News
Thursday, 4 February 2010
$15.2 MILLION BOOST IN FIGHT AGAINST CANCER
The Brumby Government is stepping up the fight against cancer with a $15.2 million funding boost to support groundbreaking new research projects.
Visiting Monash Cancer Centre today to mark World Cancer Day, Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced funding for 10 new cancer research projects as part of Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to provide world-class health services and support cutting edge research that helps detect cancer early and save lives,” Mr Andrews said.
“Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan has provided $78.8 million dollars for cancer research in Victoria through the Victorian Cancer Agency.”
Mr Andrews said the Victorian Cancer Agency had awarded $15.2 million to 10 projects in its latest funding round.
“This represents the single largest investment for cancer research made by the Agency since it began in 2006,” he said.
“These projects address research questions across the cancer treatment spectrum, from screening, drug development and clinical trials, to support for people dying of cancer.”
During his visit, Mr Andrews also launched the Monash Cancer Centre – a partnership between Southern Health and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to deliver vital radiotherapy and chemotherapy services.
“This partnership is invaluable to cancer patients receiving coordinated care in Melbourne’s south-east suburbs, closer to where they live,” he said.
Mr Andrews said the Brumby Government's $150 million Victorian Cancer Action Plan was investing in innovative research, prevention and treatment strategies to improve care and save lives.
“Cancer is a high priority for the Victorian Government and the plan aims to increase cancer survival rates for Victorians by a further 10 per cent by 2015,” he said.
“We are committed to providing the most compassionate and best support to patients and their families at every point of their cancer journey.”
World Cancer Day was initiated by the International Union against Cancer to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection and treatment.
This year, World Cancer Day emphasises cancer prevention, and will focus on strategies that reduce the risk of developing cancer through simple measures, such as quitting smoking, lowering alcohol intake, reducing sun exposure, maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle, and avoiding cancer-causing infections.
In Victoria, each day 26 Victorians die from cancer and one third of deaths are from preventable causes.
Information regarding each of the research projects can be found on the Agency’s Video Gallery Page.
L-R: Michael Wright, CEO Victorian Cancer Agency; Associate Professor David Thomas, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Shelly Park, CEO Southern Health; Daniel Andrews, Health Minister; Professor Gillian Duchesne, director of radiation oncology at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Professor Rodney Hicks, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (agency grant recipient); and Associate Professor Grant McArthur (agency grant recipient).
New Consultative Council for the Victorian Cancer Agency
The Victorian Cancer Agency is pleased to announce the Minister of Health has appointed members to the Victorian Cancer Agency Consultative Council for the period 2009-12.
The previous Council’s term expired in June 2009, and the Agency is delighted that several members have nominated for a second term. New and existing members bring a wealth of experience in cancer research, clinical practice, academia, academia and administration.
The Council’s role is to provide governance to the Agency, to advise the Minister on matters relating to cancer research in Victoria, and to assist the Agency to achieve research-related goals in Victoria’s Action Plan.
Members of the Victorian Cancer Agency Consultative Council 2009-12 are:
- Professor Robert Thomas (Chair)
- Professor Peter Fuller (continuing)
- Dr Susan Forrest
- Professor Anne Kavanagh
- Mr Les Leckie (continuing)
- Dr George Morstyn
- Ms Maureen O’Keefe (continuing)
- Ms Helen Owens
- Mr Andrew Way
- Professor Bryan Williams (continuing)
- Professor John Zalcberg (continuing)
Please refer to the Consultative Council page for further information regarding the Council members.
$1.28 Million Boost for Victorian Cancer Researchers
Victoria’ world-class cancer research and treatment services were given a boost with the launch of new state-of-the-art technology at Monash Medical Centre.
On Wednesday 4 November 2009, Health Minister Daniel Andrews officially launched the Victorian Cancer Biobank’s new digital pathology imaging system for cancer research using tissue samples.
Through funds provided by the Victorian Cancer Agency, the Biobank has purchased the Aperio digital pathology imaging system for $1.28m for four of its member sites.
The new system is located at the Victorian Cancer Biobank’s four sites at Austin Health, Melbourne Health, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Southern Health.
Aperio allows researchers to request and view tissue on line, and enables tissue images to be stored at the time of surgery, and provides a quality assurance function. Patients benefit through multidisciplinary teams being able to meet remotely and review pathology slides, thus enabling improved treatment planning.
With the introduction of the Aperio system, Victorian public hospitals have for the first time digital imaging capabilities that will improve patient care.
The Victorian Cancer Biobank collects tissue and blood samples from donors at 22 public and private hospitals in Melbourne and Geelong and is one of the largest collection facilities of its kind in the world.
More than 9000 people have donated to the Biobank since 2006. The tissue bank has supplied more than 10,000 samples to cancer researchers throughout Australia and internationally.
Through the Victorian Cancer Action Plan, the Victorian Cancer Agency has committed $8.3 million to the Victorian Cancer Biobank to support the work of Victoria’s cancer researchers.
$9.7 Million Boost for Breast Cancer Research
The Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium (VBCRC) has awarded $9.7 million to researchers to continue its world class work into breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
On Sunday 22 November, Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced six vital research projects from the VBCRC to share in the $9.7 million.
The VBCRC is a consortium of eight Melbourne medical research institutes and the Cancer Council which conduct world class breast cancer research with the aim of finding a cure and reducing the burden of the disease on women.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women. In 2006, breast cancer killed about 660 women in Victoria, with 8.7 women being newly diagnosed each day.
The successful projects to receive funding focus on the areas of cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
Research projects receiving funding will investigate:
The identification of genes involved in the predisposition and progression of breast cancer;
- The identification of genes involved in the predisposition and progression of breast cancer;
- The better use of genetic testing to reduce breast cancer deaths;
- The development and testing of new therapeutics for the treatment of breast cancer;
- Translating breast cancer stem cell research to a biomarker and drug discovery program;
- Oestrogens and breast cancer; and,
- Key genes that determine mammographic density.
The Victorian Cancer Agency has provided the VBCRC with $12 million funding over four years (2008 to 2012) as part of Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan to undertake their work. This funding forms part of the Agency’s strategy to fund translational cancer research in Victoria.
Assoc Prof Grant McArthur receives $3.2 million for melanoma research
Associate Professor Grant McArthur has been awarded a $3.2 million Victorian Cancer Agency grant to fund a four year research program into melanoma.
Announced by Health Minister Daniel Andrews at the recent Daffodil Day event at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the grant will fund the establishment of a new Victorian Melanoma Research Program that will transform advances in the science of melanoma to better patient outcomes.
A team of researchers from across Victoria, led by Associate Professor McArthur, will investigate how to better diagnose and treat melanoma patients building on recent advances in the understanding of melanoma biology. Improvements in diagnosis and early detection, the development of more accurate tools to predict outcomes and the potential to target new melanoma therapies for patients at most risk are the expected outcomes of this research.
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with treatment programs costing the Australian health care system about $294 million per year.
New Chair for Victorian Cancer Agency
The Minister for Health, the Hon Daniel Andrews has announed Professor Robert Thomas as the new Chair of the Victorian Cancer Agency.
Professor Thomas is the Chief Clinical Advisor for Cancer in the Department of Health, and has a strong track record of working with government in strategic planning for cancer control. As a practising surgical oncologist and former Chair of the Clinical Services Working Group of the Ministerial Task Force for Cancer, Professor Thomas is uniquely qualified to assist in the achievement of the Agency's goal of bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.
Professor Thomas will work with the Consultative Council of the Victorian Cancer Agency, supported by CEO Michael Wright and a dedicated team of project staff, to achieve the targets set out for the Agency in Victoria's Cancer Action Plan, including increasing patient access to clinical trials, developing a cancer research strategy for Victoria and investing in translational research programs and workforce.
Professor Robert Thomas