Cancer Council NSW has awarded almost $9 million of new funding to 13 ground-breaking cancer research projects. The chosen world-class research teams are leading the charge towards a cancer free future by investigating new ways to diagnose and treat the disease.
The 2019 grants will be announced and awarded tonight at Cancer Council NSW's annual Research Awards, held at Westpac's Barangaroo Towers in Sydney.
"We are extremely proud to announce another round of extraordinary projects in 2019. We are confident these projects will provide incredible value to cancer patients and continue to push our progress towards a cancer free future," said Dr Jane Hobson, Research Grants Manager at Cancer Council NSW.
Funds have been awarded to projects deemed through peer review to be of the highest scientific merit; and through consumer review to be of the most value to the community supporting Cancer Council.
The majority of the 13 projects – awarded to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of Wollongong, University of Newcastle, Melanoma Institute Australia, Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of NSW, Macquarie University, Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research and The University of Sydney – are three-year Project Grants.
Additionally, one of two available Translational Program Grants, a $7.5 million joint funding from NSW Government and NSW Cancer Council, will be awarded on the night. Led by Professor David Gottlieb, the project will receive $3.75 million to develop methods for making cutting edge CAR T-cell immunotherapy simpler and more affordable for leukaemia and lymphoma patients.
The other 12 projects focus on innovating the diagnoses and treatment of a range of cancer types. They include: enhancing radiotherapy targeting, examining the impact of gut bacteria on lung cancer treatment, developing methods for predicting patient response to immunotherapies, and many more.
"The broad range of projects that we fund – across many types of cancers and stages of the cancer journey – shows Cancer Council NSW's commitment to work across every area of every cancer," Dr Hobson said.
"Projects like these wouldn't be possible without our supporters – as an organisation that is over 90% community funded, these grants have been made possible by the community's generosity," Dr Hobson concluded.
