Australians Invest Millions in Cancer Research

The largest cancer research center in Australia and perhaps the Southern Hemisphere was recently launched to help stop the killer disease.

The $127 million Lowy Cancer Research Center at the University of New South Wales officially opened last May 28, 2010. The center houses more than 400 of the leading medical specialists in the country on childhood and adult cancer research.

According to a recent study, one in every two men and one in every three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, while childhood cancer has become the biggest killer of children in Australia. Every week three children in Australia die of cancer and more than 600 children are diagnosed each year.

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia as more than 43,000 people are expected to die of cancer this year. The Cancer Institute estimates that 38,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in NSW in 2009, and new cases are set to increase by 5,000 every five years in NSW and exceed 50,000 in 2021.

The Lowy Cancer Research Center will lead to improved cancer treatment for all Australians providing a better rate of earlier cancer detection, treatment and care.

New South Wales is the first State to establish a dedicated cancer institute to lessen the devastating impact of cancer on society. Since 2005, the NSW Government has supported 101 cancer research scholars to develop and support our best and brightest students; and since 2003, the NSW Government has awarded 78 infrastructure and equipment grants worth $35.9 million, which have enabled researchers to use the world’s latest technology in cancer research.

Since 2004, the Cancer Institute has provided more than $26 million in funding to University of New South Wales affiliated centers and research programs. With the institution of the center, all of the research will now be centralized in the Lowy Cancer Research Center.

This funding has resulted in some groundbreaking outcomes that will change the course of cancer treatment, according the State Government.

This includes the discovery of a genetic marker lead by Professor Robyn Ward that would benefit people with a family history of bowel, ovarian or uterine cancer.

Meanwhile they said, a genetic test developed by Professor Michelle Haber is currently undergoing clinical trials and has shown promise of a dramatically improved childhood cancer survival rate.

Australia contributes more than two per cent of the world’s total cancer research literature even though its population makes up just 0.3 per cent of the world’s population.

This program has increased survival rates, leading to falling mortality rates by 13 per cent in males and 6 per cent in females in the last decade.

The University of New South Wales is a leader in the field of adult cancer research with internationally recognized medical scientists such as Professors Philip Hogg, Robyn Ward and Levon Khachigian leading its scientific studies.

They will be teamed at the new Center with renowned childhood cancer researchers, including Professors Michelle Haber, Murray Norris and Glenn Marshall.

The building has been designed by Lahznimmo Architects in association with Wilson Architects to ensure the most Environmentally Sustainable Design is achieved.

Tagged as: Australia, cancer research, Lowy Cancer Research Center, University of South Wales