Brain Cancer Discovery Collaborative receives a further funding boost of $2.8M from Cure Brain Cancer Foundation
(L-R): Monash University President and Vice Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation CEO Catherine Stace
The Brain Cancer Discovery Collaborative (BCDC) today received $2.8 million in further funding to enable Australia’s leading brain cancer researchers and doctors to continue their groundbreaking research into extending patients’ lives.
The $2.8 million contributed by the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, which also provided $1 million when BCDC launched in 2013, is a testament to the results already being achieved by the team led by Director Professor Terry Johns of the MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research at Monash University.
Comprising of leading neuro-oncological researchers in six labs across four Australian states, BCDC is the first of its kind in Australia.
Professor Johns is supported by Deputy Directors Associate Professor Kerrie McDonald from Cure Brain Cancer Neuro-oncology Group at Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW and Professor Andrew Boyd from the Brain Cancer Research Unit at QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease, and more people under 40 than any other cancer, and the objective of the Collaborative is to bring diverse skill sets into one team to tackle the problem much more quickly than could be done in isolation.
Catherine Stace, CEO of Cure Brain Cancer Foundation said, “Cure Brain Cancer’s research vision is to facilitate one national research strategy and ultimately align all funds to one pool, to achieve increased visibility and collaboration in brain cancer. The BCDC is a critical vehicle for this and for playing to our strengths as a country, so that we are world-class, competitive and part of an integrated global solution.
“Collaboration is one of the corner stones of our brain cancer research strategy, and our initial support of $1 million for the BCDC at its inception was one of the most strategic investments we have made. Now we are delighted to renew and increase support with this additional funding.”
Monash University President and Vice Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO said the funding provided by Cure Brain Cancer Foundation was fundamental to the ongoing success of the organisation.
"This is an example of how partnerships can break down barriers to bring the best researchers and opportunities together to enable greater breakthroughs in treatments and clinical care. The work this team is doing encompasses both innovation and world renowned expertise to hopefully change the outcome for those suffering at the hands of this disease," Professor Gardner said.
Michelle Stewart, Head of Research at Cure Brain Cancer Foundation said, “The approach of the collaborative is very much aligned with our own, which looks at the entire research pathway and how we can deliver treatments to patients as quickly as possible. Our strategy supports projects that build research capacity and critical mass in Australia, and this is precisely what the BCDC is achieving.”
About the Brain Cancer Discovery Collaborative
In addition to Prof Johns (MIMR-PHI Institute), A/Prof Kerrie McDonald (Cure Brain Cancer Neuro-oncology Group at the UNSW Lowy Cancer Research Centre) and Prof Andrew Boyd (QIMR - Berghofer Medical Research Institute), the group includes Dr Nick Gottardo from The Telethon Kids Institute WA, A/Prof Geraldine O’Neill from The Kids Research Institute at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW and A/Prof Stephen Rose from The Australian e-Health Research Centre (AeHRC), CSIRO.
Their collective skill set covers the whole research pathway, from molecular expertise (particularly the team at MIMR-PHI Institute) to translational science (Kerrie McDonald at the Cure Brain Cancer Neuro-oncology Group at the Lowy) to robotic testing of multiple treatments in paediatrics (the particular expertise of Nick Gottardo at The Telethon Institute) to clinical and preclinical molecular imaging (A/Prof Stephen Rose is very strong in this area) to understanding the process of ‘invasion’ (Dr O’Neill at Westmead). They are working on multiple projects including some aimed at repurposing existing cancer treatments for brain cancer, an approach that has the potential to leapfrog the traditional research pathway and significantly accelerate the process.
Overall, they are focused on targeting the gaps in research, mentoring and sharing knowledge, building capacity and resources, all of which contribute to a much more rapid research process.
About Cure Brain Cancer Foundation
Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is the largest dedicated fundraiser for brain cancer research and awareness in Australia.
Established in 2001 by world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo, the Foundation has a bold mission; to increase five-year survival to 50 per cent within 10 years. To achieve this they are facilitating collaboration in the research community, but within Australia and internationally.
Partnering with the research community, they are steering the national agenda for brain cancer research. Their internationally aligned research strategy is based on the key pillars of collaborative translational research, clinical research, immunotherapy and precision medicine, and is focused on getting treatments to patients as quickly as possible.
They fund priority-driven research through a combination of competitive research grants and proactive identification of promising research.
For more information go to: https://www.curebraincancer.org.au/page/20/brain-cancer-discovery-collaborative