A major collaborative project led by Melbourne's Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and the La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine will investigate the critical issue of colorectal cancer treatment resistance after receiving a $5 million Federal Government grant.
The Synergy Grant, announced on October 1, will accelerate efforts to combat colorectal cancer, which claims more than 930,000 lives worldwide each year.
Led by La Trobe University Adjunct Professor John Mariadason, the grant will fund work by researchers from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Peter Mac Cancer Institute, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and South Western Sydney Local Health District.
The team, renowned for its groundbreaking research in colorectal cancer (CRC), includes experts who have led world-first clinical trials demonstrating the potential of novel treatments for metastatic cancer.
The research will combine biological insights into two key genes that can transform a cell into a cancer cell.
"We are thrilled to receive this significant grant, which will enable us to push the boundaries of colorectal cancer research," said Professor Mariadason, the principal investigator.
"With this support, we are well-positioned to address the critical issues of treatment resistance and develop new strategies that could dramatically improve survival rates and quality of life for CRC patients."
Issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Synergy Grants support outstanding multidisciplinary teams of investigators to work together to answer major questions that cannot be answered by a single investigator.
The grant represents a critical investment in the effort against colorectal cancer and highlights the importance of collaborative and innovative approaches to addressing one of the most pressing challenges in cancer research.
As the team embarks on the transformative project, their work holds the promise of new hope for patients worldwide.
The five-year survival rate for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer remains critically low, at less than 15 per cent.
Recent breakthroughs in targeted therapies have been hindered by primary and secondary resistance, underscoring the urgent need for new treatment strategies.
"Collaborations like these are essential for driving rapid and meaningful progress to find better, more tolerable and equitable anti-cancer therapies," said Professor Marco Herold, Chief Executive Officer of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and Head of the La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine.
The research team includes Professor Jeanne Tie (Peter Mac Cancer Institute), Professor Jayesh Desai (Peter Mac Cancer Institute), Dr Lisa Mielke (Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute), Dr Stephanie Lim (South Western Sydney Local Health District) and Professor Oliver Sieber (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research).
About the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe School of Cancer Medicine
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) and La Trobe School of Cancer Medicine are leaders in the development of innovative cancer treatments.
The institute's state-of-the-art laboratories are just steps from patient care, fostering seamless collaboration between researchers and clinicians. This proximity enables the rapid translation of scientific breakthroughs into new clinical therapies, while insights from patient experiences are swiftly reintegrated into our research efforts.
ONJCRI focuses on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, brain, breast, lung, skin and rare cancers, but continually seeks to expand its research scope. By aligning the laboratory work with clinical observations, the institute ensures research remains patient-centred.
