Australian researchers will receive a significant boost in their fight against cancer from $9.43 million in funding through Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS).
The Australian Government, through Cancer Australia, will invest $4.72 million, with funding partners contributing $4.71million, to fund the successful grant applications.
Health Minister Peter Dutton said the Cancer Australia grants, initiated by Prime Minister Tony Abbott when he was Health Minister, support vital research to find new or better paths in the battle against cancer.
“They demonstrate the Australian Government’s commitment to constantly seeking better outcomes for cancer patients.” Minister Dutton said.
Cancer Australia CEO Professor Helen Zorbas said the PdCCRS is an important scheme as it brings together government and non-government organisations to maximise investment in cancer research at a national level.
“The scheme fosters collaboration between cancer researchers to build Australia’s cancer research capacity, impact on practice and policy, and improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.” Professor Zorbas said.
“Research to receive funding this year includes investigations into genetic variants of cancers, improved support for patients and carers, and research into improved cancer treatments.”
Since its inception in 2007, 238 grants totalling $81.54 million have been funded through this scheme.
The 28 new cancer research projects cover the research continuum from screening to diagnosis, treatment and prognosis and include joint ventures between Cancer Australia and, Bowel Cancer Australia, Cancer Council Australia, Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and Radiation Oncology and Optometry Section of the Australian Government Department of Health.
The PdCCRS is an annual national research grants scheme conducted by Cancer Australia in collaboration with The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Further details of successful grant applications in the 2013 round of Cancer Australia’s PdCCRS can be found on the Cancer Australia website – www.canceraustralia.gov.au
Media contact:
Simon Thomas, Cancer Australia: (02) 9357 6401 or 0438 209 833
Cancer Australia, Bowel Cancer Australia, Cancer Council Australia, Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and Radiation Oncology and Optometry Section of the Australian Government Department of Health are pleased to announce applicants who have been recommended for funding in the 2013 Round of the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme.
Grants being funded include:
Anderson, Robin
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Novel therapies to treat brain metastatic breast cancer
Funded by Cancer Australia
Anwari, Khatira
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Regulating BAK and BAX conversion to death-inducing oligomers
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Ball, David
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
A randomised trial of stereotactic radiotherapy versus conventional radiotherapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer
Funded by Radiation Oncology and Optometry Section Australian Government Department of Health
Batra, Jyotsna
Queensland University of Technology
miRSNPs as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for prostate cancer
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Biro, Mate
Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology
The role of cellular protrusions and the actomyosin cortex in invasive tumour cell migration
Funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Doran, Michael
Queensland University of Technology
Mimicking the HSC niche and enabling HSC self-renewal in vitro
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Foote, Matthew
Princess Alexandra Hospital
A Randomised Trial of Postoperative Radiation Therapy Following Wide Excision of Neurotropic Melanoma of the Head and Neck
Funded by Radiation Oncology and Optometry Section Australian Government Department of Health
Foroudi, Farshad
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
A Randomised phase II trial of Adaptive Image guided standard or Dose Escalated Radiotherapy in the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the Bladder (RAIDER-B)
Co-funded by Cancer Australia and Radiation Oncology and Optometry Section, Australian Government Department of Health
Gan, Hui
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
Targeting the dimerisation arm of EGFR- biological effects and therapeutic implications
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Hayes Sandra
Queensland University of Technology
ECHO trial: Exercise during CHemotherapy for Ovarian cancer
Co-funded by Cancer Council Australia and Cancer Australia – gynaecological cancers program
Hofman, Michael
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Investigation of molecular imaging and serum biomarkers to identify lung injury and enable individualised radiation therapy for lung cancers
Funded by Radiation Oncology and Optometry Section Australian Government Department of Health
Janic, Ana
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Identification of the critical p53 tumour suppression mechanisms in vivo
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Kaminskas, Lisa
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
An inhalable dendrimer-based delivery platform for the targeted treatment of primary and secondary lung cancers
Funded by Cancer Australia – lung cancer program
Keall, Paul
University of Sydney
Hitting the Target: Real-Time Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy
Co-funded by Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Radiation Oncology and Optometry Section Australian Government Department of Health, and Cancer Australia
Knower, Kevin
Prince Henry’s Institute, Melbourne
Nuclear receptors and their functions in breast cancer stroma: identification of novel therapeutic targets
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Lane, Stephen
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Understanding DNA integrity and telomerase in acute myeloid leukaemia stem cell function
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Larsen, Jill
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Identification of novel permissive mutations representing acquired vulnerabilities in lung cancer
Co-funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation and Cancer Australia
Mitchell, Gillian
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Identification of Men with a genetic predisposition to ProstAte Cancer: Targeted screening in men at higher genetic risk and controls – The IMPACT study
Co-funded by Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Cancer Australia
Napier, Christine
Children’s Medical Research Institute
Exploiting ATRX deficiency to treat ALT cancers
Funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Nickson, Carolyn
University of Melbourne
Maximising benefits and minimising harms in the BreastScreen program: a population health economics modelling approach
Funded by Cancer Australia
Pajic, Marina
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre
From functional genomics to precision medicine: The therapeutic potential of targeting Rho/ROCK signalling in pancreatic cancer
Funded by Cancer Australia
Segelov, Eva
Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group
ASCOLT: Aspirin for Dukes C and High Risk Dukes B Colorectal Cancers. An International, Multi-centre, Double Blind, Randomised Trial.
Co-funded by Bowel Cancer Australia and Cancer Australia
Skelding, Kathryn
University of Newcastle
Identification of BAALC as a new target for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia
Funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Soon, Patsy
University of New South Wales
The role of microRNAs in cancer-associated fibroblasts of triple negative breast cancers
Funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Taberley, Phillipa
Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Determining the functional importance of global, BRG1-driven interactions in cancer cells
Funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Thomas, David
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Quantifying genetic risk in sarcoma and translation into health outcomes
Funded by Cancer Australia
Wakefield, Clare
Kids Cancer Centre
A multicentre phase II randomised controlled trial of a parent/carer-targeted intervention to improve quality of life in families of young cancer survivors
Funded by Cancer Australia
Wong, Jason
University of New South Wales
Exploration of cis-regulatory mutations in acute myeloid leukaemia
Funded by Cure Cancer Australia Foundation