Victoria Invests $3.7 Million For Cancer Research
Evaluating the benefits of a world-first project that uses personalised films to support young cancer patients is one of the projects sharing in $3.7 million Brumby Labor Government funding for cancer research.
Visiting the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre today, Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced 24 research projects would benefit from the 2010 Victorian Cancer Agency grants, which help Victoria’s internationally-renowned researchers continue their work on cancer prevention, treatment and care.
“We are taking action to provide world-class health services and support the latest medical research into cancer treatment and prevention,” Mr Andrews said.
“That is why we are delivering $3.7 million to ensure Victoria remains a world leader in cancer research that will save lives and lead to better treatment and care for cancer patients.
“We are committed to providing the most compassionate and best support to patients and their families at every point of their cancer journey.”
Mr Andrews said one of the recipients was Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s David Willis, who would receive $80,000 to evaluate the impact of making and using personalized films for pediatric radiation therapy patients.
“Many children undergoing radiation therapy find it hard to explain their treatment to their school friends and family,” he said.
“This world-first initiative sees young patients produce a personal DVD, which allows them to explore a range of issues associated with their treatment and tell their story to loved ones.”
Every day around 70 Victorians are diagnosed with cancer.
Mr Andrews said the funding supported translational cancer research that directly benefited patients.
“This $3.7 million boost will fund advances in prevention programs, the discovery of the next generation of cancer treatments, and the development of the very best support services to assist patients during their time of need,” he said.
“The strength of the research being funded here today is underpinned by the outstanding calibre of individual researchers and collaborative teams that will undertake this exciting work.”
The funding includes:
- $2.4 million for seven Victorian Cancer Agency Research Fellowships allowing clinician-researchers to devote their time and expertise towards improving the care that Victorian cancer patients receive;
- $700,000 for eight Early Career Seed Grants to support the best and brightest of Victoria’s young researchers;
- $600,000 to support projects that deliver comfort and assistance to cancer patients during a time of great distress; and
- $50,000 for a project to expand the collection of information from people with rare tumours.
Mr Andrews said the $3.7 million investment demonstrated one of the many initiatives the Brumby Labor Government pledged to undertake in Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan.
“Our $150 million cancer action plan is investing in innovative research, prevention and treatment strategies to improve care and save lives,” he said.
“Tackling cancer is a top priority for the Brumby Labor Government and this plan aims to increase cancer survival rates for Victorians by a further 10 per cent by 2015.
“This is why we are committed to supporting Victoria’s very best researchers to help fast-track life-saving cancer treatment.
“I would like to congratulate the recipients and wish them every success in their endeavour to improve the care and save the lives of Victorian cancer patients.”
2010 Victorian Cancer Agency Grants
Victorian Cancer Agency Research Fellowships:
|
Researcher |
Organisation |
Grant |
Description |
|
A/Prof David Curtis |
Melbourne Health |
$200,888 |
Project to identify new drugs that can specifically target leukaemia stem cells. |
|
Dr Thomas John |
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research |
$399,432 |
Project to validate findings that could tailor chemotherapy to patients with lung cancer. |
|
Dr Kylie Mason |
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute |
$400,000 |
Study into drugs that promote death of cancer cells and improve therapy in cancers of the blood. |
|
Dr Mark Shackleton |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$400,000 |
Research to speed the progress of melanoma growth and potentially help doctors and researchers understand how melanomas grow in patients and which therapies may be helpful. |
|
Dr Benjamin Solomon |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$395,682 |
New clinical trials into non-small cell lung cancer and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the head and neck to identify predictive makers and develop new treatments for patients. |
Early Career Seed Grants
|
Researcher |
Organisation |
Grant |
Description |
|
Dr Yoland Antill |
Southern Health |
$57,000 |
Studies into Gynaecological cancers associated with the syndrome Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer to determine factors that may increase or decrease the risk of cancer development. |
|
Dr Preetika Balanathan |
Monash University |
$100,000 |
To test a new treatment (Selective estrogen receptor beta agonist) for advanced prostate cancer. |
|
Dr Rita Busuttil |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$94,527 |
Study into new therapies for gastric cancer by targeting the SFRP4 gene. |
|
Dr Jacqueline Donoghue |
Monash Institute of Medical Research |
$93,000 |
Study into roles of different types of ErbB4 (a family of four proteins that contribute to cancer) in brain cancer and development of new therapies. |
|
Dr Kate Murphy |
The University of Melbourne |
$93,469 |
Study to investigate new treatments for Cancer cachexia, a devastating disease characterised by skeletal muscle wasting and weakness. |
|
Dr Vanessa Solomon |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$82,284 |
Project to find new ways to treat Myeloproliferative diseases that occur when there is a build up of certain types of blood cells, often driven by genetic mutations. |
|
Dr Jennifer Stone |
The University of Melbourne |
$100,000 |
Research to find factors that determine Mammographic density, which is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer, to be used in screening programs to identify and target women at high risk, and lead to early diagnosis. |
|
Ms Rachel Zordan |
St Vincent’s Hospital |
$73,452 |
Study to investigate quality of life, psychological wellbeing, and health outcomes of bereaved cancer caregivers. |
Supportive Care Capacity Building Grant
|
Researcher |
Organisation |
Grant |
Description |
|
Dr Sibilah Breen |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$80,000 |
To pilot a new remote telehealth mediated nursing intervention (PRISMS) to improve management of chemotherapy side- effects in haematological cancer patients. |
|
Ms Cinzia De Luca |
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
$58,007 |
To improve educational outcomes and quality of life for people who have been treated for a paediatric brain tumour. |
|
A/Prof Linda Denehy |
The University of Melbourne |
$79,916 |
To investigate the level of physical activity and fitness in lung cancer survivors and compare to the national Australian physical activity guidelines. |
|
A/Prof David Thomas |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$30,002 |
To employ a senior researcher to guide the development and expansion of the supportive care research program of onTrac@PeterMac, the Victorian Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Service. |
|
Mr David Willis |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$80,000 |
To evaluate the psychosocial impact of personalised souvenir movie DVDs for paediatric radiation therapy patients on their treatment experience. |
Supportive Care Scholarship
|
Researcher |
Organisation |
Grant |
Description |
|
Ms Tracey Dryden |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
$76,281 |
Study into managing chemotherapy-related symptoms at home in patients with haematological cancers. |
|
Ms Efterpi Soropos |
Southern Health |
$76,281 |
Research into the therapeutic value of using artistic elements such as image, sound and coloured light around a patient, to reduce pain and stress. |
|
Ms Vanessa Vaughan |
Deakin University |
$76,281 |
Study to investigate the effectiveness of treatments in Cancer cachexia, a condition characterised by loss of muscle and other tissues, resulting in reduced patient outcomes and quality of life. |
Consumer research grant
|
Researcher |
Organisation |
Grant |
Description |
|
Dr Clare Scott |
Melbourne Health |
$50,000 |
Project to expand the collection of information from people with rare tumours. |
Topics: 2010 Victorian Cancer Agency grants, Australia, Brumby Labor Government, cancer, cancer centres, cancer treatment, chemotherapy, Daniel Andrews, doctors, economic development, economic growth, economic recovery, Economy, employment, families, Governance, government, health care, health care reform, health services, jobs, linear accelerators, moniter, monitor, news, nurses, patients, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, radiation oncology services, radiotherapy, research, society, Victoria
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