ACRF Centre for Translational Research
In 2005, ACRF awarded a $1 million capital works grant for the creation of a dedicated Translational Research Laboratory in haematological malignancy. This facility is in the Diagnostic Hematology Department at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, which directly interfaces with the Cancer and Hematology Division at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) and the Bone Marrow Research Laboratories (BMRL), which are prominent basic science centres in the fields of hematopoietic gene discovery and analysis.
This facility sought to examine the output of the gene discovery and characterisation programs in relevant clinical samples to identify new mutations involved in haematological malignancy and other hematopoietic disorders.
In addition, it will provide access to relevant clinical samples that could be utilised in the in vitro analysis of novel therapeutics that have emerged as a result of the basic science program. This facility served as a template for an expanded translational laboratory that will link gene discovery and characterisation programs in a wide range of tumour types to the relevant clinical samples.
The establishment of the ACRF Centre for Translational Research at The Royal Melbourne Hospital ensured that outcomes for people with cancer are improved and that leading advances in cancer research can be achieved through collaboration and excellence.
Directors of Research: Associate Professor Surender Juneja (Director, Diagnostic Hematology) and Dr Annabel Tuckfield (Director, Translational Research Laboratory)