Sydney Univ. gets $20 m to develop cancer immunotherapy research

Sydney Univ. gets $20 m to develop cancer immunotherapy research
21 / 06 / 2020
By Marwa Nassar - -

The CLEARbridge Foundation granted $20 million to the University of Sydney to develop cancer immunotherapy research.

The grant will fund a new Professorial Chair, a laboratory, and vital supporting resources to drive immunotherapy research.

Widely considered the most promising emerging treatment, immunotherapy offers exciting new ways to combat a broad range of cancers.

Professor Robyn Ward, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University said “The global research community has made extraordinary advances in developing immunotherapies for cancers over the last 10 years. The development of these highly effective treatments occurred because of fundamental research which dates back to the 1890s.”

“This funding brings us closer to a day when researchers will fully understand the immune system.”

Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal said “When you consider that cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death globally, with Australia having one of the highest melanoma rates in the world, you appreciate the potential impact of this incredible gift.”

“We are so grateful for this opportunity to broaden and deepen the University’s research capability. Together with our teaching hospitals and affiliated research institutions we could advance medical treatment in ways we cannot quite yet imagine.”

Immunotherapy is at the forefront of cancer treatment with researchers working on ways to supercharge the immune system, from bypassing the ability of tumor cells to evade detection, to using viruses to infect tumors and create an immune system focused on killing cancer.

“We are so grateful for this opportunity to broaden and deepen the University’s research capability. Together with our teaching hospitals and affiliated research institutions we could advance medical treatment in ways we cannot quite yet imagine,” Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

The Professorial Chair of Immunotherapy would build on these successes while seeking to broaden the spectrum of treatable cancers. Immunotherapy currently works for a third of melanomas, so reliably predicting who will benefit from costly treatments is crucial. Part of the Chair’s research will be to explore ways to characterize an individual’s cancer, and their likely response to treatments.

The Chair of Immunotherapy will develop a comprehensive plan to build sustainable capacity and translate the latest research into the next generation of life-saving clinical practice. The Chair will work with a dedicated team co-located with clinical services and with access to state-of-the art analytical technology.

اترك تعليقا

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles