Research Institute: Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland
Amount granted: $2 million
Year granted: 2012
Research that benefited from this grant was conducted in three projects: skin cancer research by Professor Ian Frazer’s team, pharmacogenomics and pharmacodynamics to develop novel approaches to breast cancer treatment, and finally studies in leukaemia and lymphoma which made extensive use of genomics.
Cancer screening and analysis at the centre initially focused on these particular areas of cancer research, with a broader commitment to genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, in aiming to develop specific treatment protocols for individual patients.
This $2 million ACRF grant was seed-funding for the development of a specialised centre, located at the University of Queensland’s Princess Alexandra Hospital campus.
The centre combines laboratory-based studies with clinical studies and trials. It was the third ACRF grant awarded to the Diamantina Institute.
Chief Investigators: Professors Matthew Brown and Ian Frazer, Associate Professor Jennifer Martin
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.
