World Cancer Research Day
Support life changing Cancer Research
A heartfelt thank you to Amgen for partnering with us and helping inspire our supporters to raise over $115,000 for cancer research.
Thank you to our community who donated, shared our appeal and stood with people impacted by cancer. Together, you made this remarkable result possible and helped back brilliant life-changing cancer research.
World Cancer Research Day 2026: Together We Doubled the Impact for Women in Cancer Research
On World Cancer Research Day, together with Amgen, ACRF supporters raised over $115,000 for cancer research
This year, we shone a light on brilliant women in cancer research and the discoveries they help make possible.
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of ACRF supporters and the support of Amgen's dollar-for-dollar matching commitment, together we raised more than $115,000 to help fund lifesaving cancer research.
These funds will help provide Australian researchers with the technology, equipment and infrastructure they need to find new and improved ways to prevent, detect and treat all types of cancer.
World Cancer Research Day, marked annually on 24 September, is a global movement that highlights the vital role research plays in improving how cancer is prevented, detected and treated. It also serves as a call for continued collaboration and investment in the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
At ACRF, we know brilliant ideas need the right tools. Since 1984, we have funded the technology, equipment and infrastructure Australian scientists need to pursue pioneering research across all types of cancer.
Thank you for backing brilliant research and helping drive the next breakthrough.
Brilliant women, backed by supporters like you
Four researchers. Decades of progress. One shared belief in what research can make possible.
“Science is a team effort. You are not working on your own, and you will get further if you bring people along on your journey.”
Professor Marina Pajic, Co-Director of the Translational Oncology Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Professor Pajic leads research into personalised treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer. Her team’s new clinical trials will draw on technology at the ACRF MATRIX Centre to study how individual tumours respond to treatment and help identify who may benefit most from different approaches.
“I see every day how research changes lives – giving people the chance to live longer, healthier lives. ACRF plays a vital role in helping make the next breakthrough possible.”
Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, NSW Chief Cancer Officer, Paediatric Oncologist & ACRF Funded Researcher
“You’re only as good as the people around you.”
Professor Kaylene Simpson, Head, ACRF Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics in cancer at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
A $2.5 million ACRF grant awarded in 2008 helped establish the ACRF Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics in cancer at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. This Centre supports a technology platform that enables researchers to study the mechanisms driving resistance to cancer treating drugs by investigating genes that are important in regulating changes in cell behaviour. Nearly two decades later, its capabilities continue to be essential for cancer research discoveries.
“The tumour microenvironment is the next frontier in cancer research.”
Dr Amelia Parker, Senior Research Officer, Cox Lab, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Dr Parker is part of the team at the ACRF MATRIX Centre, which uses advanced imaging technology to investigate why some cancers resist treatment and spread. In 2025, she received the Amgen Women in Cancer Research Grant Award, providing $100,000 a year for three years to advance her work.
Partnering to empower women in cancer research
In early 2025, Australian Cancer Research Foundation and Amgen began a three-year partnership built around a shared commitment to support women in oncology and related fields at every stage of their careers.
The partnership includes a survey into the experiences of women working in cancer research, a study tour at Amgen's global headquarters, Empowering Women in Cancer Research Leadership Series and the Amgen Women in Cancer Research Grant Award, worth $100,000 a year for three years.
Thanks to Amgen's matched giving support and the generosity of ACRF supporters, more brilliant women in cancer research will have access to the tools and technology needed to drive the next breakthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a 24 hour period, starting from 11am on the 24 September 2026, all donations made to Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) via https://www.acrf.com.au/donate will be matched dollar for dollar.
During the 24-hour matched giving campaign period, we are hoping to raise $50,000 that will go towards cutting-edge cancer research into all types of cancer.
In the unlikely event that the donor decides to no longer provide the matching gift donation the campaign will not go ahead. We will notify people of this event via acrf.com.au along with announcements on ACRF social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram).
The matching gift comes from Amgen. They have pledged a total amount of $50,000 to Australian Cancer Research Foundation. The amount has been confirmed in writing.
Once the matching amount has been exhausted, communications will be updated across the acrf.com.au website to reflect that the matching campaign is no longer running. Along with this, an announcement will be made on ACRF social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook). This announcement will be made in a reasonable time-frame/as soon as is practical and may be impacted by the time of day at which point the allocation is exhausted.
Will you help fund what's next?
This World Cancer Research Day, ACRF supporters and Amgen came together to raise over $115,000 for cancer research, helping provide the technology and infrastructure researchers need to make tomorrow's breakthroughs possible.