Research Institute: Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland
Amount granted: $2.5 million
Year granted: 2008
The $2.5 million grant from ACRF was provided for the establishment of a world-class cancer imaging centre at The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB).
The grant enabled the ACRF Cancer Biology Imaging Facility to become the most advanced imaging research facility in the southern hemisphere. It was officially opened on 10 February 2010.
The facility has enabled researchers to gain a detailed understanding of the molecules and mechanisms associated with the transformation of a healthy cell to a cancerous cell, and the invasion of cancerous cells through the body.
The facility has also allowed researchers to rapidly decipher gene and protein function and interaction within cells.
Senior researchers: Professor Jennifer Stow, Associate Professor Alpha Yap, Associate Professor Sean Grimmond
What your donations have achieved
Cervical cancer vaccine
We gave initial seed funding to Professor Ian Frazer’s research into the cervical cancer (HPV). Over 150 million doses of vaccine have been delivered worldwide to date.
The pill that melts away cancer
Our long term support of cancer research at WEHI has led to a treatment that melts away certain advanced forms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. It has been approved for clinical use in the US, European Union and Australia and is being trialed for other types of cancer.
Personalised cancer diagnosis
In 2015, we awarded $10 million seed funding to an ambitious cancer proteome project that aims to provide each cancer patient a personalised treatment plan within 36 hours. This will improve treatment outcomes and help avoid unnecessary treatments.
Zero childhood cancer
We are one of the founding partners of the initiative that will tackle the most serious cases of infant, childhood and adolescent cancer in Australia. It is a key step towards the program vision of one day helping to cure 100% of children with cancer.