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$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.

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.

Read past stories from the Victorian Cancer Agency in the news archive.