News

People undergoing cancer treatment in the Illawarra are directly benefiting from ground-breaking cancer research from the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Molecular Horizons Institute, made possible by the ongoing generous support of local not for profit organisation Illawarra Cancer Carers (ICC).

The latest philanthropic donation of a $47,500 cash gift was presented by ICC volunteers to UOW researchers on Wednesday 24 July, 2024 during a morning tea and presentation on the latest UOW research findings.

Throughout the 18-year partnership, ICC have gifted more than $1.2 million to UOW to support cancer research. The gifts are raised purely through local fundraising events such as stalls, raffles, and an annual banquet.

“This long-term support from the ICC has helped drive cancer research conducted by my team and research and clinical collaborators in the Illawarra region,” Senior Professor Ranson from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience and Molecular Horizons Institute said.

“The ICC are also great advocates of cancer research at UOW which has strengthened community recognition of our research”.

The 2024 gift will enable the continued employment of experienced cancer research assistant Ms Chelsea Penney for Senior Professor Marie Ranson, Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow and Associate Professor Dan Brungs’ research labs.

“Chelsea contributes to several projects, including new therapeutic strategies for metastatic gastric cancer, and proving the safety and effectiveness of an implantable device for localised delivery of cancer drugs,” Professor Ranson said.

As researchers around Australia are forced to compete for funding from an ever-decreasing national government cash pool, philanthropy such as this bridges funding gaps. Being able to retain highly skilled personnel such as Chelsea maintains our research momentum.

Professor Ranson is an expert in molecular biomarkers of cancer invasion and metastasis and has successfully led and contributed intellectual property (IP) to several drug development projects.

Two of the UOW research projects that received early and crucial support from the ICC have gone on to attract commercial support. The most advanced of these is the Deflexifol project which was spun-out of the university into a local pharmaceutical startup company, FivepHusion.

This has enabled the drug to be utilised in two cancer clinical trials in Wollongong, which have demonstrated very promising results in 60 end-stage solid tumour patients.

“FivepHusion has now received approval to trial the drug in first line patients across Australia pending major investment, potentially allowing Deflexifol to improve outcomes for 6 million new patients around the world each year,” Professor Ranson said.

Another UOW project, run by Associate Prof Vine-Perrow, has also attracted commercial interest to take her lab’s localised drug delivery platform forward into clinical trials. Ms Penney has contributed her research assistance to this project.

ICC member and organiser of this year’s annual ICC Banquet at the Beach fundraiser, Mrs Patricia Hearn, attended yesterday’s presentation and said the local community is vital in ensuring the continued support of UOW’s cancer research along with the Cancer Centre and ICC’s support services for cancer patients.

The ICC is a group made up of trained local volunteers who support and care for cancer patients at the Cancer Care Centre at Wollongong Hospital, Palliative Care at Bulli Hospital and other places in the Illawarra.

“Our support of UOW’s important cancer research would not be possible without the generous support from the Illawarra community,” Mrs Hearn said.

“The ICC is run one hundred per cent by volunteers and is one hundred per cent local, which makes our Cancer Centre really special. It is unique for the district. We are there as someone for them to talk to and care for them while on their journey with cancer. This can be a bumpy road, so any support we can offer goes a long way.”