Research Institute: Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland
Amount granted: $2.5 million
Year granted: 2014
The ACRF Facility for Molecular Imaging Agents in Cancer has been established at the Centre of Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland with the help of a $2.5 million grant from ACRF. The facility was officially opened in March 2017.
The ACRF grant enabled the purchase of a PET-CT scanner to image large animals and humans. The facility and equipment will harness the power of molecular imaging to detect, characterise and monitor cancer in order to help streamline the discovery of new cancer drugs through the power of PET microdosing – examining the effects of tiny doses of drugs at a cellular level and comparative oncology.
The Comparative Oncology program at the Centre for Advanced Imaging is the first research program of its kind in Australia. Naturally occurring cancers in companion animals such as dogs share clinical and biological similarities to human cancers that are difficult to replicate in other model systems. The purpose of comparative oncology is to make use of these cancers as models to bridge the gap between conventional preclinical models and human trials, facilitating clinical translation of new cancer drugs, devices, and imaging procedures.
The ACRF Facility for Molecular Imaging Agents in Cancer brings together cancer researchers from University of Queensland (UQ), QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre and veterinary oncologists from UQ’s School of Veterinary Science and the Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre.
Chief Investigators include: Professor David C. Reutens, Professor Matthew A. Cooper, Professor Maree T. Smith, Professor Andrew Boyd, Professor Linda Richards, Professor Perry F. Bartlett, Professor Pam Russell, Professor David G Walker, A/Professor Rajiv Bhalla, A/Professor Markus Barth and others.
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.