Abeles launches genome centre
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Australian Cancer Research Foundation chairman, Sir Peter Abeles, last week handed over the first instalment of a $1 million grant to ANU Vice-Chancellor, Deane Terrell, to establish a Genetics Research Laboratory at the JCSMR and called on the government to match the contribution.
In a separate statement, the chief scientific adviser to the ACRF, Emeritus Professor Athol Lykke, warned funding for Australian cancer research was severely deficient and scientists were in danger of falling behind international colleagues.
The new Director of the Centre, Prof Goodnow, said the grant will be used to create a huge "genetic library" to help identify cancer genes. Information from the project will help develop more reliable tests for early identification of cancer and new drugs and therapies to help control the disease.
Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, said at the launch that the Government and industry need to "take risks" in funding pure research so Australia can "lead, rather than follow" the world in discovering new treatments for disease.
"We never know when basic research is going to become applied research," Dr Wooldrigde said.