1 / 07 / 2013 3:07:46 PM More News
Cancer projects short-listed for grants
Five potentially life-saving projects have been short-listed for millions of dollars of funding from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.
The winning projects will be announced on November 13 after a rigorous selection process led by Professor Ian Frazer, co-creator of the cervical cancer vaccine.
" Grants for this purpose and of this magnitude are not available from other sources, outside of government," says foundation chief executive David Brettell.
" There have been incredible, lifesaving breakthroughs in cancer research over recent years."
The organisations short-listed for funding are the Children ' s Cancer Institute Australia, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, the Children ' s Medical Research Institute, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Around $ 10 million is available to share among the selected projects, which will each receive $ 2 million to $ 5 million.
Their proposals include a centre for child cancer patients at high risk of relapse, funding for hi-tech imaging equipment and a facility to help identify personalised treatment options.
The foundation is privately funded and relies on contributions from individuals, families, companies and community groups. It has awarded $ 60 million toward cancer research in the past seven years, and more than $ 86 million since it was founded in 1984.
Mr Brettell says initial grants often act as a litmus test for other funding.
" The more private philanthropy there is, the more complementary funding there will be from governments and individuals.
" Some of Australia ' s very best cancer research ideas stay on the shelf due to lack of sufficient and on-time funding. " Australia needs more private philanthropy to ensure we aren ' t losing time on breakthrough research and patient care."