the finish line Posted on April 8, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “I am 44 years old and have lived in Australia now for over 10 years. Last year, I had a very big scare when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had to have my kidney removed as a result. Discovering the cancer was completely incidental. I had no symptoms or impaired renal function. About eight months ago I was admitted to the hospital with lower bowel pain. The doctors performed a CT scan and found that I had colitis. They also noticed something that looked like a cyst in my right kidney. They advised me to get it investigated further so a few weeks later I had another scan. The result came back as “consistent with a cystic renal cell carcinoma.” It was in the very centre of my kidney. It was just two months from when we first saw the mass, to when I underwent surgery to remove my whole kidney. In that time the mass had doubled in size and the final pathology found that it was a grade 2 cystic renal cell carcinoma. Whilst I have enjoyed a good recovery and my prognosis is very good, there are many people and families who are not so fortunate. We need better diagnosis and treatments to help battle this terrible illness that has struck down so many of our loved ones. To help raise funds for cancer research, I decided to run in the Australian Running Festival’s Canberra Times half marathon. In 2015, I participated in the half marathon to prove to myself that I could still be healthy and active after a spinal fusion I’d had a few years earlier. This year I’ll be motivated to raise funds for cancer research, not only because of my own battle but for all my family and friends who have battled cancer, many of whom have sadly passed away. I want to try for a personal best but I have had to make big changes to my training. The biggest being that that I have only had eight weeks to prepare. Prior to that, I was not allowed to do any exercise, as I had to allow the stomach muscles to completely heal. It will make this year’s half marathon very challenging for me but running is not just about the physical activity, it also takes mental endurance. I hope that we can encourage more people to support cancer research so that the teams of scientists – the unsung heroes in this battle, can achieve breakthroughs that save lives. Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me over the past six months as I have recovered and to those who have so generously donated to my page.” – ACRF supporter, Mark Potten. To support Mark’s fundraising page, click here.
Michelle faces her fears to honour her brother Posted on April 6, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF supporter Michelle Ross will be facing her fear to help end cancer. “Three years ago, my brother Robbie found out that he had cancer at just 27 years old. His doctors found a large tumour in his leg that had to be surgically removed. Although the surgery left him with permanent nerve damage from his ankle down, he had received the all clear. Unfortunately, his battle was not over. Two years later he began having back troubles and a scan revealed that cancer had returned. This time, it was in his shoulders, his femurs, his lower back and his chest. He fought through a major shoulder replacement which resulted in the loss of almost all movement in his arm. This was followed by months of radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Last year, just before Christmas, we received the good news that he was again in remission. Watching my brother go through this had really touched my heart. It was amazing to see all the support the hard working nurses and doctors gave Robbie. So to say thank you, I decided to help raise funds for cancer research. Robbie has been facing what would be anyone’s worst fear. In honour of his courage, I wanted to attempt to face one of my fears and jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet. I signed up to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation’s JUMP! tandem skydiving program. Since I’ve signed up, Robbie’s health has worsened. He started having back pain again and after a recent scan, doctors found that the cancer had returned for a third time in the vertebras of his lower back and he’s had to undergo more chemotherapy. Two weeks ago his legs gave way and he had a fall. The cancer has paralysed him from his belly button down and he can no longer walk. My family has come together with so much strength and love to support my brother through this hard time. Robbie is now in a wheelchair full-time and my parents have moved in to care for him at his home in Sydney. I want to help find a cure for families in the future. No one should have to go through what my brother and so many people are going through. I am so thankful for the amazing fundraising support that I have received from my friends and even strangers. Too many people you talk to in the street, know a family member or friend going through cancer and I hope that one day we end cancer once and for all.” ACRF supporter, Michelle Ross To support Michelle visit: https://jump.everydayhero.com/au/michelle
New Sydney cancer research centre looks into metabolic causes of cancer Posted on March 31, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The Centenary Institute, in partnership with the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) and Sydney Catalyst, today opened the new ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Centre at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre in Camperdown. The new centre will focus on two key specialist areas of cancer research – understanding the inflammatory and metabolic causes of cancer and the drivers behind cancer-driven blood clotting. By investigating these two areas, the research team hopes to unveil how changes in metabolism support cancer growth and how these changes can be controlled by new treatments and therapies. The ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Centre will be headed by Professor Philip Hogg, a world-renowned researcher whose expertise lies in the discovery of new cancer-active drugs and therapies. The centre will host a team of over 40 dedicated cancer researchers whose capability spans fundamental research to clinical trials. “I would like to thank ACRF and their supporters for funding the new centre. It will significantly expand the Centenary Institute’s capabilities in cancer research and accelerate the development of new treatments for cancer patients,” said Professor Hogg. “Having this new facility has also helped us attract a brilliant team that includes some of the world’s leading scientific minds.” ACRF’s CEO, Dr Ian Brown said, “Supporters of ACRF helped lay the foundation for this centre, a centre that will help the team at Centenary reveal key information that will help inform better cancer treatments which is an exciting step forward.” The new centre is located within the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and is the first dedicated cancer research centre in the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital and The University of Sydney Precinct. The establishment has been a collaborative effort lead by the Centenary Institute and included the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, Sydney Catalyst, Sydney University, the Charles Perkins Centre, RPA Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Image from left: ACRF Chairman Mr Tom S Dery AO, NSW Minister for Medical Research, The Hon. Pru Goward, MP, Centre Director Professor Philip Hogg and Executive Director Mathew Vadas AO.
Jake takes on Mt Aspiring for cancer research Posted on March 29, 2016November 10, 2021 by Carly du Toit ACRF supporter, Jake Hesson, has first-hand experience of the devastating effect of cancer on families. He recently embarked on a unique fundraising challenge to raise funds for a cause close to his heart. “Almost all of us, at some point in time, will be touched by cancer. Over the past 2 years, this disease has significantly affected a number of my family members, as well as my friends and their families. I recently lost two uncles and an aunt to cancer and now my father is also undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer. I became inspired by the work of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and wanted to help make a difference for families suffering from cancer. My brother is a cancer researcher so I know just how important charitable grants, like the ACRF grants, are to the scientific community. I chose to combine my love of alpine mountaineering with fundraising and decided to take on New Zealand’s Mt Aspiring. Not only is this mountain one of the most beautiful in the world, it was also going to be a very physical challenge. I’ve been climbing since 2012 and have done a number of trekking trips. However, I had never climbed anything as technically difficult as this and certainly nothing quite as exposed! I did the trip with just one very experienced (and very patient) guide. The highlight of my trip was definitely the isolation, absolute silence and beauty of the mountains. One night I woke up at 3:30 am and when I stepped out of the tent I looked at the summit and the Milky Way. It was all brighter than I had ever seen. It seemed to be coming directly from the top of the mountain. My advice to others thinking about supporting cancer research is to just do it! It doesn’t matter how you are planning to raise funds, the important thing is to try. Every donation contributes to advancements in cancer research and the sense of achievement and pride you will feel is really worth it. I’d like to make a special note of gratitude to my employer, QBE (Australia) and the QBE Foundation for matching the sums I raised and donating almost $3,000 directly to ACRF.” – Jake Hesson, ACRF supporter. Thank you to Jake and QBE for their generous contributions to cancer research. Corporate Matching Schemes are a great way for you make the most of your fundraising efforts. If you have been involved in a fundraising event for ACRF, it could be worth asking your employer if they offer a Corporate Matching Scheme.
Shave to Save supports cancer research Posted on March 22, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Young Western Australian siblings, Prem and Mansi Aghera, together with their friends, Amee Bhuva and Ravi Ghodasara, raised over $6,000 for cancer research. We spoke to Prem about their amazing ‘Shave to Save’ fundraiser. “My sister, Mansi was affected by cancer some time ago, so cancer research is a cause close to home. Mansi wanted this fundraiser to be a tribute to those who aren’t as lucky as her and to help researchers bring an end cancer. We know first-hand how cancer affects patients and their families and we wanted to help prevent more families from going through what we had to. Apart from raising money, we also thought it was equally important to show solidarity with current cancer patients. We know that sometimes patients who lose their hair feel embarrassed and try to cover up. We hoped that by shaving our heads and proudly strutting around with our new looks that we could encourage people going through treatment to feel confident, with or without hair. We wanted to spread awareness of the importance of cancer research and get as many people involved as possible. By choosing to shave our head we attracted a lot of interest in our community. The ‘Shave to Save’ fundraiser was our way of showing everyone who is battling this disease that our community is standing with them – and we were overwhelmed by the support. Honestly, I don’t know why we didn’t do this sooner! We are truly humbled by the incredible support we’ve received over the past few months and we hope we’ve made a positive impact. We chose to support the ACRF because the main aim of the foundation is to eradicate cancer altogether, and that’s our ultimate aim too. While there is a long road ahead, we have seen the impact a small fundraiser can have. I believe that if people unite together we will continue to get closer to a future without cancer.” – ACRF supporter, Prem Aghera
FDC conquered the Rottnest Island Swim for Cancer Research Posted on March 18, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Thank you to our corporate supporters, FDC! A team from the Western Australian construction business took on the 19km Rottnest Swim challenge late last month. Their swimmers – Mark, Monique, Sveta and April along with support crew Ed, Jason and John were all very excited to be fundraising for a cause close to their hearts. “A number of people in our office have recently been touched by different types of cancer. So we chose to compete in this challenge to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation because they are committed to ending all types of cancer. We received wonderful support from our work colleagues, friends, families and extended community. We encouraged everyone we knew to get behind our team and help us reach our target by donating their spare change or coffee money to cancer research. Together we were able to raise close to $3,000 for a charity we value so highly. The highlights on the day were all of us working together and having a laugh, everyone was very supportive – team members and competitors alike. This made our experience very enjoyable and we have been talking about doing the race again next year. Most of us know someone that is either fighting cancer or has been directly affected by it in one way or another. With the shocking stats out there we are proud that we could do our bit to help researchers find a cure for all cancers.” – ACRF supporter, April Moir To support the team, visit their everyday hero page. Photo supplied by Aussies in Action.
A motorcycle trek in memory of two great men Posted on March 16, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF supporter, Daniel Kranz is a 36-year-old father of two. He lives with his wife, Hannah, in Tinonee. In addition to recently starting his own skateboard manufacturing business, he is also busy planning an epic postie trek to honour two special men whom he lost to cancer. “The Jindaboonda Postie Trek is a motorcycle ride of over 3,000km to raise funds for cancer research in memory of Dennis Jeffers (Jindaboonda). Last year pancreatic cancer took this awesome husband, father, son, grandfather, uncle and mate away from us. And what’s worse is Den wasn’t the first person I’ve lost to cancer. In 2001, I lost my Grandad, Murray Kranz, to leukaemia. Den and I were always trying to organise a ride together but unfortunately that never happened. Losing him so suddenly left our family utterly shell-shocked. I wanted to make something positive out of something so negative and organise this epic ride to celebrate the memory of him, my Grandad and everyone else who is afflicted by cancer. And what better way to help a family heal, than to get everyone together doing something these men loved, and in the process raise funds to help fight the disease that took them away. A love of motorcycling wasn’t the only similarity between Den and Murray. They were both devoted family men who were respected and adored by everyone that knew them. We are told time and again by numerous people how positive their impact was on the community and how dearly missed they are. They were fine examples of how to be a good human being. Both men were also very passionate about their careers. Den was an ecologist and ‘Jindaboonda’ was the name given to him by the members of the Biripi community after he worked with them extensively, teaching them about native plant seed propagation and bush regeneration. Murray was a mechanic and in his retirement he restored several old 40s and 50s motorcycles. I guess once motorcycling is in your blood – you’re hooked for life. Anyone who rides a motorcycle will agree with me that it’s about as close to complete freedom as you can get. Over 20 riders have registered for the trek so far. A large crew of extended family and close friends will also be following in support vehicles. I think all those postie bikes riding in group formation through town should get quite a lot of attention for the cause! We’ve even had a few people who obtained their licences just to take part in the trek. One such rider is Emma. She lost her mum to cancer three and half years ago, and there was no way she was missing out on doing the ride. We chose to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation because it was important to us that we raise funds for an organisation that contributes to the research of all forms of cancer. When we approached the ACRF, they were so helpful and assisted me to get the ball rolling. It’s been a positive experience right from the start. We’re all working hard to fundraise as much as we can in the memory our loved ones, and in the process, we’re having an adventure and healing together. Thank you to all the participants, to everyone who has donated and sponsored us, and to all those who have helped us out so far.” – Daniel Kranz, ACRF supporter. To support the Jindaboonda Postie Trek, click here.
Melbourne researchers trial new leukaemia treatment Posted on March 8, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit In a world-first clinical trial, Melbourne medical researchers have shown that patients with an advanced form of leukaemia can achieve complete remission with a new tablet treatment.The trials were conducted at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, in collaboration with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, as well as trial sites in the US. Clinical trials of the potent new anti-cancer drug Venetoclax showed it was effective in killing cancer cells in people with advanced forms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) when conventional treatment options had been exhausted. Seventy-nine percent of those involved in the trial had promising responses to the new therapy – including twenty percent who went into a complete remission. A small number of patients had such a profound response that even very sensitive tests were unable to detect any remaining leukaemia in their bodies. CLL is one of the most common forms of leukaemia, with around 1,000 people diagnosed with this type of cancer in Australia every year. More than 350,000 people were estimated to have been diagnosed with leukaemia in 2012 worldwide, with incidence rates varying across the world. The drug has been granted priority review status by the US Federal Drug Agency (FDA) for treating some types of CLL. The designation is granted to medicines that the FDA has determined to have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a disease. Venetoclax was developed based on a landmark discovery made in the 1980s by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists that a protein called BCL-2 promoted cancer cell survival. Venetoclax was co-developed for clinical use by US pharmaceutical companies AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and was discovered as part of a joint research collaboration that involved Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists. Professor Andrew Roberts, a clinical haematologist at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and cancer researcher at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, said the drug works very specifically by overcoming the action of BCL-2. “Most trial patients responded positively to the therapy, showing substantial reductions in the number of leukaemia cells in their body. Many patients have maintained this response more than a year after their treatment began, and some patients remain in remission more than four years on,” Professor Roberts said. “High levels of BCL-2 protect the leukaemia cells from dying, so leukaemia cells can grow and become resistant to standard treatments. Venetoclax selectively targets the interaction responsible for keeping the leukaemia cells alive and, in many cases, we’ve seen the cancerous cells simply melt away.” Professor John Seymour, Chair of the Haematology Service at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre says, “The fact that a targeted drug, given on its own, can produce such a profound reduction in the leukaemia burden in the patient, to the point we cannot find leukaemia cells even with our best tests, underscores what a powerful strategy targeting the BCL-2 gene is.” These results set the foundation for building towards the dream of a cure for CLL. Phase 2 and phase 3 studies are currently being undertaken to test Venetoclax across a range of blood cancers globally, including at many sites in Australia. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported cancer research at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre by providing three major grants to both institutions, totalling AUD 12.5m. This news was first published on the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre website.
Cancer research uncovers promising new cancer drug Posted on March 1, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Cancer researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne have uncovered how nutlins, a type of small molecule inhibitor, contribute to cancer cell death. Until now, it was unknown whether nutlins were killing cancerous cells or suppressing them temporarily. In early clinical trials for treating blood cancers, Dr Liz Valente, Dr Brandon Aubrey, Professor Andreas Strasser and team discovered that nutlins are able to stop cancer growth by activating the body’s natural cancer-suppressing mechanism. They stimulate a gene called P53 to trigger programmed cell death of blood cancer cells while avoiding some of the damaging effects of chemotherapy. Dr Aubrey, who is also a clinical haematologist at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, said the discovery reinforced that nutlins were a promising new treatment for blood cancer. They also provided invaluable information for a more personalised approach to patient care. “Our findings will help identify which patients are most likely to benefit from nutlins and which types of cancers are most likely to respond to nutlins as a treatment,” Dr Aubrey said. “Understanding in detail how the drugs work will help in the design of better clinical trials and bring the world closer to more precise and personalised medical treatments for cancer.” Professor Strasser said previous research around P53 showed that one of the properties of the gene was to protect the healthy cells in the body. The gene has been identified as a major barrier to developing cancer. “Without the ‘help’ of P53, a damaged cell can be allowed to multiply, leading to cancer development. P53 lies dormant in many types of cancer – that do not have mutations in P53 – and the nutlins work through re-awakening its activity.” Professor Strasser said knowing more about what nutlins were capable of was a critical step towards developing more refined treatments for cancer. “By understanding how nutlins are killing cancer cells, we can begin to formulate their best possible use, including choosing the best partner drugs to combine the nutlins with,” Professor Strasser said. The research has been published in the journal Cell Reports. To view the original news article was published on the WEHI website, click here. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported WEHI by providing three grants, totalling AUD 5.5million towards cutting edge cancer research equipment and technology.
What research did for breast cancer patient, Shona Posted on February 25, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “My name is Shona. I’m a mother of two young girls, aged 6 and 10, and a police officer from Canberra. In November last year, a week after my 39th birthday, I discovered a lump in my left breast. I had never been diligent about self-checking. I always thought I was too young to contemplate breast cancer but I had a feeling that this lump hadn’t been there before. I reluctantly went to see my GP in the hope she would tell me it was nothing to worry about – she didn’t. She sent me in for testing and two days later I was booked in for an ultrasound and biopsy. The results came back the following day and I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. The next few days were all a whirlwind and it felt like my feet didn’t touch the ground. I was quickly referred to a breast cancer surgeon and put in contact with a breast care nurse at Calvary Hospital. Within two weeks of my diagnosis, I underwent a mastectomy. I will be forever grateful that my lymph nodes were clear and I was sent home from the hospital three days later. I recovered from the operation with absolutely no complications and was able to return to work a few weeks later. My medical team suggested that I have Oncotype DX testing to determine what treatment plan I would need. I only realised how important this testing was when the results came back and showed I wouldn’t have to undergo chemotherapy. Without the testing, my oncologist would have recommended chemotherapy. I am undergoing endocrine therapy, which is not without side effects, but thankfully they are minimal. Which means that I’ll be well enough to run in the Australian Running Festival half marathon in April to raise funds for cancer research. I have now been given the all clear and I consider myself very lucky. Sadly I lost my grandmother to bowel cancer and two amazing women in my extended family to breast cancer. I am the first woman in my immediate family to undergo treatment for breast cancer and I never want to see my sisters or daughters go through what I had to. I’m astounded by the overwhelming support I have received from my family, friends and especially my colleagues. I am so proud of my fellow brothers and sisters in blue, their generous donations have contributed to over 90% of my current fundraising total. We really try to support each other during the tough times – they are my extended family and I love them all. I will carry scars into the future as a testament to my battle but I am determined to not let cancer kill me. I have two amazing and beautiful daughters that need their mum and I am supported by the most incredible man I call my husband. This has been a tough time for me and my family but I am thankful that I am one of the lucky ones. Early detection and superb medical intervention means I will survive. I hope that by sharing my story I can make people aware of the importance of early detection and self-breast checks, and help raise funds for cancer research.” – ACRF supporter, Shona Davis. Click here to support Shona’s Canberra Times Half Marathon. Share your story
Barbas & Zacári – Your time is valuable Posted on February 15, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF corporate supporters, Tas Zacári and Emmanuel Barbas are two young entrepreneurial designers from Melbourne. They recently established a new watch brand, Barbas & Zacári which caters to those with a passion for minimalist style and gives customers an opportunity to contribute to the fight against cancer with every purchase. “To give back to a good cause and to do what we can to help, we decided to donate $5 (AUD) to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation for every watch sold. We are extremely proud to be supporters of cancer research and we can’t thank our customers enough for their support thus far. We are really excited to see what we can do in 2016,” said the founders. The brand promotes their watches alongside the hashtag #yourtimeisvaluable, to highlight the importance of cancer research and recognise that every hour we spend on this earth is valuable to each individual. “We think it’s marvellous that designers and young entrepreneurs are doing what they can to help us fund research into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all types of cancers,” said ACRF’s CEO Professor Ian Brown. Their first collection, released in December, offers five styles of contemporary and fashionable unisex watches that suit any occasion. For more information on Barbas & Zacári or to purchase one of these great time pieces, click here.
Basia and Gary’s Story Posted on February 15, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “I was pacing the lounge room floor feeding Grayce when I heard a car door slam out the front. Just for a second, I thought he’d come home, that he had been out for dinner with the boys, that the last six months had disappeared. It felt nice, for one second, like it used to be. I hope there are other fleeting moments like that. Because just for a second, I was in that other life and I remembered how it felt to be happy. I lost my husband, Gary, to oesophageal cancer 19 days after we were married. Our third child, Grayce, was born four weeks later. Though our time together was short we managed to fit a lot of life into those years. We also had lots of quiet moments, just enjoying spending time with each other. He was very hands-on around the house and with the children. There was nothing he loved more than to potter around on the weekends doing the jobs he had listed during the week, fixing things and finding better ways of doing things and then we would have our coffee mid-morning sitting in the backyard. We would email each other every day at work – just a few words here and there, or an interesting article. I miss all the little things that made our lives so much fun. The touch of his skin, a thousand gestures. Gary’s battle with cancer started on the 2nd of July and lasted for twelve and a half weeks. As the cancer ate away at Gary, I thought he looked more beautiful. His spirit, grace and dignity shone through more with each passing day. He was the perfect patient. He never complained and would try and help me help him as much as possible, even trying to lift and move his legs with his hands, and I would tell him off each time. That’s why we decided to call our daughter Grayce with a ‘y’ – grace for how much of it shone through him during this battle. The four letters of Gary’s name are carried on in the name of his daughter. That was his next goal, and what he told the doctors at his last oncology appointment. He wanted to meet his daughter. In the end I couldn’t ask it of him. I knew he could hear everything I was saying. I lay down on the bed next to him and put his right hand on top of my belly. I told him I loved him so. I said, ‘I don’t want to let you go but I have to. It’s time for you to go.’ He opened his eyes and deliberately blinked at me for the first time in hours. Then he took two more breaths and went. I still cannot bring myself to stretch out across the whole bed. It will mean finally admitting to myself that he won’t be riding his bike home and pushing it through the open door. That he won’t be bending down to hug the kids as they come running to greet him, squealing with delight. I know those things cannot happen but I still see them. I wish them. I live them in my head. They say memories are golden. Well maybe that’s true, but I never wanted memories, I only wanted you.” – ACRF Supporter, Basia We can’t bring Basia’s husband back to her but we can stand beside her while she continues to battle cancer through supporting research. To help her in her mission to protect others from having to go through what she went through click below. DONATE NOW
Cancer research to improve radiotherapy treatment Posted on February 4, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The radiotherapy research team at Ingham Institute is one of only three research teams in the world to develop a new technological concept and design to improve targeted radiotherapy. The technology, called MRI-Linac, combines an MRI magnet with a Linac Accelerator (a radiation cancer treatment machine) to improve the accuracy and precision of radiotherapy treatment for cancer. Radiotherapy is a mode of cancer treatment that uses a Linear Accelerator to produce X-rays that kill or damage tumours to stop them from growing. However, in doing this, the radiation process may also damage normal tissue in the way of the radiation beam during the treatment. Improving the accuracy of treatment will result in better treatment outcomes and fewer side effects for cancer patients. Until now the MRI and the Linac have worked separately. By joining them together as the MRI-Linac, the Ingham Institute has a system that enables a real-time view of tumours that stretches way beyond basic anatomy, including the chemical structure of tumours and normal tissues. The unique design of the system gives Ingham Institute scientists and cancer researchers the ability to position the treatment or radiation beam in two different arrangements which will improve accuracy further. “Radiation treatments for cancer must take into account changes that can occur to the location and shape of tumours, which move as a result of breathing, swallowing and other normal body changes. This is where the strength of the MRI-Linac system comes into play, as it is the only system that will enable us to target the tumour with the radiation beam much more accurately in real-time and have control over the radiation dose,” said Associate Professor Gary Liney, Senior MRI Physicist at the Ingham Institute. In 2014, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation provided a grant of AUD 2.5 million for the creation of The ACRF Image-X Institute at the Ingham Institute. The research is in its early days and the clinical applications of the new treatment are 5-10 years away.
A little girl with big dreams Posted on February 2, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit At only seven years old, Leah Paterson is one of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation’s youngest supporters. She’s been working to raise funds for cancer research in honour of her great-grandmother who is currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. Leah has earned a place as a finalist in the Junior Miss Diamond Australia 2016 pageant. The contest encourages participants to be part of a cause that helps others and teaches them how to fundraise for charity. As part of her quest to gain the title, Leah is required to represent her local area and choose a charity to partner with. Leah chose to support cancer research through the ACRF as her family has been touched by the horrible disease twice in the past few years. “My great-grandmother has been going through treatment for pancreatic cancer. And my mum also lost her uncle a few years ago to the same cancer. I am raising money so researchers can help fix people like my great-grandma by finding stronger ways to fight cancer,” said Leah. Leah is hoping to raise close to $2,000 before the pageant grand final in April. To help reach her target she been raising awareness about cancer research by doing various fundraising activities throughout her school and community. Leah’s mother and great-grandmother are very proud of Leah’s commitment to a cause so close to their hearts. “This contest is different to typical pageant competitions, it focuses on promoting community values and helps teach children that there is so much more to beauty than physical appearance,” said Leah’s mother, Sara.
Fighting blood cancers with new therapies Posted on January 29, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit Researchers at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne are pioneering the development of a new combination drug therapy to treat advanced blood cancers. The new therapy builds on a world-first clinical trial already underway at Peter Mac, which uses the drug CX-5461 to treat patients with incurable blood cancers such as myeloma, lymphoma and leukaemia. The new discovery, published in the journal Cancer Discovery, has shown promising results to date. The research team has found that CX-5461 could be even more effective when used in combination with another drug, Everolimus, already used to treat other cancers. The new combination has shown doubled survival times in pre-clinical laboratory models. According to Professor Rick Pearson, Head of Peter Mac’s Cancer Signalling Laboratory, the research findings significantly enhance understanding of pre-emptive strategies to kill off cancer cells before they have the chance to become resistant to therapy. “CX-5461 targets a particular process that is required for cancer cell survival. Our experiments show that adding Everolimus synergistically strengthens this attack, more rapidly and more effectively eradicating the killer disease.” “We know that all cells rely on ribosomes (protein builders of the cell Ed.) which act like a factory producing the proteins essential for their growth and survival,” said Professor Pearson. “Peter Mac researchers have previously shown that certain blood cancers are far more reliant on these proteins than normal cells and that eliminating the protein production capability of ribosomes leads to the rapid death of cancer cells while normal cells stay viable.” “This novel therapy works to inhibit the ribosomes’ protein production capability, effectively starving the cancer cells of a key ingredient they need to survive and proliferate.” “A further study in collaboration with scientists at Monash University shows striking effects in the targeting of late stage prostate cancer through a similar strategy indicating that this approach may be generally applicable for a range of cancer types.” Associate Professor Simon Harrison, Consultant Haematologist at Peter Mac and Principal Investigator on the CX-5461 first-in-human trial, says this new research provides further confidence that researchers are on the right track. “The prevalence and poor prognosis for people with advanced blood cancers demand the ongoing and intricate study of abnormal cell behaviour, which has been an indicator of cancer for over 100 years. To date, 15 patients have been treated on the first-in-human clinical study with a number of patients experiencing prolonged benefit.” More than 12,000 Australians are diagnosed with blood cancer annually (approximately 10% of all cancers) and around 4,000 Australians will lose their lives to the disease each year. This research is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council; Cancer Council Victoria; the Leukemia Foundation; Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia; Cancer Australia; Victorian Cancer Agency, Australian Cancer Research Foundation and Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation. Collaborators include the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University and Monash University. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has supported cancer research at Peter Mac by providing three major grants, totalling AUD 7 million. The news was originally published on Peter Mac’s website.
Lee Bektash is on the fast-track to end cancer Posted on January 26, 2016March 1, 2018 by Carly du Toit Lee Bektash is a Victorian drag racing driver for Team Mopar and he’s put his support behind the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. The Pro-Stock Star and his team donated their prize money from last week’s race at Calder Park to help fast-track better treatments and detection for cancer. Lee achieved the top speed of the Pro Stock Race, reaching an incredible 200.65 mph (323 km/h). “This is something that I have wanted to do for a little while. I lost my first cousin to cancer six months ago and our family had also lost another relative to cancer just last year. Cancer affects everyone and we want to be a part of helping to find cures so that as few families as possible are affected like we have been. The cures are out there, we just need to find them! We decided to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation because it is a private organisation, relying on the power of the community in order to provide Australia’s best cancer research teams with the technologies and facilities they need to fast-track discoveries. I’ve been so proud of our team’s efforts over the last few seasons, we’ve had good results because of the support we’ve received. Our weekend at Calder Park gave us a great opportunity to put some money to good use – and there is no better cause than this! The ACRF funds and supports the analysis and testing of new treatment, diagnostic and preventative measures for all types of cancer. It keeps Australian scientists at the forefront of medical research and brings us ever closer to the cures. This is a privilege for the Team Mopar Australia crew, we put everything into our races in the hope that we can give something back!” A big thank you to Lee and the team for their generous support!
Toby’s Beard Shave for Cancer Research Posted on January 20, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit “My name is Toby and I’m 29. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in October 2014. Prior to my diagnosis, I was a very active and healthy person – I enjoyed running and hitting the gym, I never smoked and drank only on occasion. There was also no history of rectal cancer in my family – so the diagnosis came as quite a shock. Since then I have received multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, as well as some major operations so doctors could remove the cancer, create a temporary ileostomy, and then reverse it. I’m currently recovering from the reversal surgery and getting used to my new “plumbing.” I will still need to go to follow-up appointments every three months or so but fortunately I was given the all clear late last year. A couple of months before I was diagnosed I started growing a beard. Once everybody got over the initial shock of my diagnosis, questions began turning to my beard and when I was going to shave it. My beard had become a comfort for me through all of this, so if I was going to shave – it had to be for a good reason! I started thinking about the idea of shaving it off for charity and because I received so much support, I felt that I should do something to give back. Cancer is too common and this has become even more obvious since I was diagnosed. Almost everyone I meet has a story of someone close to them who has been affected by cancer. I feel like I am one of the lucky ones and I wanted something good to come from my experience. On Australia day, I’ll be holding a celebration and shaving ceremony at our local bowls club. I’ll be putting on a big barbeque to say thank you to all my friends and family who supported me and donated to my cause. I’ll also be raffling off some great prizes from generous local businesses, as well as the honour of who will get to make the first cut of the shave! I really hope that someday, no one will have to go through what I and so many others have been through. Finding a cure or a gentler form of treatment is the ultimate goal and that is why I decided to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Every little bit helps to bring us closer to finding a cure or developing better treatments that will make it easier on those diagnosed, and their family.” – ACRF Supporter, Toby Stodart. To support Toby’s Beard Shave for Cancer, click here.
Scanning centre to transform disease research Posted on January 18, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The diagnosis and treatment of cancers, mental health disorders and conditions such as dementia is set to reach new heights in Brisbane with the launch of a $24 million facility that combines state-of-the-art equipment with world-class research and clinical expertise. The Herston Imaging Research Facility has officially been launched by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Facility Medical Director Dr Liz Kenny said the new centre was one of the most exciting clinical imagery ventures in the Asia Pacific. “It will become the centre of clinical research in Queensland through the use of cutting-edge imaging equipment and will contribute to the understanding of diseases and the development of new drugs and treatment therapies,” she said. Dr Kenny, who is also the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital’s senior radiation oncologist, said the facility featured hybrid scanners which combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT), allowing molecular processes and anatomical images to be captured simultaneously. “This results in a faster and more efficient process for researchers, clinicians and patients,” she said. The facility is a collaboration between The University of Queensland, the Metro North Hospital and Health Service, the Queensland University of Technology and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, with Siemens as an industry supporter. University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Hoj said the infrastructure made Queensland a better environment for the development of new patient treatments. “It will add value to other recent partnership developments like the Queensland-Emory Drug Discovery Initiative and the Centre for Advanced Imaging, and give Queensland innovators a sharper edge in the global race for new preventions, treatments and cures,” he said. Australian Cancer Research Foundation Chairman, Mr Tom Dery, said the facility would help Queensland’s world-class cancer scientists pursue important cancer research discoveries. “The future of cancer prevention and treatments depends on Australia’s best researchers having access to the cutting-edge resources and technologies such as these,” he said. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute mental health and complex disorders leader Professor Michael Breakspear said the imaging facility would enable work to begin to categorise and discover different subtypes of mental health disorders. “We’re exploring ways to diagnose mental health disorders before the symptoms appear,” he said. “To do this, we need to develop new diagnostic tests using medical imaging technology.” QUT Faculty of Health Assistant Dean (Research) and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Deputy Director Professor Greig De Zubicaray said the scanning capability of the new facility would contribute to understanding of the function and structure of diseases such as cancer and stroke. “With this imaging technology we can detect disease, we can monitor progress and we can see whether or not we can predict recovery,” he said. The Herston Imaging Research Facility is on the Herston health campus, near the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and major medical research facilities.
The Global Effort to End Cancer Posted on January 15, 2016March 19, 2018 by Carly du Toit US President Barack Obama has shared his hope that one day America will cure cancer. In his state of the union address on Wednesday, he declared, “For the loved ones we’ve all lost, for the families that we can still save – let’s make America the country that cures cancer once and for all.” Australian Cancer Research Foundation CEO Professor Ian Brown spoke with ABC Radio National to explain why researchers believe that a cure for cancer really is on the horizon. “There are statements being made now, that say within a generation, cancer will go from being a source of trepidation, where a sizeable number of people are lost, to one where it will become a treatable disease. And there are very good reasons why we think we’re heading in that direction. Going back 30-40 years ago, the number of people who were passing away from cancer was quite high and since then researchers have worked to increase our knowledge of the disease substantially. Today, about 50% of people who contract cancer will survive. But this varies between certain types of cancer. Take thyroid cancer for instance, the survival rates are much higher than they used to be, with more than 95% of people now surviving. However, in a range of other cancers, such as pancreatic cancer or mesothelioma, the survival rates have remained very low. Over time three main ways have been established as methods to treat most cancers, those are: surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. But over the last 15 years, we have come to understand more about how cancer forms and this has helped shape new treatment methods. We now know that cancer is basically a mutational change to the genetic information that causes the cells to proliferate abnormally. These cells won’t simply die and our own internal systems aren’t able to kill the tumours. With this understanding, scientists have worked to find new ways to fight this disease. Medicine is now becoming far more personalised. Information about each individual’s tumour is now being logged into databases. This includes data such as: what the mutation was, what doctors used to try and treat that particular tumour, and whether that treatment was successful, making it far easier for doctors treating the varying mutations that cause different cancers. The Human Genome Project in 2002 was the first example of such a database, logging all the genetic information that we had. It cost around $3 billion and took twenty years to complete. Whereas, the equipment that we now have, can do this much faster and easier that for less than $1000. This is why seed funding for upgrading technology and infrastructure is so important. By equipping the best researchers with the right tools, we will speed up discoveries and ultimately save lives. Science is a collaborative enterprise. People are constantly working to add to our understanding of cancer. We know that by sharing this knowledge around the world, progress is possible. For example, after it was discovered that certain types of viruses could cause cells to become cancerous Australian scientist, Professor Ian Frazer co-developed the cervical cancer vaccine which can now prevent various forms of cancer. This vaccine has now been used in hundreds of millions of people in 120 countries around the world. So as Obama delcared, America will continue to play an important role in curing cancer, but ending this disease will take global collaboration.” To listen to the interview: Click here
Breakthrough in predicting the spread of cancer Posted on January 14, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A team of cancer researchers from Australia and the UK have bred a biosensor mouse that has enabled them to watch as pancreatic cancer cells ‘unzip’ right before they begin to spread. “Our biosensor mouse makes it possible to look at a primary tumour that has not yet spread: in real time, in 3D, and in a living tumour. Using state-of-the-art laser technology, we can see, at a molecular level, whether the contacts that hold tumour cells in place have started to unzip – and that’s a sign that the cancer is about to spread,” says Dr Paul Timpson of Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research. To understand how unzipping contributes to the spread of pancreatic cancer, the researchers implanted a genetic model of invasive pancreatic cancer. Remarkably, the researchers were able to successfully rezip these cancer cells by treating them with anti-cancer therapies, stopping the spread of cancer before it had begun. To make the biosensor, the researchers bred a mouse in which a key “zippering” protein that holds cells together – called E-cadherin – was linked to a protein from jellyfish that glows green in fluorescence microscopy. This allowed for them to pinpoint when key changes occured. Which is incredibly important given that five-year pancreatic cancer survival rates stand at just 6.1% – a figure that has barely changed in the last 40 years. “Many patients present with pancreatic cancer at a very advanced stage, when the cancer has already spread to other tissues such as the liver,” says Dr Timpson. “But sometimes, the cancer is detected before it has spread – and that’s the point where we have an opportunity to intervene and stop it in its tracks. If we give a drug early enough, we can rezip those cells together.” Dr Timpson says the most exciting part of the study was the fact that the existing treatment – an anti-invasive drug called dasatinib – allowed us to stabalise the primary tumour. “We treated mice that had developed pancreatic cancer that had yet to spread with the anti-invasive drug [and] within three days of treatment, we saw cells within the tumour had re-zippered, and the tumour had stabilised.” Similar results were achieved with a second therapy, saracatinib. “The biosensor mouse is a powerful tool for anti-cancer drug discovery,” Dr Timpson says. “It makes it possible to evaluate the effect of new therapies on tumour spread, in real time and in a system that reflects human cancer as closely as is currently possible.” Dr Timpson points out that this is just the beginning for the biosensor mouse. “We now have a model that is one step ahead of the invasion process in pancreatic cancer – but we are also already using this model in our laboratory for other aggressive and highly invasive cancer types, such as breast cancer. “Ultimately, we expect to use the biosensor mouse to explore zippering and cancer spread in a wide range of tumours throughout the body.” The Garvan Institute of Medical Research has received three ACRF cancer research grants totalling $6.13m. To read the original article, click here.
I’m a walking testimony to cancer research Posted on January 7, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Pamela Kirby supports cancer research because she has seen the life-saving benefits first-hand. “My cancer journey started in September 2010. I was first diagnosed with bowel cancer and an operation was quickly scheduled for November. It was during my treatment process that I was also diagnosed with stage 1 primary lung cancer. Within a few weeks I was back in surgery for a major lung cancer operation. That was the hardest to recover from and it was followed by four and a half months of chemotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, the bad news continued and in 2013 three more lesions were discovered on my lung. By May 2014 I had suffered a major seizure and my doctors told me I had developed secondary brain cancer that spread from my lungs. Cancer has been a challenge from day one, but it has been really empowering to fight this battle and I believe I am much stronger now. After five years of intensive treatment and lengthy hospital stays, the prognosis is looking good for me and I’m feeling much better. I am so thankful for my highly skilled oncologist Dr Nick Pavalakis and his team. Using the treatment options and testing resources cancer research has made available to them, they were able to learn more about my cancer, find out which treatments would work best for me and help manage some of the unbearable side-effects. From my experience I learned just how vital cancer research was and how significantly it impacts current patient treatments. I’m a walking testimony to the progress researchers are making. Whilst undergoing treatment I wanted to inspire others affected by cancer and show them that they have the strength to fight through this battle too. I decided to organise a fundraising event to help contribute towards cancer research. I held a Ladies Night Out at our local bowling club. It was a great evening of tequila tasting, 60’s music, a fashion parade, raffles, candle demonstrations and an auction. I’m really proud that we were able to raise close to $4000 for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. My health has greatly improved and we’re now looking forward to the future and a special holiday in Hawaii in just a few weeks. I still need to get scans every three months, which are stressful as waiting for the results is always a torment. But I believe remaining positive has really helped me on this journey and I am thankful to have been supported by my wonderful friends and family and a highly skilled medical team. Every new day I get to spend with my amazing husband Brian, our kids and grandkids is sheer joy.” – Pamela Kirby, ACRF Supporter Share your story
Pedalling for cancer research in memory of Penny Posted on December 16, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit Kirsten, Amber, Angie and Rachel In May 2015 ACRF supporter, Kirsten lost her mother, Penny, after a two-year battle with lung cancer. To honour Penny, Kirsten and her good friend Rachel began planning a garden party to support cancer research. When her friend Angie received the invitation, she put her hand up to help with the fundraising efforts. “Kirsten absolutely adored her Mum and it has been a difficult time for her and her family. As soon as I heard about the fundraiser I wanted to do my part to help, so I decided to hold an epic 24-hour spin challenge,” said Angie. “I got to work organising my ‘Pedalling for Penny’ event. The local community really got behind me. I received such generous support from my local 24-hour gym and many local businesses that each sponsored a one-hour block of my ride or donated their services. From 10 am on Saturday 7th November to 10 am on Sunday 8th November I cycled continuously around the clock. In that time, I accomplished the equivalent distance of riding from the Sunshine Coast to Newcastle. I love being active and I’m very social, so it was very mentally challenging for me to be seated in one place for such a long time – I am very thankful I had so much wonderful support around me the whole time. It melted my heart to have my husband, my sons and friends there cheering me on. And it was great to see my community come out to support me too! Other gym members and sponsors cycled alongside me for an hour and shared their stories of loved ones who had been affected by cancer. Even the police stopped by to visit and make sure I was doing okay. It was an honour to ride for Penny and to support Kirsten and her family. Penny was the most beautiful person filled with an enormous amount of love and I felt her by my side throughout this journey. Sadly so many people are touched by cancer, and as a registered nurse I often see the awful effect it has on patients and their families. I am so proud that I was able to do this challenge and raise funds for cancer research to help put an end to this awful disease.” Kirsten along with her good friends Rachel and Angie have raised a total of $6,698.50 for cancer research. To support Angie, click here. Share your story
Young cyclist takes on Mount Kosciuszko for cancer research Posted on December 15, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF supporter, Ben Coulter is a 19-year-old cycling enthusiast from Cairns. In October, he successfully rode solo and unsupported from Melbourne all the way to Sydney via Mount Kosciuszko to support cancer research. “I wanted to give something back to the community and, because cancer impacts so many lives, I decided to raise funds for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. I’m very passionate about road cycling and mountain biking. I love riding because it’s such a good release. I’ve been working professionally in the biking industry for around three years now and I really enjoy it. Over the 16-day journey, I covered around 1,700 kilometres and climbed over 24,000 vertical meters! I chose the route via Mount Kosciuszko because it was a huge challenge. It was mostly steep climbs and I thought the harder, the better, as I knew it was going to be the most rewarding for me to achieve. In the past, I’ve completed a few other big rides including the 720 kilometre Cairns to Karumba and the 320 kilometre Cairns to Cooktown. However these rides were all supported and we rode in groups. The Sydney to Melbourne challenge was my first solo, unsupported journey and I plan on doing many more. My favourite areas along the way were probably Corryong or Marysville in Victoria – I love the beautiful, crisp alpine environment and the scenery made for a great ride. One of the most memorable highlights from my trip included cycling the mountain ranges around the Tolmie area. It was such a great feeling making the climb to the top of the Dead Horse Gap just outside of Thredbo and cycling to the top of Mount Kosciuszko. I would highly recommend doing a solo charity ride. If you’re thinking about taking on any charity challenge for the ACRF, my advice is to make sure you’re prepared and then give it all you’ve got! Embrace the challenge and when it gets tough, remember why you are doing it.” Click here to support Ben. Share your story
Cancer Research Saved My Parents Posted on December 3, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit Targeted laser treatments for breast cancer and early diagnostic tests for bowel cancer gave Christina more time with her mum and dad. “The best gifts I’ve ever received were the cancer treatments that saved my parents. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was living interstate so when I got the phone call I was in utter shock and disbelief. I came back to sit with her through as many of her appointments as I could because she just sort of shut off when they were going through all the different options, I think it was just too much to take in all at once. We had never been touched by cancer before, so everything we were hearing was new. At an appointment, one of the doctors explained to us that there was a new experimental treatment available that allowed them to better target cancerous lymph nodes, which meant that she could still keep her healthy ones. This new treatment was not only successful, it also lessened the aftermath of surgery. Some people may not know, but treatments have come a long way. This was a really eye-opening experience for me because it was the first time I could really see it first-hand. Later that year my dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer and we actually thought it was a cruel joke because the diagnosis was now the third one to hit our family over just a few months’ time. We lost my grandpa to oesophageal cancer shortly after my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. I think after that we were on high alert because my dad noticed he was having symptoms and went in for testing straight away. It was because of this that they were able to catch bowel cancer early. I’m so thankful for the hard lessons we learned because I know they played a big part in saving my dad’s life. I know there are a lot of great charities out there, but the thing with cancer research is that you never know how many lives could be saved with the next breakthrough.” Christina Belperio – Regular Giver of the Month Share your story
The Norman Foo Fund Posted on December 1, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit In memory of his late uncle, ACRF Supporter Timothy Lim has embarked on an intense training regimen to help prepare him for the Busselton Ironman Triathlon this Sunday, December 6th. “My uncle, Norman Foo lost his three and a half year battle with lung cancer in the early hours of July 24, 2015. He was a father, a husband, a grandfather, an academic, and a genuine human being. He was positive and brave to the end.” In Australia, lung cancer is one of the five most commonly diagnosed cancers and causes more deaths than any other type of cancer. It only has a 5-year survival rate of about 14%. “One of his final wishes was that we donate to charities in lieu of flowers at his funeral. Through my fundraiser, the Norman Foo Fund, I hope to raise over $10,000 to help the ACRF fund research to end cancer.” With the help of generous family and friends, Tim has already achieved more than half of his initial fundraising target! “Uncle Norman has always been such an inspiration to me. I have been in awe of his bravery, optimism, and ability to endure. To champion my fundraising effort, I will be attempting my first full Ironman-distance triathlon. It will consist of a 3.8km swim, followed by an 180km bike ride, and finished with a 42.2km run. This will be a true test of my physical and mental endurance.” Tim is a 30-year-old engineer from Brisbane who considers himself pretty ordinary. “I enjoy food, frolicking in the sunshine…and not being at work.” And when he’s not working his 9-5 he’s been putting in an extraordinary effort into his fitness and training. Already this year, Tim ran 42km at the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival and completed his first triathlon in Noosa. He pushes his limits in weekly swim squad sessions and long distance cycling. With one month to go to the Busselton Ironman, he is feeling fit and strong. To help support Tim and his Norman Foo Fundraiser, click here. Share your story
Cancer Research Achievements Acknowledged at Clifford Awards Posted on November 25, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit The Clifford Prize for Cancer Research was presented to Professor Inder Verma and Professor Jane Visvader at Seventh Barossa Meeting on Cell Signalling in Cancer Biology and Therapy. The bi-annual prize is presented by the Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB), South Australia, for outstanding international achievement in cancer research. Professor Verma is an American Cancer Society Professor of Molecular Biology in the Laboratory of Genetics at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. He has been responsible for many major discoveries in cancer biology over the past four decades, ranging from basic discoveries regarding transcription factors involved in cancer, laying the basis for modern molecular biology by developing the cDNA synthesis procedure using reverse transcriptase, to development of viral-based vectors for gene therapy approaches to various genetic diseases, including cancers. Professor Verma and co-workers have ingeniously employed specific methods of mouse genetics to reveal the roles of many specific oncogenes / transcription factors in normal cellular growth, differentiation and development. Professor Visvader is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. She and her team have made major contributions to the understanding of breast cancer by isolating mammary stem cells, defining master regulators of mammary gland development and identifying genetic lesions that drive oncogenesis. Her landmark discoveries have revealed master regulators that orchestrate cell fate decisions in the mammary gland, providing an indispensable framework for understanding mammary lineage commitment and differentiation, and a basis for understanding origins of breast cancer. The Clifford Prize for Cancer Research represents an appreciation by Australian scientists for discoveries that have combined outstanding science with significant clinical relevance. The ACRF Cancer Genomics Facility was established at the CCB in 2009, with the assistance of a $3.5m grant from the ACRF. Image courtesy of CCB, left to right: Professor Inder Verma, Professor Jane Visvader, Prof Sharad Kumar, Dr Leanna Read, Chief Scientist, South Australia and Prof Angel Lopez, CCB.
Ruth Robinson, Regular Giver of the Month Posted on November 17, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit “My dear friend and colleague, Andrew “Sid” Sidoli had fair skin and freckles. While he loved surfing, he always tried to look after his skin by putting on sunscreen and a shirt or wetsuit but it still wasn’t enough in the end. He was on holidays with his sister, Rebecca, when she noticed an abnormality on his back and told him he needed to get it checked. The lesion turned out to be melanoma. But from the day of his diagnosis Andrew fought it with everything he had and remained optimistic. One day when I saw him in the corridor at work he told me ‘I’ve been given a 10% chance of survival, and while I have a 10% chance, I have hope.’ Sid was larger than life, he always had a cheeky smile on his face and everyone at work loved and respected him. He made time for everyone and was really supportive when my Mum passed away. He encouraged me, and I think most people in his life, to get our skin checked regularly. He later became bedridden when the melanoma spread to his lungs and brain. His doctor, the well-known, Charlie Teo did everything he could for him, but at just 40 years old my beautiful friend sadly lost his battle. Unfortunately, Sid was amongst many of my work colleagues who had been affected by various cancer types over the years. I believe the only way we will fight this dreaded disease is through research, which is why I choose to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. I used to donate whenever I had spare money, which was about twice a year, but not long after Sid passed I signed up to be a regular giver. I realised that if I donated on a monthly basis it would help researcher’s fast track discoveries and ultimately save more lives. I donate just over $1 a day each month so it barely affects my daily budget. I have seen how advancements in cancer research can really help people. My brother in law, Noel Hughes is now battling liver cancer and the oral chemotherapy tablets he takes are far less traumatic for him than those that were available years earlier. If you can afford just $1 a day, please consider supporting the ACRF, cancer could affect anyone of us and at any time.” – Ruth Robinson, Regular Giver of the Month Share your story
Trekking the Larapinta Trail for Cancer Research Posted on November 9, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit A few weeks ago, dedicated ACRF supporter, John Pratt returned home from an epic Larapinta Charity Challenge in the Northern Territory. Before we got a chance to hear all about his trip, this avid trekker was back in his hiking boots, taking on a section of the Heysen Trail in South Australia for a second time – an impressive way to celebrate his recent 74th birthday. The ACRF Larapinta charity challenge is one of the seven Great Walks of Australia. “In 2014 I completed the 1200km Heysen Trail and this opportunity to walk the Larapinta Trail seemed too good to pass up. Not only would I be supporting a cause I’ve contributed to for several years, I would get to experience hiking parts of the iconic Larapinta trail and have an opportunity to be on the summit of Mount Sonder to see the sunrise.” Over the six-day trip, John and a group of 4 leaders and 15 other hikers covered between six and sixteen kilometres each day over a variety of terrain. They were treated to the beautiful sights of an ancient land, taking in the scenic landscapes including the vast flood plains, the razorback rocky outcrops and narrow canyons where sheltered pockets of delicate ferns and twisted gum trees grow from the dry rivers of sand. After their long days of trekking, the group were able to relax in style in exclusive wilderness campsites. The little taste of luxury ‘glamping’ added to the trekkers enjoyment of the Larapinta Trail, offering lounge and dining facilities, hot showers, eco-toilet facilities, solar lighting, and camera battery charging ports. “The facilities at the semi-permanent campsites were good and all the food was excellent, including the lunches the leaders carried and prepared out on the Trail.“ “Everything went smoothly – it was well organised and well led. For me, the best part of the trip was experiencing highlights of the Larapinta Trail along with a selection of features near its route (like Ormiston Gorge and Pound) with a group of like-minded people who blended together very well.” The Larapinta Trail is just one of many fundraisers John has accomplished. His advice to others considering signing up for a charity challenge is to just go for it! “Make sure you’re physically and mentally prepared as it will make the experience much more enjoyable,” says John. John, who lost a close friend to cancer last year, has raised over $2,000 for cancer research in addition to his long-term regular giving. Click here to show your support for John. There are many ways to get involved in an adventure charity challenge. We provide one-to-one fundraising support along the way to help you reach your fundraising target. Learn more about charity challenges and fundraising. Share your story
Research discovery paves the way to prevention of a common childhood cancer Posted on November 5, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit Researchers at Children’s Cancer Institute have identified a molecular ‘feedback loop’ that accelerates the development of neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system in children. Fortunately, the research team has also identified an experimental drug, currently in clinical trials for adult cancer, with the potential to interrupt the loop and halt tumour progression. Researchers showed in laboratory models of neuroblastoma that the drug could block the very start of this embryonal cancer, paving the way to possible prevention strategies in the future. They found that a combination of the drug – known as CBL01371 – used in combination with traditional DNA damaging chemotherapy agents was much more effective than either drug alone. Professor Michelle Haber AM, leader of the Experimental Therapeutics laboratory and Professor Glenn Marshall AM, leader of the Molecular Carcinogenesis laboratory at Children’s Cancer Institute, worked on two very different aspects of the study. Professor Marshall’s team focused on the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind the feedback loop, and its interruption by CBL0137. Professor Haber’s team focused on the therapeutic potential of CBL0137, both as a single agent and in combination with other drugs. “Our laboratory tests tell us that CBL0137 is likely to be very effective against the most aggressive neuroblastomas, and indeed the most aggressive forms of other childhood cancers, and that is very exciting,” said Professor Haber. “But what is particularly exciting is that, in contrast to many other chemotherapeutic agents, CBL0137 does not damage DNA, and it is DNA damage that is responsible for the many unpleasant and serious side-effects that frequently affect children after they are cured of their cancer.” “The drug is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for adults, which means that safe dosage levels are being tested. Once the adult trials are completed, a Phase 1 trial for children with refractory – or relapsed – neuroblastoma, and also other aggressive childhood cancers, will open in the United States and Australia,” Professor Haber said. Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumour cancer of early childhood, and is generally diagnosed when the disease is advanced. Around half of all children with neuroblastoma have aggressive tumours, and fewer than half of these patients survive, even after intensive treatment. These findings are published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine. This news item was originally published on the Children’s Cancer Institute’s website. The original version provides more detailed scientific information on the study. ACRF has supported cancer research at the Children’s Cancer Institute by providing three major grants, totalling AUD $5.1m. Image courtesy of Children’s Cancer Institute. Clockwise from left to right: Professor Glenn Marshall, Dr Dan Carter, Professor Murray Norris, Professor Michelle Haber, Jayne Murray
Fighting cancer with fitness Posted on October 30, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit In April, dedicated ACRF supporter, Jodie Gardiner ran in the Australian Running Festival in Canberra and raised over $2,200. Now she’s working her way through a unique fundraising challenge she set for herself called ‘Fighting Cancer with Fitness.’ Jodie hopes to complete 100 workouts before her 42nd birthday while raising funds for a cause close to her heart. “This year I lost my step-sister, Rachael to liver cancer. My step-mum was diagnosed and is fighting lung cancer. My aunty was diagnosed and is fighting breast cancer. Last year I also lost my uncle to cancer. This is an insidious disease and I’ve had enough. In losing my step-sister Rachael, we didn’t just lose one woman we lost several because she was the center of so many universes. We always got on like a house on fire and shared a lot of similarities in our lives – we were both public servants who also qualified as a personal trainer and we each had two sons. Rachael was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer called Sarcomatoid Hepatocellular Carcinoma. After ten months of treatment, she lost her battle. She was only 36 years old, leaving behind her loving husband, Paul and their two young sons. Rachael was a great mother, it broke her heart that she would not be there to see her children grow up. She worried that her sons wouldn’t remember her, so she asked her family to promise to help make sure they would never forget her. Paul has been an absolute tower of strength for his sons and is making every effort to ensure they still see their grandparents and that they will always remember their mum. I am fortunate to have some great memories of Rachael. I worked at a gym with her a few years ago. We had an absolute ball working together – we learned so much about each other and became really close. Rachael was such a fun, energetic and vibrant woman. She had such a passion for health and exercise, and her love of fitness inspired me to get my personal training qualifications. I remember not long after Rachael was diagnosed, her sister Kylie was attempting her first 10km fun run. Rachael and her family were waiting on the sidelines to cheer Kylie on. Suddenly, Rachael ran out from the crowd to jog alongside her sister. Rachael motivated Kylie through the final kilometres and they crossed the finish line holding hands. It was a very special moment that I’m glad I got to witness and I think it beautifully sums up what sort of a person she was. Losing her to cancer made us all realise that life is short and it has certainly made us all stop and smell the roses a little. Everyone knows someone who has been diagnosed with some form of cancer, I’m fighting for all of them.” Click here if you would like to support Jodie. Share your story
Making a Difference in Michael’s Name Posted on October 15, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit “My family has been touched by cancer a few times, but the two that hurt the most were the loss of my mother and then my husband. My mother was recently retired when she told me she had found a lump in her breast. After lots of convincing, my sisters and I finally got her to visit the doctor. What she hadn’t told us was that she had first noticed the lump six months ago and by then it had grown extremely large. This was 20 years ago and there weren’t many options available to her at the time. After fighting through 15 months of gruelling treatment she sadly lost her battle with breast cancer. Years later, Michael, my wonderful husband and the father of our four sons was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 54 years old. We were really shocked as he had always enjoyed good health and was not showing any symptoms other than an itchy feeling under the skin. Our doctor however, did not suspect good news and the blood test proved it. Michael endured a lot to try and beat the cancer. He went through one and a half rounds of chemo and underwent a very high risk operation called a Whipple procedure. Thankfully he made it through but it was a long, hard road to recovery after the extensive surgery. Thanks to the expertise of the doctors and their teams things began to look more positive, but we were only able to spend an extra 22 months with Michael before he passed away at 56 years old. I donate in Michael’s name each month and hope that my little bit will make a difference so we can find a cure for all cancers. I chose to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation because it’s a non-profit organisation that awards grants to the most ground-breaking research teams in Australia. I know my donations will help cancer researchers to continue fast-tracking discoveries for the future.” – Jannelle Scerri, Regular Giver of the Month Learn more about becoming a regular giver. Share your story
Cancer Research to Benefit from Twitter for Cells Posted on October 13, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit An international team of researchers have completed a study into cell behaviour, providing insight into how different, specialised cell types communicate as a cohesive network. The researchers have produced the first map of cell-to-cell communication which shows the division of labour between cell types and reveals the ways cells use proteins to pass hundreds of messages between each other. This will help advance cancer research in the future. The lead author, Professor Alistair Forrest, recently joined the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in WA as Laboratory Head of Systems Biology and Genomics to continue his work with a renewed focus on cancer. Professor Forrest says systems biology studies all elements (typically genes or proteins) simultaneously to see how they work together in a system (or network) instead of focusing on only one or two genes at a time. “What we have revealed in this new research is that cells have many ways of talking to each other.” Imagine twitter for cells – hundreds of cell types telling each other what is happening via hundreds of different messages. Professor Forrest says the work has important implications for medicine. “The proteins involved are actually well known to the general public. Insulin, human growth factor and leptin are important in diabetes, height and obesity. This type of signalling is also very important in our immune response to infectious diseases. It’s also important in cancer – in particular neuroblastoma and lung cancer.” The researchers believe that further investigation will provide answers into what happens to this intercellular information in cancer cells and how cancer avoids the immune system. It is hoped that this research will eventually help identify new therapeutic targets to improve treatments for people battling cancer. The original article was published on the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, click here to read more.
Erin Prepares To JUMP! For Cancer Research Posted on September 30, 2015March 13, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF Supporter, Erin Headington has a passion for helping people and isn’t afraid of taking on a challenge. In December, shortly after she graduates university as a Registered Nurse, Erin will take the plunge and skydive for cancer research. “I’m making the jump in honour of my cousin who was diagnosed with lymphoma in June. It was a huge shock at first as she was just 24 years old. We’re only a year and half apart and we have a very close relationship. It’s really horrible knowing she has been having a really tough time with the side-effects of chemotherapy. Her mother, father and brother have not been coping well with the diagnoses. Their family have experienced a lot of loss in the last 3 years and are now coming to terms with my cousin fighting cancer at such a young age. I decided to do something to support my cousin and her family so I began researching ways to help cancer patients. When I came across the ACRF I thought that raising money for cancer research would be a good way to do my part to help find a cure. I want to prevent others from enduring this devastating disease in the future. The ACRF JUMP! skydiving challenge really appealed to me as I’ve always been a thrill-seeker at heart. It’s great to know there are so many different ways to get involved – especially since I could never picture myself running in a marathon. I would really encourage others to find a fun and achievable challenge that suits them too. At the moment I’m very busy managing two jobs and studying full time – so if I can do it, anyone can!” Show Erin your support. Erin will also be raising funds for the ACRF with a sausage sizzle out the front of Woolworths Shellharbour on Sunday 22 November between 10am-2pm. Share your story
Breakthrough cancer research technologies to advance treatments Posted on September 23, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit With support from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute has today unveiled the $2.5 million ACRF Breakthrough Technologies Laboratory which will help researchers uncover new insights into how cancer develops, and how it can be more effectively treated. This is the third ACRF grant awarded to Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. These grants were awarded 2001, 2010 and 2014 with a combined value of $5.5 million to help researchers make breakthroughs in genomics, as well as breast, lymphoma and lung cancers. The ACRF Breakthrough Technologies Laboratory is Australia’s first dedicated cancer laboratory to use ‘CRISPR/Cas9’ technology to target and directly manipulate genes in cancer cells. The facility will be used by researchers from WEHI and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) partners to enhance and accelerate research into many of Australia’s most common, and most deadly, cancers including cancers of the blood (leukaemia, lymphoma), breast, ovary, lung and bowel. The director of the WEHI, Professor Doug Hilton, said the ACRF Breakthrough Technologies Laboratory would provide an enormous boost to Australia’s cancer research efforts. “It has become clear that technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 can accelerate new breakthroughs in understanding cancer and developing new treatments.” “The generosity of ACRF and its donors has allowed us to equip our research teams with precisely the tools they need to advance their research,” Professor Hilton said. Mr Tom Dery, Chairman of the ACRF Board said “We are proud to enable the ground-breaking research conducted at the ACRF Breakthrough Technologies Laboratory. The facility will help to accelerate new treatments for people with cancer in Australia and worldwide.” The contributions Australian researchers are making to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer are very significant. “More than 14 million people around the world were diagnosed with cancer last year, including more than 125,000 Australians,” Mr Dery said. Professor Jim Bishop, Executive Director of the VCCC, said the ACRF Breakthrough Technologies Laboratory represented a critical addition to the Victoria’s cancer research capabilities. “The facility provides our researchers with unparalleled access to world-leading technology.” “The strength of the VCCC lies in the close ties it fosters between the laboratory-based, clinical and other researchers in its partner organisations. This means that discoveries made in the ACRF Breakthrough Technologies Laboratory will be translated into new treatments for cancer as rapidly in Melbourne as anywhere in the world,” Professor Bishop said. The VCCC is an alliance of ten successful Victorian organisations committed to cancer care: the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Health (including The Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, The Royal Women’s Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Western Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Austin Health and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. The original article was published on the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute website, click here to view.
Remembering Rosemary Posted on September 21, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit “In the UK in 1998, my twin sister, Rosemary discovered a lump on her breast and was diagnosed with breast cancer at only 38 years old. Rosemary and her husband were busy parents with four kids – two teenagers Rachel and Tommy, an 11 year old daughter, Jenny and a 9 year old son, Sam. Her illness was extremely hard on the whole family. We felt powerless as we watched her endure so much pain and distress at the thought of leaving her children. Rosemary fought courageously and was an inspiration to her community. Her friends and neighbours rallied to support the family during their time of need. The locals made renovations to their house to make her life easier and raised money to send her on a trip to visit me in Australia. This was one of the happiest months of my life, we shared precious time reconnecting and reminiscing about our childhood. It was heart-warming to know that so many people were offering a helping hand where they could. Wednesdays became known as ‘Rosemary Day’ in the area and each week, for three whole years, a group of ladies would take her out for the day. They would visit beautiful and interesting places and then have dinner together at their favourite restaurant. After five years of suffering Rosemary sadly lost her battle on her daughter’s 11th birthday. It is now a bittersweet day for the family and each year on the anniversary the four children meet in the church garden to celebrate their mother. The two girls also “Run for Rosemary” in Mother’s Day fundraising marathons. As her twin sister I feel her loss greatly, it’s very upsetting for me knowing that she did not get to see her children grow up or meet her grandchildren. I know that Rosemary would be so proud of her family and how much they have cared for each other. Over the years, cancer has continued to touch the lives of friends and others around me. A couple of years ago my husband and I realised the importance of cancer research first hand when he was diagnosed with melanoma and took part in a research trial. He has since developed kidney cancer and is being treated with targeted immune therapy which would not have been possible a few years ago. I often think back to the time when Rosemary developed cancer and appreciate all the progress that has been made since then. I support the ACRF with a monthly donation and have left a bequest in my will. I know my donations go towards helping the ACRF fund the necessary equipment that allows researchers to make many more life-saving discoveries. I hope that together we can spare many families the heartbreak of losing their loved ones in the future.” ACRF Regular Giver of the Month, Ann Smith Learn more about becoming a regular giver. Share your story
Beneath the surface of skin cancer patients Posted on September 16, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit Here at the ACRF we are proud to equip Australia’s leading cancer researchers with the resources they need to end cancer. Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Queensland discovered a protein that helps to control an important process in cell adhesion that is disrupted when someone contracts a disease such as skin cancer. The researchers said that the Australian Cancer Research Foundation Cancer Biology Imaging Facility at UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) played a vital role in this research. It is currently one of the largest and most comprehensively equipped facilities in Australia for both the imaging and screening of chemical and biological libraries. The facility was founded in 2010 with a $2.5 million ACRF grant and is home to 23 high-performance microscopes and supporting image data analysis workstations. PhD student Rashmi Priya at IMB says that what the research has done is clarify the role of the protein myosin in tissue integrity. “The protein Myosin is found at cell connection points and we now know that it plays a crucial role in regulating how cells stick together to form tissues in the body,” she said. “Our research has shown that this is because myosin protects a switch that acts as a stabiliser. This switch must be very tightly controlled as it affects many processes within the body. Too much or too little of this switch, or having it in the wrong place, can lead to diseases such as skin cancer, says Priya.” Professor Alpha Yap, who led the research team, says “The cells in all the tissues of our body die and have to be replaced as regularly as every 24 hours in the intestinal system. For this to happen, adhesion between cells must be carefully broken down and rebuilt, and we now have a better understanding of what it is that’s controlling this whole process.” The original article was published on the Institute for Molecular Bioscience website, click here to read more.
Isabella’s Crazy Hair Day for Cancer Research Posted on September 8, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit An outstanding young student from Victoria wanted to honour her late grandfather by raising money for cancer research. Isabella is in year six and decided that the best way to make a big impact was to get her whole school involved – so she approached the vice principal about organising a crazy hair day. “Isabella came to see me at the start of the term to share her enthusiasm for wanting to make a difference to the lives of people living with cancer. Her passion for this cause was obvious and she had really done her research,” said Vice Principal Stuart Boyle. “As adults, we are all educators and it’s often how we respond to young people that teaches them the most. I’m truly impressed by Isabella wanting to take on the responsibility of organising a whole school fundraiser.” Isabella was so proud to be able to do her part to end an illness that had affected her family in such a horrible way. She spent the term organising every detail of the event herself. She put signs up around the school to promote the event, made sure it was advertised in the weekly school newsletter and spoke at her assembly about the ACRF and why she felt it was important to support cancer research. She wanted all the students to come to school with their hair teased, coloured and gelled into fun and unique hair styles – and the crazier, the better, because she had even prepared prizes for the ‘best hair’ winners to be drawn at an assembly on the day. Everyone was invited to participate and students brought along a gold coin donation to show their support for cancer research. Together Isabella and her primary school were able to raise a fantastic total of $471.10. We thank Isabella for all the hard work she put into supporting the ACRF. If Isabella’s story has inspired you to organising an event for cancer research, check out our A-Z of Fundraising Ideas. Share your story
Hope from Heartache: The Dillon Family Honour Their Beloved Grandfathers Posted on August 20, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit “Unfortunately both my husband Travis and I suddenly lost our fathers to cancer within two and a half years of each other. Both of these wonderful men had only recently retired and were looking forward to making plans for their futures. They were in their mid-sixties and had worked hard in the agricultural industry all their lives. The impact of losing a parent was made even worse knowing our young children would no longer get to enjoy such precious times with their adored Poppa and Grandpa. It has now been over six years since I lost my Dad and not a day goes by where I don’t think of him. I miss him dearly, and every now and then I’ll pick up the phone to call him before remembering that it’s not possible anymore. Following my Dad’s funeral, Travis and I wanted to do something positive to help prevent others from suffering the same devastating loss. We decided the best way to do this was to support the hard working cancer research scientists trying to find cures for this cruel disease. As we had lost our fathers to different types of cancer – kidney and prostate, we looked for a foundation that researches cures for all cancers. We chose the ACRF as they are committed to funding research in Australia that aims to end all cancers. We now make a contribution every month in memory of our fathers. We’re happy to do our part in the fight against cancer and hope that in the future more children will be able to grow up experiencing the joy of spending time with their grandparents. We are proud to be ACRF supporters and every month we receive updates and eagerly read about the ground-breaking discoveries being made. We believe that without cancer research many more families will be deprived of valuable time with their loved ones. While there is nothing that can be done in our sad situation, we take comfort in the precious memories we made with our fathers and hold out hope for families in the future.” – Sally and Travis Dillon Learn more about becoming a regular giver. Share your story
Over $117,000 raised for cancer research at City2Surf Posted on August 12, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit This past weekend over 80 thousand people participated in the iconic 14 kilometre City2Surf. Runners set off from Hyde Park in the heart of Sydney’s CBD and made their way through to the finish line at Bondi Beach. This year, Team ACRF was made up of 190 incredible runners from all walks of life. Thanks to their hard work and dedication they were able to raise over $117k for cancer research. Many of the ACRF runners have been personally affected by cancer, including Jonathan Wiener, who had an army of supporters contribute an astounding $20,000 in memory of his cousin Michelle, who lost her battle with brain cancer in February. “I promised Michelle that I would do everything in my power to find a cure for this devastating disease and running City2Surf for cancer research is my first step in keeping that promise.” Supporting them along the way were 35 enthusiastic volunteers who cheered on Team ACRF and doled out high-fives from the sidelines. One of ACRF’s Corporate Champions, Deloitte, generously sponsored a fantastic beach front Marquee where ACRF runners and their families joined the Deloitte team for a congratulatory lunch on the beach. The ACRF thanks everyone who participated in the City2Surf or who came out to support our runners on the day. We loved meeting you all and celebrating your achievement. View the team leaderboard – click here.
The moment that changed my family forever. Posted on July 14, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit “Back in 1998 my husband and I were like any other typical family. We had two sons, one aged four and eight. My husband, Craig, was an electrical engineer and Officer in the Navy. He was passionate about the Navy and his job at HMAS Albatross in Nowra. Craig was looking forward to being promoted and taking the next step in his career, while I was studying adult education and both our boys were involved in many sporting activities. We were no different than any other family. April 1998 will be a month I will never forget. Craig had been complaining of not feeling well, having a sore throat and just feeling lethargic. Within one week Craig had been admitted to the oncology section of Wollongong hospital and diagnosed with a rare form of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Our world tipped upside down in a moment and I was trying to explain to a four and eight year old that their father was very sick and may not live. Craig was told that the only way he could live was with a bone marrow transplant and that he didn’t have much time. The chances of survival were given at 30%. Craig endured chemotherapy which was quickly followed by a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately for Craig his identical triplet sisters were a match and one was selected as his donor. Hurdle one was achieved. The next step was to get into Westmead Hospital for the transplant and that was hurdle two. The transplant unit only took 6 patients at a time and we had to wait. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to wait. Eight months were spent in and out of hospital however after the transplant it was found that Craig had suffered a complication from the transplant which affected his lungs. After many years with Craig’s lung problems he eventually passed away on 8 August 2002 at 38 years of age. Throughout all the treatments and hospital visits there was one thing that Craig was passionate about and that was raising funds to find a cure for leukaemia, particularly in children. Craig felt that if he found the treatments hard to cope with, then small children with any type of cancer would be in a worse position. I continue Craig’s passion for finding a cure for all cancers, which is why I have become a Partner in the Cure. The researchers and medical professionals working at ACRF are equally passionate about finding cures in the hope that people like Craig get to live a fulfilling life with their families. I’m proud to do my small part by regularly donating to the ACRF so that they can continue to fund breakthroughs in cancer research. Cures for cancer can only come from research and if we all contribute a small amount this means that cancer research can continue in Australia,” Regular Giver of the Month – Dianne King. Learn more about becoming a regular giver. Share your story
New discovery a sign of hope for melanoma patients Posted on July 10, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit After four years of dedicated research, PhD student Mitchell Stark has made a remarkable discovery at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, a facility which has been awarded three grants from the ACRF. He has uncovered new markers which will help increase the speed, accuracy and accessibility of tests that monitor the progression of Melanoma. Mr. Stark’s study has revealed that elevated levels of microRNA’s, which are tiny molecules that regulate the amount of protein in a gene, can indicate that the cancer is at risk of spreading. “They are highly sensitive and specific, and are significantly better than markers currently being used,” says Mr. Stark. “In specimens from stage IV patients, the new biomarkers confirmed tumour progression in 100% of cases.” Mr. Stark said this is significant because it will allow patients to start treatment before metastatic disease is clinically evident, which could greatly improve a patient’s chance of survival. “Patients with stage III melanoma, with spread confined to regional lymph nodes, have a five-year survival rate of about 50%, compared to less than 15% if metastases are widespread.” In addition to the accuracy, another positive is the method in which the testing is done. All that is required from a patient for the markers to be detected is a routine blood test. This will better identify the group of patients that require additional expensive and stressful tests such as CT scans. Queensland Science Minister Leeanne Enoch said the research represents a significant advance for melanoma patients. “This is an excellent example of the world-leading research at QIMR Berghofer which has the potential to make a real difference to the lives of patients in Queensland and around the world.” QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has received $6.65 million in grants from the ACRF which has funded technology to progress research in colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, leukaemia, lymphoma and melanoma. The original article was published on the AIMR Berghofer Medical Research website.
Where one daughter leads, her mother follows – an inspiring distance runner shares her story Posted on July 8, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit “I truly believe we will beat cancer, possibly in my lifetime.” – Professor Anne Boyd. Professor Boyd is 69 years young and discovered her passion for distance running only a few short years ago. This has led her to not only become a great advocate for cancer research, raising both funds and awareness, but it has also led her to win the Sydney Striders F65-69 Marathon trophy and become the Southern Highlands Challenge poster girl! Her love affair with running began back in 2013, when she decided that, in celebration of her 67th Birthday, she would compete in her first 5K run at the Australian Running Festival in Canberra. Two years later, she has become a dedicated running enthusiast and has completed a number of challenging races including City2Surf, four Half Marathons, the Melbourne Marathon and numerous other competitive10Ks. “I’ve loved every step, even the more painful ones. I enjoy mid-race conversations with other runners and play up photo opportunities! A camera is always worth a grin and a grin helps deal with any fatigue issues which might be building up. Although there is real pleasure in achieving a personal best, my only important aim in a run is to finish,” says Anne. Anne sees the sport as a really great way to raise funds for a cause that touches all our lives. “I am personally so grateful for advances in cancer research. I’ve had tests detect precancerous polyps, which I had removed, and a recent breast scan that detected a small lump which was quickly determined not to be of any danger. These advances, of course, are bought about through the research that has made such great strides in my lifetime. But it needs everyone’s support, so I’m really happy that I can do my part and run for this cause.” Anne’s daughter, Helen Louise is a huge supporter of her mum’s new found hobby and has been a great source of inspiration and encouragement to her since the beginning. As a distance runner herself, she became her mum’s go-to for knowledge on all things running and even ran alongside Anne in her very first race, helping her to achieve third place in her age division. “My darling daughter ran with me as a warm-up for her serious event the next day and was rewarded with considerable grumpiness from her hot and bothered mother during the final kilometres! But to finish was a joy! She has played a key role in my new found passion, so now, where she leads, I follow.” To support Anne at this year’s City to Surf, click here. Share your story
Using your talent to raise funds for cancer research Posted on June 30, 2015February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Every one of us has a unique set of talents, and our mission at the ACRF is to support Australia’s top cancer researchers to do what they do best. It’s not easy to find the motivation to explore your strengths and creativity, but raising funds to help the experts find new treatments and cures for cancer might be just the inspiration you need! To help get your started, see what some of our supporters are doing. Music May Carrick is a police officer by day and a musician who records his albums by night, dedicating all proceeds to cancer research in honour of his father whom he lost to cancer two years ago. May first began writing music to help him cope. Check out his latest album here. Art Mikaela Designs is an amazingly talented sketch artist who recently showcased her work in honour of her late friend Casey. Her artwork was auctioned off to the highest bidder at an exhibition that she organised for cancer research. Jewellery Kirin Matthews is the founder of Jewellery for a Cause – a jewellery company with a passion for supporting charitable organisations and important causes. She donates 20% of each piece to charities such as the ACRF. View one of her latest creations here. If you’re still not sure what type of charity fundraising you want to do, you can visit our A-Z fundraising page for more fun ideas on how you can make the most of your own unique talents.
Alone, on foot, across the Simpson Desert, Ian Vickers is pushing himself to the limit for cancer research Posted on June 26, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit In the next few days, Ian Vickers will be venturing out into the Australian outback to start his journey across the harsh terrain of the Simpson Desert. He will be travelling over 400 kms by foot – hauling his food and water supplies on a custom built cart. “I’ve been flat out the past week with last minute preparations, all is going well, feeling fit, strong and confident with a healthy dash of nervousness,” says Ian. He has chosen to dedicate this challenge to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. “There are many worthy charities whose name I could have chosen to support, however I lost both my parents to cancer far too early in their life, so it felt right to pick a charity that is dedicated to finding cures for this terrible disease. In fact, I believe that the success of my adventure will not only be measured by the completion of my walk but also in my ability to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.” Ian says he’s enjoyed every step of the journey so far. He has already invested an incredible amount of time and effort leading up to his quest, with the initial planning and preparations starting back in May of last year. “I literally walked the soles off a pair of old boots during one of my training sessions earlier in the year! I had a good friend of mine build a training rig consisting of scaffold poles and car tires that I could hook up to my new harness to drag up and down the beach.” And with all the hard miles put in he could not be more ready to embark on this remarkable adventure. “I’m relishing the new skills I’ve acquired along the way. I have a plan B, C or D for almost every eventuality should I run in to trouble along the way. But I have to credit all the support from friends, family and strangers alike, there’s no way I could have done this without them.” We are all very excited (not to mention a little bit anxious) for Ian, and wish the best of luck as he sets out to accomplish this extraordinary feat. To support Ian’s journey, visit his Everyday Hero Page here. Share your story
Tracking ovarian cancers’ evolution to change approaches to treatment Posted on June 3, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit We often think of evolution as a positive thing, associating it with progress, growth and development. But because evolution exists in all living things, including cancer cells, it also presents one of the greatest challenges for researchers as they seek out new ways to outsmart an ever moving target. But thanks to the team of world-leading researchers at the ACRF funded Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre at least four evolutionary processes have now been identified that enable ovarian cancer cells to resist chemotherapy treatments. In collaboration with two other key ACRF-funded research institutes, University of Queensland’s Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Westmead’s Millennium Institute, the research team used whole genome sequencing to analyse tumour DNA samples from 91 patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Their new insights into how these cells genetically change to become resilient will allow researchers to investigate more effective treatments – treatments that are tailored to break through each defensive barrier. The defence mechanisms identified in these cancer cells included everything from “hijacking” genetic switches that enable them to pump chemotherapy drugs out of their way to reshaping and accumulating “scar tissue” which appears to block the chemotherapy drugs. ‘In this research we saw stark reminders of how evolution presents us with incredible challenges – to fight an insidious enemy, you need to understand them, and we’ve made a great leap forward thanks to a truly international collaborative effort ,’ says Peter Mac researcher Professor David Bowtell. Before this clinicians would watch as initially effective treatment became ineffective and cancer cells made an aggressive comeback in their patients. For decades they had little information to guide them when selecting treatment for women whose cancer has returned. ‘The research is a turning-point in the global fight against ovarian cancer it offers great hope to patients world-wide,’ says Professor Bowtell. To date this has been the largest complete DNA analysis of ovarian cancer in the world and it would not have been possible without the outstanding support of ACRF donors. This information was originally published by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.
It’s Volunteer week! Posted on May 10, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit As the great Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Here at the ACRF we are lucky to meet so many wonderful people who live this mantra. From marathon runners, to head shavers, to gala dinners and everything in between, we get to watch people’s own strength and creativity shine in all their efforts towards raising funds for cancer research. Our most dedicated volunteer groups are known as Cancerians Committees. Together these event-based charity volunteers have raised millions of dollars for world-class cancer research by organising annual events in their local area. Click here to take a look at our amazingly dedicated Cancerians. We are also incredibly fortunate to have a number of volunteers who give their time to help end cancer, by helping out in our office. We wanted to take a moment to share some of their stories with you. Lisa Sliteris: “It is an easy task to acknowledge the need for change, but it is more the action taken after this that determines the outcome. By volunteering, it gives you the chance to take such action for a cause that you are passionate about. I chose to volunteer for the ACRF as I wanted to be part of a positive goal directed and committed team. Their ambitious and hard work has had a major influence for cancer research, and I hope that through my volunteer work, I can contribute to future their accomplishments.” Duncan Innes: “Why volunteer for ACRF? Well, apart from the fact that cancer is likely to affect one in two men personally during their lifetime, my Mum, my favourite boss and my mother-in-law have all been cancer patients. My grandad died of stomach cancer 50 years ago, too. When I started my career as a hospital administrator, bone marrow transplant was experimental: four out of five leukaemia patients didn’t survive. Now, four out of five kids do survive. So that tells you how important cancer research is, and how it is a long-term game. Contributing my time and my skills to that is definitely a worthwhile thing to do!” Sayako Inoue: “My sister found out she had thyroid cancer when she became pregnant with her first child. Thanks to the latest treatments she was able to receive, she has been well and my nephew is turning five this year. I thank ACRF for giving me the opportunity to invest my time in the cause I believe in.” A big thank you again to all the volunteers out there, we get closer every day to ending cancer because of you. If you would like to find out more about how you can volunteer with the ACRF, click here.
Mother’s Day gift ideas: 3 simple ways to show your mum how special she is Posted on April 28, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit Behind every wonderful human being is an even more amazing mother. May 10th is a special day for recognising them and it’s just around the corner! It can be tough to find a way to thank our mums for standing tall and showing us that it is possible to be strong and gentle at the same time. They inspire us, ground us and support us endlessly. So how can we show them they are appreciated in more ways than they will ever know? At the ACRF, we believe that the best gift you can give to your mum for Mother’s Day is your time. So here are some simple yet unique ideas of things you can do: Volunteer with her doing something she loves. She’ll get an extra dose of appreciation from the people she is helping. Get her an Entertainment Book! It’s full of deals on things you could do together. Or make an in-celebration donation to cancer research, a gift that will help protect her health and yours through world class research in prevention, diagnosis and cure. The ACRF can provide you with a selection of cards and cancer research ribbons, as a way of honouring and acknowledging your generous contribution to cancer research. Whatever you decide to do, make sure she feels the love – she showered you with it all your life after all!
Explore your area and help end cancer with an Entertainment Book from the ACRF Posted on April 21, 2015March 14, 2018 by Carly du Toit Continue reading “Explore your area and help end cancer with an Entertainment Book from the ACRF”
Giving regular charity donations through workplace giving! Posted on November 19, 2013February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit One in two men and one in three women in Australia will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. Each of us is keen to do our part to prevent both our loved ones and ourselves from facing this terrible disease, but often life gets in the way of us sitting down to make a donation. Workplace Giving is one way to get around this. It’s a simple way for working Australians to make a big difference to cancer research via regular charity donations that are deducted from your payroll, before tax. Employees can therefore enjoy an immediate tax benefit, while their regular charity donations work hard to make an important difference to our ability to fund cancer research. Continue reading “Giving regular charity donations through workplace giving!”
The ACRF welcomes Jennifer Hewett to its Board of Trustees Posted on September 20, 2012February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit We are delighted to welcome business and political journalist, Jennifer Hewett to the Board of Trustees. Jennifer is a highly respect columnist, more recently and most notably in national affairs for the leading financial newspaper in the country, the Australian Financial Review. She has written on business and politics for over three decades for a variety of leading Australian papers, and is also well known and respected across radio and television networks. “Jennifer is an outstanding person and we are thrilled that she will be joining us and making a wonderful contribution to our work of funding world-class research projects in Australia,” said Chairman of the ACRF Board, Mr Tom Dery. Continue reading “The ACRF welcomes Jennifer Hewett to its Board of Trustees”
