Founded1984
FounderSir Peter Abeles AC and Lady (Sonia) McMahon
TypeNon-profit organization
Location
Area served
Australia
Key people
Tom Dery AO (Chairman) and Prof. Ian Brown PhD FTSE (Chief Executive)
Websitewww.acrf.com.au

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation which funds research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer. It provides multimillion-dollar grants for high-end research equipment, technologies, and infrastructure development to support the work of Australian cancer scientists.[1]

History and structure

Established in 1984 by businessman and philanthropist, the late Sir Peter Abeles AC.

Lady (Sonia) McMahon was also a founding Board member until her death in 2010.[2]

A Board of Trustees, composed of prominent and influential Australian business people, administers the organisation. The current chairman is Mr Tom Dery AO, Worldwide Chairman of M&C Saatchi.

A Medical Research Advisory Committee (MRAC) assesses all grant applications and advises the ACRF Board of Trustees on which research institutes will have the highest impact in cancer prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment. Membership of the MRAC is authorised by the Department of Health and Ageing with each appointment being three years. The current Chairman of the MRAC is Professor Ian Frazer, co-creator of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil.[3]

Funding

The Foundation awards grants between $1.5 million and $10 million, based on scientific excellence. To date, $159.8 million has been awarded in 75 grants to 54 research institutes, universities and hospitals in every Australian state and the Australian Capital Territory, for research into all cancers. The ACRF is a privately funded charity—receives no government funding. Financial statements are publicly available on the Foundation's website.

Project funding approved

Year Amount State/
Territory
Institute/Hospital/Centre Project
1985$1,0000,000NSWCentre for Immunology, St Vincent's Hospital, SydneyImmune system and cancer defence
1988$610,000VICCancer Research Centre, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, MelbourneSolid cancers and bone breakdown
1991$1,080,000VICAustin Research Institute, MelbourneImmune system and cancer defence (breast, ovarian, pancreas, lung, and bowel cancers)
1994$1,096,000QLDCentre for Molecular & Cellular Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience,
University of Queensland, Brisbane
Skin, kidney and childhood cancers
$1,000,000SAHanson Centre, Royal Adelaide HospitalLeukaemia and solid cancers
1997$1,000,000ACTMedical Genome Centre, Australian National University, CanberraImmune system, gene and cancer defence
$1,002,000NSWWestmead Institute for Cancer Research,
Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research, Sydney
Skin, breast and ovarian cancers and leukaemia
1998$50,000TASUniversity of Tasmania, HobartImmune system and cancer defence
1999$1,000,000QLDCentre for Immunology and Cancer Research, University of Queensland, BrisbaneVaccine for cervical cancer
$1,200,000WAWestern Australian Institute for Medical Research, Royal Perth HospitalEight state-of-the-art research laboratories
2000$1,300,000VIC and
QLD
Australian Genome Research FacilityMicroarray
2001$1,000,000VICWalter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne3D Imaging of proteins
$500,000NSWChildren's Cancer Institute Australia, University of New South Wales, SydneyFormation of new blood vessels
2002$1,500,000SAUniversity of AdelaideEarly diagnosis
$1,350,000QLDQueensland Institute of Medical Research, BrisbaneCellular imaging
2003$1,200,000QLDInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, BrisbaneCellular imaging
$1,100,000NSWGarvan Institute of Medical Research, SydneyMolecular genetics
$1,000,000VICPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, MelbourneCell Imaging program
2004$1,000,000VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute, MelbourneNew children's cancer research centre laboratories
$1,130,000ACTJohn Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, CanberraBiomolecular Resource Facility
$900,000VICSt. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, MelbourneACRF Rational Drug Discovery Facility
2005$1,140,000QLDQueensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, BrisbaneIntegrated Brain Tumour Flow Cytometry Screening Facility
$1,000,000VICRoyal Melbourne HospitalTranslational research laboratory interface (hematology and bone marrow research)
$1,000,000VICThe Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, MelbourneBioinfomatics and tissue banking
$1,000,000NSWWestmead Institute for Cancer Research,
Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research, Sydney
New wing increasing collaboration among researchers
$1,000,000SAFlinders University/Flinders Medical Centre, AdelaideFlinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer Prevention and Care laboratory
2006$5,000,000NSWCentenary Institute for Cancer Research and Sydney Cancer CentreACRF Centre for Basic and Translational Cancer Research
$1,200,000NSWRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, SydneyCell and Molecular Therapy Unit equipment and fit-out
$1,100,000TASMenzies Research Institute, HobartACRF Tasmanian Inherited Cancer Centre
2007$5,000,000NSWCentenary Institute for Cancer Research and Sydney Cancer CentreACRF Centre for Basic and Translational Cancer Research
$3,200,000QLDThe Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine, BrisbaneACRF Comprehensive Cancer Genomics Facility
$3,100,000NSWChildren's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, SydneyACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer
$2,700,000QLDQueensland Institute for Medical Research, BrisbaneThe ACRF Centre for Cancer Epigenetics
2008$2,500,000VICPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, MelbourneFor new technologies to identify genes controlling cancer cell behaviour
$2,500,000QLDInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, BrisbaneTo decipher gene and protein interactions which affect the behaviour of cancer cells
$2,500,000NSWThe Garvan St Vincents Campus Cancer Centre, SydneyTo support the research components which will be part of a world-class comprehensive cancer centre
2009$3,500,000SACentre for Cancer Biology, South Australian Pathology and
The University of Adelaide
To establish a new Cancer Genomics Facility[4]
$3,100,000NSWChildren's Medical Research Institute, Sydney and University of NewcastleFor the world’s first Chemical Proteomics Centre for Kinomics[5]
2010$2,500,000NSWThe Garvan St Vincent’s Campus Cancer Centre (Kinghorn Cancer Centre), SydneyTo extend the 2008 grant to support the research components which will be part of a world-class comprehensive cancer centre
$2,400,000WAThe Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, PerthFor the ACRF Cancer Imaging Facility to promote innovation in cancer research, and ensure a high quality imaging hub to facilitate world-class cancer discoveries with direct relevance to clinical outcomes
$2,000,000VICThe Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, MelbourneTo expand their two new cancer divisions – the Stem Cells and Cancer Division and Chemical Biology Division
$1,600,000VICMonash Institute of Medical Research, MelbourneFor the ACRF Centre for Cancer Genomics to facilitate innovative and internationally competitive research that translates to significant outcomes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer
2011$5,000,000NSWWestmead Institute for Cancer Research,
Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research, Sydney
For new ACRF Melanoma Research Laboratories which will house two internationally recognised melanoma research teams
$2,000,000VICLudwig Institute for Cancer Research, MelbourneTo develop a new ACRF Centre for Translational Cancer Therapeutics and Imaging
$2,000,000VICSt Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, MelbourneTo expand the existing ACRF Rational Drug Discovery Centre
2012$3,500,000VICPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, MelbourneFor cancer cell isolation and profiling of rare tumour populations
$2,000,000QLDCentre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, BrisbaneTechnologies for molecular genetics, including exact tumour localisation and analysis
$2,000,000QLDDiamantina Institute, BrisbaneSeed-funding for the development of an individualised oncology care centre
2013$2,600,000QLDQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, BrisbaneDevelopment of a cutting-edge Centre for Comprehensive Biomedical Imaging
$2,000,000NSWChildren's Medical Research Institute, SydneyTo establish a dedicated Telomere Analysis Centre
$2,000,000VICThe Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, MelbourneTo fit-out a specialised centre for translational research and personalised cancer medicine
$1,800,000SASouth Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, AdelaideSeed-funding for a new ACRF Innovative Cancer Imaging and Therapeutics Facility
2014$2,500,000VICWalter and Eliza Hall Institute, MelbourneFor the development of the ACRF Breakthrough Technologies Laboratory to advance new treatments for many of Australia’s most common, and most deadly cancers
$1,500,000NSWChildren's Cancer Institute, SydneyDevelopment of a Precision Medicine Centre for children at high risk of treatment failure
$2,500,000QLDCentre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, BrisbaneTo establish an imaging facility that enhances treatment options for companion animals with cancer, and humans.
$2,500,000NSWCentral Clinical School, University of Sydney, SydneyDevelopment of improved radiotherapy and imaging techniques for cancer patients.
2015$1,000,000QLDUniversity of Queensland, BrisbaneFor discovery and development of innovative methods for the early detection of lung cancer to allow earlier intervention and improved treatment outcomes
$2,000,000VICThe Australian Synchrotron, VictoriaFor the technology to place Australia at the forefront of cancer drug discovery and development
$2,000,000SACentre for Cancer Biology, AdelaideFor technology to accelerate our understanding of the causes of cancer and translate these findings into improved outcomes for cancer patients
$2,000,000ACTThe John Curtin School of Medical Research, Acton, ANUTo explore existing collections of Australia’s native plants for new cancer treatments
$10,000,000NSWChildren's Medical Research Institute, WestmeadTo establish the ACRF International Centre for the Proteome of Cancer (ProCanTM).This facility will provide a major step forward for cancer diagnosis and treatment of Australians. By analysing tens of thousands of samples of all types of cancers from all over the world, scientists in Australia will develop a library of information to advance scientific discovery and enhance clinical treatment worldwide
2016$2,000,000VICPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, MelbourneTo learn more about the mutation, internal variation, location and the impact of time on the growth and treatment of tumours
$2,500,000NSWCentenary Institute, SydneyTo determine the differences in nutrient metabolism by cancerous and normal cells to improve cancer treatments
$2,300,000QLDInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, BrisbaneTo provide microscopes that can see cancer cell behaviour and their response to drugs in order to stop the spread of cancer
$1,200,000VICMonash University and Alfred Hospital, MelbourneTo develop a national program to improve patient outcomes for multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukaemia
2017$2,000,000VICOlivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University, MelbourneFor new imaging technology which will help develop new therapies by examining tumours within the patient's body as well as individual cells in a tumour.
$1,750,000WAHarry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, PerthFor equipment that will help build in-depth knowledge of all cell types that make up a tumour. This will provide new insights into how cancer cells evolve and interact with normal cells, leading to new treatments.
$1,750,000QLDQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, BrisbaneFor the development of manufacturing and monitoring facilities that will support new immunotherapy clinical trials
$2,000,000NSWSouth Western Sydney Local Health District, SydneyFor a new facility that supports research into improving long-term outcomes of cancer patients and survivors
2018$9,900,000QLD, NSW, VICThe University of Queensland, University of Sydney and Monash UniversityTo establish a diagnostic centre for the early detection of melanoma, with a roll out of fifteen total body imaging systems
$2,000,000VICBio21 Molecular Science and Technology InstituteTo develop cutting-edge drug discovery technology for cancers with no approved therapy available, or requiring improved treatment
$2,500,000SASouth Australian Health and Medical Research InstituteFor technology to provide new approaches to interrogate cancer biology
$2,000,000QLDCompounds Australia, Griffith UniversityTo establish a transformative acoustic compound management compound with integrated software to enable Australian researchers access to the most advanced compound capability available
2019$3,500,000NSWChildren's Cancer InstituteTo establish The ACRF Child Cancer Liquid Biopsy Program, which will use latest technologies to develop a suite of blood tests for childhood cancer patients aimed at improved diagnosis, earlier relapse detection, better monitoring of treatment response and enhanced delivery of the right treatment to the right child at the right time.
$3,500,000VICWalter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical ResearchTo focus on the discovery of triggers that drive cancer development, how genetic diversity in cancers affects treatment efficacy, and develop better ways of personalising cancer therapies to conquer the biggest challenges in cancer today – predicting and improving patients’ treatment response and overcoming drug resistance.

References

  1. "About ACRF". The Australian Cancer Research Foundation webpage. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  2. "Lady Sonia McMahon dies in Sydney hospital". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  3. "Ian Frazer". science.qld.gov.au. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  4. "SA Pathology". 26 February 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  5. "ACRF Centre for Kinomics (supported by the Ramaciotti Foundation) – A World First". The Children's Medical Research Institute. November 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
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