ACRF Tasmanian Inherited Cancer Centre

The ACRF Centre

The Menzies Institute for Medical Research was awarded $1.1 million in funding from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation to form the ACRF Tasmanian Inherited Cancer Centre (ACRF Centre). The Foundation's Medical Research Advisory Committee, led by Professor Ian Frazer, recommended that the Australian Cancer Research Foundation support the hugely important and highly impressive work being done at Menzies. 

The ACRF Tasmanian Inherited Cancer Centre was officially opened by the Minister for Health, Michelle O'Byrne on the 28th September 2010. This event provided an excellent opportunity for Tasmanians committed to cancer research to view the new facility and to participate in celebrating the opening of the Centre, which was hosted by then Menzies Director Professor Simon Foote, and Mr Tom Dery, Chairman of the ACRF. This facility provides researchers with access to some of the world's leading cancer technology including equipment allowing high-throughput genetic analysis and a laser dissection microscope that can isolate individual cells and chromosomes.

A Collaborative Approach

The ACRF Centre provides researchers with significant resources needed to unlock the causes of inherited cancers like prostate cancer and leukaemia. This facility will also provide a central hub bringing together researchers.

The ACRF Centre draws together geneticists, biologists, clinicians and ethicists to enhance cooperation and build a world-class cancer genetics programme. Using this collaborative approach, Menzies is able to enhance and expand its genealogical resources, and link them with cutting edge biomedical and genetic research.

Cancer Research

Many cancers, including some forms of prostate cancer and leukaemia, are caused by an inherited, or genetic, tendency that interacts with other factors to result in the onset of the cancer. The identification of the genes underlying many diseases has led to both a greater understanding of the disease and, in some cases, significant advances in treatment therapies.

Some cancers are due to a combination of genetic factors and environmental events. The ACRF grant enables Menzies to put all systems in place to allow researchers to identify not only disease genes but also the environmental triggers to disease.