News archive
New look website for the Agency (March ’07)
In January 2008, the Agency launched its updated website. The new site has been designed and developed to better reflect our work and current activity. It features key areas such as funding and development of the cancer research strategy for Victoria, as well as more detailed information about the organisations we are working with and our approach.
A new feature of the site is the member’s area that provides a document repository and chat forum for individuals involved with Agency action groups, networks, advisory committees and panels.
2007-08 Victorian Cancer Agency funding announced (Dec ’07)
The Victorian Cancer Agency is very pleased to announce that it will be investing $5.8 million in its 2007-08 funding programs. This funding will be used to support a wide range of applications, from clinical trial pilot projects, to workforce and infrastructure grants.
Almost 200 applications were received by the Agency, 27% of which have been selected for funding (this does not include platform technology enabling grants). The Agency is delighted with this phenomenal success given the short time frames surrounding this year's opportunities. All applicants have been notified by mail and are also listed on the funding recipients page of this website.
A presentation evening will be held in February 2008 to celebrate the successful recipients of these funding awards.
Applicants who submitted expressions of interest for the Agency's platform technology enabling grants are advised that these grants will be evaluated in early 2008.
Conferences (Nov ’07)
One of the members of the Victorian Cancer Agency presented a poster at the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting in Adelaide, in November of this year.
Members of the Agency also attended the Clinical Research Excellence conference in Melbourne (in August 2007), and were present at the International Clinical Trials Symposium in Sydney (in September 2007).
Clinical Research Excellence conference exhibition stand.
Funding opportunities 2007-08
Funding programs were available in the areas of clinical trials, tumour stream research, supportive care and regional research support, as well as more specific seed grants for early career development and smaller funds to facilitate collaboration.
All of the funding programs were designed to be flexible and enable a range of funding applications to be considered. The Victorian Cancer Agency planned to use these opportunities to build cancer research capacity and capability, to foster innovative, collaborative working relationships and to encourage a broad range of translational research in the State.
Briefing sessions on the 2007-08 funding programs will be held in early October at the Cancer Council Victoria building, at Monash Medical Centre and also at Austin Health. A teleconference briefing session will also be organised for interested parties in regional areas.
Victorian Cancer Agency funding for Cancer Trials Australia (June ’07)
In June 2007, the Victorian Cancer Agency provided $230,000 to Cancer Trials Australia. This grant was awarded to assist Cancer Trials Australia with an expansion of its network into new areas of metropolitan and regional Victoria. This grant will enable more patients, with a variety of cancers, access to clinical trials and will provide more centres access to investigational agents.
Victorian Cancer Agency Fellow wins Young Tall Poppy Award (Sept '08)
Dr Kylie Mason, a recipient of the Victorian Cancer Agency's Clinician Researcher Fellowship in 2006-07, has been honoured with the prestigious Young Tall Poppy Award, presented by the Australian Institute of Policy & Science. The award recognises outstanding achievement by young scientific researchers.
Working through the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Dr Mason is a treating clinician and a research scientist with a specific interest in disorders of the blood including leukaemia and lymphoma.
The Victorian Cancer Agency congratulates Dr Mason on this significant achievement.
Victorian Cancer Agency presents Early Career Bench & Bedside Collaboration Grants and Awards (July '08)
The Victorian Cancer Agency held the last in the current series of Early Career Innovators Network Workshops on Thursday 10 July 2008 at the Westin Melbourne hotel. The topic for the workshop was 'Career Pathways: Decisions and Challenges' . The evening also included a dinner and awards ceremony for the presentation of of the Early Career Bench & Bedside Collaboration Grants and Awards.
More than 35 early career researchers attended the evening and were joined by Prof Daine Alcorn and Les Leckie from the Victorian Cancer Agency's Consultative Council.
The recipients of the grants and awards were:
1st prize for the grant ($10,000) - Dr Michael Christie et al
2nd prize for the grant ($5,000) - Dr Amanda Deeks et al
1st prize for the award ($10,000) - Dr Elgene Lim et al
2nd prize for the award ($5,000) - Dr Jeanne Tie et al
The Victorian Cancer Agency offers congratulations to all recipients of the grants and awards.
Victorian Cancer Agency Translational Cancer Research Funding Round - Expressions of Interest Progress
The Victorian Cancer Agency was extremely pleased at the response to its call for Expressions of Interest in the Translational Cancer Research Funding Round.
Proposals have now been sent to a panel of Australia-wide cancer specialists for assessment, and the Agency will be inviting full applications in the near future.
More information will be posted here on the website when dates have been finalised.