Monash University’s DNA Screen program partners with Cancer Australia to advance the Australian Cancer Plan
(L-R): Professor Paul Lacaze, Professor Dorothy Keefe PSM MD, Dr Jane Tiller, Professor Vivienne Milch, Professor Melissa Southey OAM.
Monash University has signed a co-operation agreement with Cancer Australia – the Australian Government’s national cancer control agency – to help deliver on the goals of the Australian Cancer Plan through its pioneering DNA Screen research program, based in the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences.
DNA Screen, co-led by Professor Paul Lacaze and Dr Jane Tiller from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, piloted the offer of population DNA testing to adult Australians, to identify those at high genetic risk of cancer and heart disease that can be prevented or treated early. The genomic testing and biobanking components of DNA Screen were led by Prof Melissa Southey from the Precision Medicine laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.
The Australian Cancer Plan is a future-focused framework designed to improve outcomes and experiences for people with cancer. DNA Screen will contribute to achieving the goals of the Australian Cancer Plan by building the evidence base for population DNA screening as a potential strategy to improve early detection and prevention of cancer in Australia. The DNA Screen pilot study tested for gene variants associated with a high risk of cancer - primarily breast, ovarian, prostate and colorectal cancers. It also tested for high risk of familial hypercholesterolaemia, which leads to heart attacks at a young age
The agreement was formally signed by Cancer Australia CEO, Professor Dorothy Keefe PSM MD and Monash University Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Professor Christina Mitchell AO. Professor Mitchell said, “Improving detection rates of individuals at high risk of disease and providing effective preventive interventions is a pressing unmet need in public health. Using genomic technologies to improve disease prevention is a powerful and emerging opportunity. The DNA Screen program at Monash University is a leading program leveraging genomics for public health and prevention in Australia. We are delighted to partner with Cancer Australia on the implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan through the activities of the DNA Screen program " said Professor Mitchell.
In February 2025, Cancer Australia published the National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control, marking a significant step toward improved cancer outcomes through personalised care. Genomics is increasingly transforming how we prevent, detect and treat cancer, and its potential is highlighted in both the Australian Cancer Plan, and the National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control,” says Professor Keefe.
“Through partnerships such as this, we can build on actions identified in the Australian Cancer Plan, and work with the sector to ensure they are successfully implemented.”
This partnership was celebrated at an event at Parliament House, Canberra, on 2 September 2025. The event — hosted by the Parliamentary Friends of Genomics and Genetic Testing and co-chaired by Dr Mike Freelander MP and Senator Dr Anne Webster — highlighted the opportunities for prevention through population genomic screening and the work of DNA Screen.
Professor Lacaze said “DNA Screen offers an innovative new approach to cancer prevention. Our national pilot study of 10,000 Australians has demonstrated the feasibility of offering DNA screening at the population level. This approach will move us towards a future where we routinely use genomics for prevention, in line with the Australian Cancer Plan”
Dr Tiller said, “About 1 in 50 Australians in our study had DNA variants that increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer and heart disease. We are advocating for further investment in scaling up population DNA screening to enable broader access by the Australian population. This partnership with Cancer Australia is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate on delivering work aligned with the goals of the National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control.”
- Read more about the Australian Cancer Plan: https://www.australiancancerplan.gov.au/
- Read more about DNA Screen here: https://dnascreen.monash.edu
- Read more about Monash Precision Medicine here: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/scs/research/precision-medicine
About DNA Screen
DNA testing can save lives by helping people to take preventive action against disease risk. The DNA Screen program, led by Monash University, is designed to offer secure, free DNA testing to identify risk of cancer and heart disease that can be prevented or treated early. The DNA Screen vision is to develop a population screening program in Australia based on DNA testing that is available to all adults via the national public healthcare system.
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
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