Researcher’s bid for brain cancer breakthrough
Brain cancer kills more Australian children than any other disease, and survival rates have barely improved in more than 30 years. But it’s hoped a $400,000 injection for cutting-edge Victorian research will change that, facilitating breakthroughs via innovative and novel projects.
As part of Cure Brain Cancer Foundation’s program to rapidly increase Australian brain cancer research capacity, two Melbourne-based researchers will each receive a $200,000 Innovation Grant, taking the Foundation’s commitment to Victorian brain cancer research to more than $6.5 million over the last five years.
Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s (BDI) Associate Professor Lee Wong was one of the two successful recipients these grants.
The grants cement Victoria’s reputation as the epicentre of ground-breaking Australian cancer research, with Associate Professor Wong and Professor Andrew Scott from La Trobe University and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute following a high quality and competitive application process.
The researchers were hand-picked by an international panel of experts for their ingenious projects, which break from traditional research paradigms and have the potential to fuel much-needed breakthroughs, and ultimately, improve brain cancer survival.
Associate Professor Lee Wong’s team will study changes in gene expression (epigenetics) that can lead to gliomas – the most common form of brain cancer. They will look at how mutations in epigenetic regulators (ATRX, H3.3 and IDH1) lead to abnormal gene expression and genome instability, which fuel the development of these tumours. It’s hoped this research will shed new light on how gliomas form, leading to improved diagnosis and treatments.
“I want to thank Cure Brain Cancer Foundation for funding this research project,” Associate Professor Wong said.
“With their support, my team aims to investigate the precise mechanisms disrupted in the cancer cells. Our ultimate aim is to assist drug development and treatment options by providing knowledge about the fundamental processes leading to the development of brain cancers," she said.
Michelle Stewart, CEO of Cure Brain Cancer Foundation said, “These projects are at the cutting-edge of brain cancer research, doing things differently to improve outcomes for brain cancer patients. We must support these innovative projects if we’re going to rapidly improve brain cancer survival.”
Since 2013, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation has committed more than $18 million to brain cancer research, backing 41 research projects and enabled the investigation of almost 120,000 drugs.
This article is based on a media release originally published by Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Read the full release on their website.
The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation's Walk4BrainCancer Melbourne is happening on Sunday 25 November. If you would like to take part or sponsor a friend, you can do so by visiting the Walk4BrainCancer page.
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.
About Cure Brain Cancer Foundation
Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation for brain cancer research, advocacy and awareness. Since the Foundation launched its mission to increase brain cancer survival from 20% to 50% by 2023 in 2013, the disease has gone from being a ‘forgotten cancer’ to a national health priority. Cure Brain Cancer Foundation now funds 34 research projects in 24 institutions, working with 250 collaborators across the globe. The Foundation currently funds five world-class clinical trials.