The Minns Labor Government is marking World Cancer Research Day today by making an $11 million investment to translate innovative cancer research into improved cancer prevention, detection and treatment in regional and rural communities across NSW.
The Translational Cancer Research Capacity Building Grants supercharge investment across four programs, including a grant to foster the next generation of cancer researchers in regions including the Central Coast and Hunter and another with a specific focus to increase access to surgical clinical trials and treatment including for Aboriginal and multicultural communities across the state.
These grants are part of an overall $21 million Minns Government investment to build Translational Cancer Research Capacity in NSW.
The investment is for five years via the Cancer Institute NSW, supporting established networks of cancer researchers, universities, institutes and health services to maximise research capacity.
By linking researchers across NSW, the grants will support research addressing local challenges, strengthening the research workforce and boosting equitable access to clinical trials.
The 2026 recipients are:
- Professor Nikola Bowden, The University of Newcastle - who received $5 million to support the Regional Cancer Research Network NSW to expand partnerships across regional NSW and deliver regional research fellowships, PhD scholarships and training and education opportunities.
- Professor Michael Solomon, The University of Sydney - who received $6 million to support the NSW Surgical Cancer Trial Capacity and Equity Alliance to build a state-wide network to increase access to surgical clinical trials, particularly for those living in rural and regional areas and Aboriginal and multicultural communities.
- Professor Anna DeFazio, The University of Sydney - who received $6 million to support Sydney Cancer Partners to accelerate new approaches to preventing, detecting, diagnosing and treating cancer, through Fellowships, education programs and seed funding for innovative research ideas.
- Professor Geoff Delaney, UNSW - who received $4 million to support SPHERE to progress the rapid translation of data-enabled research into evidence-based clinical and service innovations, driving improved outcomes and high-quality cancer care for all patients.
The NSW Government is one of the largest funders of cancer research in NSW, having awarded more than $300 million in research funding, including clinical trials, over the past 10 years.
Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:
"Building research capacity is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of cancer care and I am pleased to announce the particular focus of this significant investment in our regions and rural communities.
"These grants will bring together researchers with diverse expertise accelerating the translation of research into better prevention, diagnosis and treatment and ensure people get access to the best cancer trials, treatment and care and give cancer researchers opportunities no matter where in our state they live."
Professor Tracey O'Brien AM, NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW said:
"These grants build on the strength of existing networks to create a more connected cancer research system, bringing people and expertise together to help ensure everyone across NSW can benefit from advances in cancer research, no matter where they live or their background.
"The most impactful cancer research happens when researchers, clinicians and communities work together. These grants will foster partnerships, support the sharing of knowledge and expertise, and accelerate discoveries that improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care."
University of Newcastle Professor Nikola Bowden said:
"The grant will foster the next generation of cancer researchers in regional NSW through a large collaborative network - led by the University of Newcastle, Cancer Voices NSW, University of Wollongong, Central Coast, Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Western NSW, Northern NSW local health districts, - and support the delivery of cancer research fellowships and PhD scholarships, co-funding grant schemes, travel awards and education opportunities.
"The Regional Cancer Research Network will scale-up regional cancer research over the next five years to address regional specific research questions and ultimately achieve the goal of equitable outcomes for people with cancer in regional NSW."
University of Sydney Professor Michael Solomon said:
"Less than 4% of registered cancer trials are surgical, yet surgery is the primary curative treatment for most solid tumours. This grant allows us to build a statewide network that will increase the delivery of surgical cancer trials across NSW. As the Alliance has a particular focus on reaching patients in regional, rural and remote communities, which currently have low trial participation, it will impact where the need is greatest.
"We will train a new generation of trial coordinators, build centralised systems for ethics, governance and data management, and send our teams out to regional and rural hospitals to educate and build research capacity on the ground. Once the barriers are lowered, more trials will happen, more patients will benefit, and surgical care across the entire state will improve."
