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Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research funding passes $110m

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Joint Media Release - Minister for Health Sussan Ley and Cancer Australia

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Sussan Ley, and Cancer Australia today announced a further $10.39 million in funding for cancer research through Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS).
Minister Ley said that the 2016 round of grants pushed the amount invested in the Scheme past the $110 million milestone since its inception in 2007.

“The PdCCRS fosters collaboration in cancer research to improve outcomes and this year the Federal Government, through Cancer Australia, will invest $5.54 million with an additional $4.85 million contributed by funding partners to support 28 new research projects,” she said.

“The 2016 cancer research projects cover a range of cancer research from biological research to prevention, precision treatment, palliative care and quality of life.”
Cancer Australia CEO, Dr Helen Zorbas AO, said: “The PdCCRS provides an innovative national approach to funding cancer research across identified priority areas, bringing together government and non-government funding partners to maximise investment.”

This year's successful applications include research into reprogramming the tumour microenvironment for the treatment of pancreatic cancer; improving the precision of lung cancer radiotherapy; use of aspirin to treat colorectal cancer; improving the cure rates of childhood brain cancer; improving natural killer cell responses to immunotherapy in haematological cancers; new therapeutic targets for breast cancer; behaviour change techniques to help Indigenous pregnant women quit smoking; novel approaches to screening for people at high risk of cancer; and modifying the immune response to melanoma.

The successful grants in the 2016 round of the PdCCRS are funded by Cancer Australia with funding partners the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Council NSW, Cure Cancer Australia, National Breast Cancer Foundation and The Kids’ Cancer Project.

Cancer Australia collaborated with the National Health and Medical Research Council in the assessment of the research grant applications.

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