LICR receives funding from Cancer Australia and Cancer Council Victoria 2011

Oliver Sieber (Joint Head LCCI laboratory) has been simultaneously offered funding of $438,000 by Cancer Australia and $195,000 from Cancer Council Victoria over two years for his project on the discovery of colorectal cancer subtype associated tumour suppressor genes using next-generation sequencing and high throughput functional genomics. Oliver has chosen to accept the Cancer Australia funding.

Bowel cancer is a major health burden. Recent improvements in treatment have resulted from the development of targeted agents against mutant or upregulated proteins, highlighting the need for a detailed understanding of the molecular subtypes of the disease. This study seeks to advance the understanding of the molecular diversity of bowel cancer by identifying cancer subtype associated driver genes. Results will help inform strategies for optimal targeting of cancer treatment.

Michael Buchert and Matthias Ernst (both from the Colon Molecular and Cell Biology laboratory), have been jointly granted $294,000 over three years from Cancer Council Victoria for their project on targeting the PI3K/mTor pathway in inflammation-linked disease.

Insights from the study will highlight therapeutic opportunities for stomach cancer and other inflammation-associated cancers. It is hoped they may ultimately translate into the design of combination therapy with cytotoxic drugs currently used in the clinic.

December 20, 2011