fbpx

New leader for top Australian cancer research funding body

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) has appointed distinguished scientist and businessman Dr. Ian Brown as its new Chief Executive.

ACRF’s research grants, which will top the $100 million mark this year, have provided Australia’s best cancer scientists with the technologies, equipment and infrastructure needed to speed up discoveries and stay at the forefront of medical research.

ACRF Chairman Tom Dery said the foundation was thrilled to welcome Dr Brown who is currently an adjunct professor at Flinders University in Adelaide and special visiting professor at the University of Colorado in the US.

Continue reading “New leader for top Australian cancer research funding body”

Cancer research foundation funds new treatment centre

The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute has secured a $2 million grant from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation for a new cancer treatment centre in Brisbane.

The agreement between ACRF and UQDI for the Diamantina Individualised Oncology Care Centre (DIOCC) will mean improved research opportunities and outcomes for cancer patients.

The centre will be based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Translational Research Institute.

Continue reading “Cancer research foundation funds new treatment centre”

Vale Mr John Boettcher OAM

Mr A John BoettcherThe Australian Cancer Research Foundation is saddened to report the passing, on 7 September 2012, of its long-serving and founding trustee Mr John Boettcher OAM.

John, who served on our Board of Trustees for 28 years, was much-loved, a friend to many, and a highly respected member of the ACRF team.

John was an enthusiast for the work of ACRF and so very positive in his outlook to life. A more modest man one would struggle to find.

The Board and staff of ACRF convey our deepest sympathies to his wife Glenys, their daughters Sue, Linda and Joanne, and their grandchildren.

We will all miss you enormously John.

Rest peacefully, dear friend.

Tom Dery
Chairman

Two world-class research centres to open in QLD

Mr Tom S DeryI’m thrilled to announce the official openings of two world-class cancer research laboratories in Queensland next Tuesday [19 July, 2011]:

It is a true mark of the superior research being undertaken in the Sunshine State that these laboratories are opening on the same day to guests from all over the country.

In 2007 ACRF provided $2.7 million and $3.2 million respectively in seed funding to establish both of these facilities. Less than four years later, the labs are operating, and more importantly, they are making significant breakthroughs in our understanding of cancer and the ways we can prevent, diagnose, treat and defeat this terrible disease. Continue reading “Two world-class research centres to open in QLD”

ACRF awards $8.5 million to 4 world-class cancer research initiatives

Australia’s best scientists have been given a major boost in their fight against cancer, with the announcement of $8.5 million worth of grants from the ACRF to the nation’s finest research institutions.

The Foundation awarded a total of three grants – to $2million grant to The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (Melbourne), $2.4million to Western Australian Institute for Medical Research and $1.6million to Monash Institute of Medical Research (Melbourne).  This is in addition to the ‘top-up’ grant of $2.5 million the ACRF pledged earlier to The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, a joint facility of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.

Continue reading “ACRF awards $8.5 million to 4 world-class cancer research initiatives”

ACRF awards $5M cancer research grant for Kinghorn Cancer Centre and honours Lady (Sonia) McMahon

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”

Inherited cancer centre opening in Tasmania

Tasmanian Minister for Health, Michelle O’Byrne today – Tuesday September 28 – opened the $1.1 million ACRF Tasmanian Inherited Cancer Centre at the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania in Hobart.

“The ACRF Inherited Cancer Centre enables our researchers to fast track their crucial research into preventing or finding better treatments for inherited cancers,” said Menzies’ Director, Professor Simon Foote.

Inherited cancers are those in which family history is a high risk factor. These can include prostate cancer and leukaemia. Research at the new Centre focuses on further identification of the genes underlying the causes of these cancers as well as their environmental triggers. Continue reading “Inherited cancer centre opening in Tasmania”

Childhood cancer on notice

Official opening of the new ACRF Drug Discovery Centre

iStock_000000735381XSmall_two-hands-clasping-in-hospital-300x235“Tonight, together, we have put childhood cancer on notice.

“Tonight, we have glimpsed a not to distant future where no child who has cancer need suffer,” declared Bob Muscat, chairman of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia at the August 19 launch of the $3.1m ACRF Drug Discovery Centre.

Mr Muscat joined University of New South Wales chancellor David Gonski, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia executive director Michelle Haber, CCIA founder Jack Kassas, and Australian Cancer Research Foundation chairman Tom Dery to officially open the new ACRF-funded facilities at the CCIA, part of the Lowy Cancer Research Centre at UNSW.

The ACRF Drug Discovery Centre will develop new and improved treatments for childhood cancers.

It houses customised technology that enables one year’s medical research to be done in just a few days. Continue reading “Childhood cancer on notice”

ACRF's $3.1 million launch

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.