ACRF awards $5M cancer research grant for Kinghorn Cancer Centre and honours Lady (Sonia) McMahon Posted on November 22, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) will tonight award its equal largest ever research grant of $5 million towards the construction of The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, a joint facility of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. The ACRF grant honours the late Lady (Sonia) McMahon, life member and one of two joint founders of the Foundation (the other being the late Sir Peter Abeles). Continue reading “ACRF awards $5M cancer research grant for Kinghorn Cancer Centre and honours Lady (Sonia) McMahon”
ACRF funds landmark discovery Posted on November 1, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit At the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), we love to see results and that’s why we’re investing more than ever in world-class equipment and infrastructure for research into cancer. Since 1987 we’ve provided 41 grants totalling almost $71 million to Australian cancer research institutes ($48 million of which has been awarded in the last six years). We profile some of the latest breakthroughs: 1) In a landmark discovery, scientists at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute have discovered the links between breast cancer risk and exposure to female hormones. This breakthrough research project – partially funded by a $5million ACRF grant – found that breast stem cells, despite lacking receptors for the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, are still extra sensitive to sustained exposure to these hormones. 2) ACRF funding means researchers at the Garvan Institute are now closer to ‘switching off’ the gene identified as causing prostate cancer, following a world-first detailed description of gene expression in prostate cancer cells. ACRF has now awarded two research grants to the Garvan, the latest of $5million in honour of Lady (Sonia) McMahon. 3) Researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute’s ACRF Brain Tumour Research Centre are saving patients’ lives by safely taking primary tissue samples directly from patients and separating tumour cells from contaminated normal tissue, blood cells and cellular debris – made possible with numerous scientific instruments funded by ACRF.
Lady McMahon – a message from the Chairman Posted on April 2, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Our hearts go out to the family of Lady Sonia McMahon. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) would simply not exist without Lady (Sonia) McMahon. Over 26 years ago Lady McMahon approached Sir Peter Abeles to head up a new charity for medical research, dealing specifically with cancer. With a small group of Sydney philanthropists, she co-opted Sir Peter to establish the Australian Cancer Research Foundation in 1984, following the closure of Sydney Hospital which the group had been supporting. Continue reading “Lady McMahon – a message from the Chairman”
VALE Lady (Sonia) McMahon Posted on April 1, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The Board of Trustees, management, staff and supporters of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation convey to Lady McMahon’s family our sincerest condolences. Lady McMahon was a Founding Trustee and Life Member of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), which last year celebrated its silver anniversary. Chief Executive of the ACRF, David Brettell said this morning “We will miss Lady McMahon greatly. Not only was she a shining star, charming and generous with her time and energy, she was also a totally committed Trustee, always available to share her extensive experience. “She participated consistently and with real commitment to the mission and growth of the Foundation, attending and playing a critical role on the Board. Her contribution helped to ensure the Foundation remained focused on its core purpose of funding infrastructure and capital works for projects at the forefront of medical science in this country. Continue reading “VALE Lady (Sonia) McMahon”
