Amanda Jones
19 October 2016: A spring breakfast to honour alumnae who are changing the world has helped raise more than $8,600 to support cancer research at the University of Canberra.
Close to 100 women attended the sold-out event held on campus on 14 October, including emeritus and adjunct professors, alumni, staff and community members, with the money raised going directly to the University’s Cancer Research Fund.
The fund has now collected almost $60,000 to support University of Canberra professor in molecular and cellular biology Sudha Rao and her team, helping fast track the research by 12 months.
The funds received have enabled the team to develop important blood tests. The first blood test can identify if the primary cancer has metastasised, potentially reducing the need for invasive tissue biopsies in the future.
Work continues towards a second test with the goal of personalised medicine for cancer therapy. It has the potential to guide oncologists with drug treatment options that may benefit the patient when combination therapy is being used.
“Our ultimate goal is to find an effective therapy to decrease recurrence in breast and other aggressive cancers. We can do this by developing new treatments to switch off cancer stem cells which are responsible for cancer travelling around the body,” Professor Rao, a keynote speaker at the event, said.
“We’re determined to solve this problem and to improve the lives of every cancer sufferer so we’re extremely grateful for the support we’ve received through the UC Cancer Research Fund,” she added.
University of Canberra Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and event host Professor Frances Shannon said the University was proud to support Professor Rao and her team’s ground-breaking research.
“If successful, this treatment will significantly improve the survival prognosis for cancer patients. This fantastic work being carried out by our staff, along with the wonderful achievements of our incredible alumnae, is worth supporting and celebrating,” Professor Shannon said.
HerCanberra founder and editor, and alumna Amanda Whitley was the event’s MC, with attendees also hearing from Chief Transformation Officer at Coca-Cola Amatil Kate Mason, also a University of Canberra alumna.
