- Published:
- Saturday 6 January 2018
$7 MILLION RESEARCH BOOST TO FIGHT CANCER
Leading Victorian researchers will share in $7 million of grants to continue the fight against cancer, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Acting Minister for Health Martin Foley today announced the 14 successful recipients to be supported through the latest Victorian Cancer Agency funding round.
Researchers from Victoria’s world-leading cancer research centres will work to improve outcomes for patients by investigating a range of cancers, such as blood, breast, bowel, lung, neuroendocrine, prostate, pancreatic, skin and malignant rhabdoid tumours - one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers in children.
These grants include the inaugural Victoria-USA Cancer Fellowship Exchange Program, awarded to investigate therapy-resistant prostate cancers to develop new treatments for patients at risk. The program began following former US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to open the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre in 2017.
Part of this research will be conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, which furthers our international collaboration following the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2016 between the USA’s National Cancer Institute and the Labor Government.
Since being established by the former Labor Government in 2006, the Victorian Cancer Agency has now invested almost $188 million into translational cancer research.
Cancer causes the greatest health burden in Australia. In 2015, cancer caused the death of over 10,000 Victorians, whilst one in three men and one in four women will be diagnosed with cancer by age 75.
Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Health Martin Foley
“We’re proud to be helping more Victorians touched by cancer to get the care and treatment they need, sooner.”
“Investing in world-leading cancer research and clinical trials is the first step in the quest to one day find a cure – and we’re lucky to have so many dedicated and talented researchers working to save lives.”