Cancer Australia has today announced the awarding of two additional grants totalling $1.19 million to fund important research into chemotherapy and children's cancer treatments. The two grants, awarded through the 2023 Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS), further demonstrate the Australian Government's commitment to reducing the impact of cancer on Australians by supporting innovative and impactful research.
The PdCCRS is an annual, national, competitive research grants scheme that brings together government and other funders of cancer research to collaboratively support cancer research in identified priority areas. Since its inception in 2007, Cancer Australia and its Funding Partners have supported over 500 research projects, with a total value exceeding $170 million.
The two additional grants awarded through the 2023 PdCCRS funding round are:
The Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies project awarded to A/Prof Susanna Park aims to predict which cancer patients treated with taxane chemotherapy are at risk of developing long-term nerve damage. By identifying these patients early, this research hopes to improve outcomes for people with cancer following chemotherapy.
The Ideas Grants project awarded to Prof David Ziegler is for a project that aims to improve the ability of treatments to cross the blood-brain barrier in children with a type of brain tumour called diffuse midline gliomas. This new approach hopes to make it easier to deliver treatments directly to the tumour, which could improve survival rates and quality of life for young patients.
With these additional grants, Cancer Australia has awarded a total of 17 PdCCRS grants in the 2023 grant round, amounting to $6.96 million. This includes $4.79 million from the Australian Government through Cancer Australia and $2.17 million from Cancer Australia's Funding Partners.
Cancer Australia remains at the forefront of national efforts to reduce the impact of cancer and is committed to supporting research that leads to better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options for all Australians.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP
The Australian Government is dedicated to supporting cutting-edge cancer research.
The additional funding announced today reinforces our commitment to reducing the burden of cancer and improving the lives of those affected by this disease.
By investing in these groundbreaking studies, we are taking significant steps towards achieving better and more equitable outcomes for all Australians affected by cancer.
We are proud to support the outstanding work of researchers like A/Prof Susanna Park and Prof David Ziegler.
Quotes Attributable to Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO, Cancer Australia
We are delighted to fund these additional grants that underscore the importance of priority-driven research in addressing complex cancer challenges.
By funding these innovative projects, we are fostering advancements that have the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and influence clinical practice.
Investing in these groundbreaking projects underscores the priorities of the Australian Cancer Plan, which focuses on supporting novel research to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment while ensuring equity in access to care.
Key Facts:
Cancer Australia has today announced the awarding of two additional grants totalling $1.19 million to fund important research into chemotherapy and children's cancer treatments.
The Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies project awarded to A/Prof Susanna Park aims to predict which cancer patients treated with taxane chemotherapy are at risk of developing long-term nerve damage.
The Ideas Grants project awarded to Prof David Ziegler is for a project that aims to improve the ability of treatments to cross the blood-brain barrier in children with a type of brain tumour called diffuse midline gliomas.
