July 29, 2024

Illawarra Cancer Carers continue vital support of UOW research

Illawarra fundraising enables life changing cancer research

Innovative treatments developed from groundbreaking research at the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Molecular Horizons Institute – made possible by the generous support of not-or-profit organisation Illawarra Cancer Carers (ICC) – may soon be delivering benefits to cancer patients.

The latest philanthropic donation of a $47,500 cash gift was presented by ICC volunteers to UOW researchers on Wednesday 24 July during a 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 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 people with advanced cancer.

“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 Professor Vine-Perrow, has 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 the annual ICC Banquet at the Beach fundraiser, Ms Patricia Hearn, attended Wednesday'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 and the C7 inpatient unit at Wollongong Hospital, and the Palliative Care Unit at Bulli Hospital.

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

“The ICC is run one hundred per cent by volunteers and is one hundred per cent local, which makes the Cancer Centre really special. It is unique for the district. By providing various other programs to assist cancer patients such as driving patients for treatment, wheelchair provisions and cancer ward visitations, we are there as someone for them to talk to and care for them on their journey with cancer. This can be a bumpy road, so any support we can offer goes a long way.”

“The annual Banquet at the Beach fundraiser is an opportunity for the community to join us. It is a really nice way of bringing together all the work that is done and show the difference that the ICC makes in people's lives.”

The ICC Banquet at the Beach fundraiser will be held on Sunday 27 October at City Beach Function Centre in Wollongong, more information is available via the ICC website.