Rosebank College visits CCIA to learn how we are helping to fight cancer Posted on September 11, 2013February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit In celebration of National Science Week, we recently welcomed the year 11 Rosebank Biology class to the ACRF Drug Discovery Lab at the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA). This educational tour allowed the students to get up-close with the cutting-edge technologies used inside a real laboratory, while meeting some of Australia’s best cancer scientists who are making amazing progress in the fight against children’s cancers. The day started off with a very insightful presentation by Dr Eddy Pasquier who discussed his expertise and passion for cancer research, especially in the field of Neuroblastoma. Continue reading “Rosebank College visits CCIA to learn how we are helping to fight cancer”
Breakthrough in lung cancer research Posted on May 5, 2011February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Researchers at the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA) are using the ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer to enhance a recent breakthrough in lung cancer research. Every year more than 9,000 Australians are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. It is one of the most lethal forms of cancer. But while looking for ways to treat childhood solid cancer tumours, CCIA found a promising new therapy technique for lung cancer patients in Australia and throughout the world. Continue reading “Breakthrough in lung cancer research”
ACRF medical adviser wins top science prize Posted on August 18, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF congratulates Philip Hogg Philip Hogg, director of the Lowy Cancer Research Centre at UNSW, has won the 2010 Eureka Prize for Medical Research Translation. The prestigious award, announced in Sydney on August 17, is for research leading to the development of a novel class of anti-cancer drugs. It also recognises Professor Hogg’s work in monitoring real-time cell death during chemotherapy. “Professor Hogg has been a member of the ACRF Medical Research Advisory Committee since 2003,” said ACRF chairman, Tom Dery. Continue reading “ACRF medical adviser wins top science prize”
ACRF's $3.1 million launch Posted on August 6, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A $3.1 million ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer opens on Thursday August 19. The new facility at the Children’s Cancer Research Institute Australia – part of the recently opened Lowy Cancer Research Centre at University of New South Wales – houses the only drug screening robot in Australia. It’s innovative technology can do a year’s research in just one day and the Centre marks a new era in the development of personalised medicine. On average three children in Australia die every week from cancer. The ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer aims to change this. UNSW Chancellor, David Gonski, ACRF Chairman, Tom Dery, Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia Executive Director, Professor Michelle Haber and CCIA Chairman, Bob Muscat will speak at the launch. Click Here for ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer Media Release.
Prime Minister opens Cancer Research Centre Posted on May 28, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and NSW Premier Kristina Keneally will today officially open the highly anticipated Lowy Cancer Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, bringing together adult and children cancer researchers for the first time in Australia. The new facility opens with the help of a $3.1 million grant from ACRF and features the ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer, equipped with advanced cancer screening technologies essential to finding and confirming new cancer targets and pathways. During the official tour of the new facility with the NSW Premier, the Prime Minister said that the Centre will greatly support cancer treatments and cure. “The Lowy Cancer Research Centre is a critical step in supporting our world-leading cancer researchers, whose discoveries will directly translate into better patient care and carry the potential to save generations from cancer,” Mr Rudd said. Researchers at the Centre will investigate ways to develop cancer-fighting drugs, with three of the drugs to commence clinical trials this year. Continue reading “Prime Minister opens Cancer Research Centre”
Global cancer research leaders gather Posted on May 18, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The Lowy Symposium has revealed significant developments for cancer treatments and cure during what has been an eventful month for researchers leading up to the opening of the new state-of-the-art Lowy Cancer Research Centre. Australian and international scientists came together to share real-time data on the latest studies, and to engage in discussion and debate for improving future research. Advanced equipment and technologies, and recent breakthroughs in drug therapies were among the highlights from the symposium. Associate Professor Ricky Johnstone from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne said: “Throughout the meeting there was an emphasis on the use of cutting-edge platform technologies such as high throughput chemical screening and molecular imaging.” Researchers also discussed the emergence of sophisticated new methods for discovering cancer drugs. One of those is structural biology, where scientists analyse the structure of protein molecules at a three-dimensional level. Continue reading “Global cancer research leaders gather”
Lowy Symposium Posted on May 16, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit World Leaders in Cancer Research Gather for Lowy Symposium Sydney, Australia: Leading international and Australian cancer researchers met in Sydney to explore new frontiers for cancer drug development in drug discovery, pre-clinical testing and the translation of these discoveries into the clinic. The Lowy Symposium with the theme of “Discovering Cancer Therapeutics” was held at the John Niland Scientia Building at the University of New South Wales from May 16 to 18. The meeting program included 9 invited international speakers and 10 national experts in cancer therapeutics research. Full Media Release here. The 2010 Symposium was the first of what is planned to be a biennial cancer symposium series that will celebrate the establishment of the Lowy Cancer Research Centre in Sydney. The Lowy Cancer Research Centre, to be officially launched on 28 May, will be one of the leading cancer research centres in the world integrating childhood and adult cancer research and taking a holistic approach to cancer across the life spectrum. Announced at the Lowy Symposium to the world’s leading cancer researchers, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer was recognised as key to sharpening the blunt instruments currently being used to treat cancer and achieving better health outcomes for patients. Full Media Release here. The Lowy Symposium will gather international speakers and specialists at the forefront of world-class cancer research, promoting the link between research and achieving better health outcomes for people with cancer. When: 16 – 18 May 2010 Where: The University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus Read more about ACRF’s recent grant to CCIA Read about a previous ACRF grant to CCIA (2002) The Australian Cancer Research Foundation is now in its 25th year of operation. Individual ACRF grants exceed $1.5 million with no upper limit. This is unique funding for infrastructure, not available from any other private source in Australia. A grant from ACRF in 1999 kick-started 2006 Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer’s quest to develop a vaccine to prevent and treat cervical cancer. In the last five years alone, the foundation has awarded grants worth $46 million, with recipients including St Vincent’s Institute, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Walter & Eliza Hall, and Ludwig Cancer Institute. This figure includes a major $5 million grant for the ACRF Centre for Therapeutic Target Discovery at the Parkville Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Read more about our cancer research grants. ACRF staff were lucky enough to have a Sneak Preview of the amazing new Lowy Cancer Research Centre recently. Read all about the visit at Sneak Preview of New Research Centre.
Sneak preview of new research centre Posted on May 12, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit ACRF staff visit amazing new Lowy Cancer Research Centre Excited ACRF staff, accompanied by CEO David Brettell, were given a sneak preview of the new state-of-the-art children’s cancer research facility set to open soon at the Lowy Cancer Research Centre at the UNSW. The new facility, opening on the 19th August 2010, is the first centre in Australia to bring together childhood and adult cancer research at the one site and was built with the help of a $3.1 million grant from the ACRF. Shown the new complex by Dr Moira Clay, from Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, ACRF staff toured three floors of the $100 million-plus facility which will house up to 400 researchers from UNSW and which is set to be one of the largest dedicated cancer research centres in the Southern Hemisphere. The first impression was that the innovative designers of the building had been more successful in creating “a very green building”. Designed by Lahz Nimmo Architects in association with Wilson Architects, the building boasts lime green-cladding, precast concrete panels and a five-star environmental rating in accordance with the new Green Building Council of Australia method of evaluation. Dr Clay was most welcoming of ACRF staff and full of praise for the Foundation. “The ACRF does very important work and we are pleased to sing your praises and promote the work that you do,” she said. Continue reading “Sneak preview of new research centre”
