Promising new treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia Posted on June 10, 2016February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) can look forward to the development of new therapies following a discovery by cancer researchers at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. While investigating ways to target particular types of AML, and hoping to increase the chance of a cure for the patient while limiting damage to healthy cells, the team discovered a new way to kill cells that are dangerously multiplying. A process known as apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a natural and necessary response to keep the proliferation of human cells in check. Apoptosis is interrupted in cancers, including AML, leading to unchecked cell growth. Dr. Gabriela Brumatti said traditional chemotherapies, which encourage apoptosis, have a high relapse rate. For example, within five years of completing treatment, half of AML patients suffer a relapse of their cancer, and of those who relapse, only 50 percent survive. Her team tried a ‘blue sky’ approach, inhibiting apoptosis of AML cells in order to unleash an alternative form of cell death called necroptosis. They found that the necroptosis cell death pathway was more effective at killing AML than apoptosis. In preclinical trials, they used a combination of drugs – birinapant, a new anti-cancer drug, and emricasan, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved inhibitor of apoptosis – to kill AML. “It has been speculated that inducing necroptosis might be an effective way to kill cancer cells,” said Professor Silke. “Our work now demonstrates clearly it is a clinically feasible and safe approach.” Dr. Brumatti suggested that since cancer cells often acquire resistance to traditional chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, this novel type of chemotherapy has the potential to be used to treat otherwise impossible to treat leukaemias. These findings have just been published in the research journal Science Translational Medicine. 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 original news post was published on the WEHI website. Images of the research team courtesy of WEHI.
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.
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
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!”
An appeal for tax deductible donations to cancer research Posted on June 24, 2012June 11, 2020 by Carly du Toit Together we can fund cancer research innovations that will change the world. This year, make a tax deductible donation to ACRF before June 30th and reduce your taxable income while supporting a cause you are passionate about. 100% of your tax donation to ACRF goes to cancer research. Make a meaningful tax deductible donation this year Please never doubt the impact that your tax deductible donation – however small or large – can have on our work. We are funding the innovations that matter together, and together we can beat this terrible disease. It can be hard to imagine that one tax deductible donation – your donation – could make a difference, but it can, it does. The proof lies in what ACRF has been able to achieve thanks to generous Australians like you. You see, when your donation combines with the single donations of thousands of Australian individuals, families, companies, community groups etc. ACRF is able to award up to $10 million to world-class cancer research initiatives every year. This goes towards conducting ground-breaking research to outsmart cancer. An example of ACRF’s achievements is seed funding the development of the cervical cancer (HPV) vaccine, since this development, this vaccine has been delivered to over 150 million people worldwide. Continue reading “An appeal for tax deductible donations to cancer research”
