31 March 2022
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has announced $600,000 in new funding for five Australian research projects to better detect prostate cancer’s progression and advance knowledge of how the deadly disease impacts men’s lives.
The five grants have been awarded to early and mid-career researchers around the country:
- Dr Shanice Mah – University of Adelaide
Precision medicine approaches for targeting fatty acid oxidation in prostate cancer - Dr Oliver Schumacher – Edith Cowan University
Exercise medicine for men with prostate cancer during radiotherapy - Dr Katie Owen – Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
The development of preclinical models of advanced prostate cancer for radiotherapy and tumour-immune targeting during radiotherapy - Dr Pierre-Antione Dugué – Monash University
Prostate cancer subtyping and prediction of outcomes using genome-wide tumour methylation data - Associate Professor Haitham Tuffaha – University of Queensland
The value of genetic testing for prostate cancer
PCFA CEO, Anne Savage, said the grants were made possible by community donations.
“These five projects could help us cover the last mile to a cure and are a tremendous credit to PCFA’s supporters, who give so generously to our work.
“Five-year survival rates for prostate cancer have increased from around 61 per cent thirty years ago to 95 per cent today – a remarkable achievement that demonstrates the value of research into better diagnosis and treatment.”
Around 18,110 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year – equivalent to one man being diagnosed every thirty minutes.
“Australia has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world. It is a disease that accounts for more hospitalisations than any other type of cancer and claims the lives of more than 3,300 Australian men each year,” said PCFA Chief of Mission and Head of Research, Professor Jeff Dunn AO.
“We know that research projects like these can save lives and create hope of a future free from prostate cancer.
“These five grants will kick-start the game-changing work of the world’s brightest prostate cancer researchers, accelerating our efforts to beat this disease.”
The five projects are expected to deliver findings within 12 months, addressing priority areas for the management and treatment of prostate cancer.
“Research such as this saves lives and gives men and families hope – we would like to thank our donors for making this work possible.”
For more information and support, go to pcfa.org.au.
ENDS
Media contact:
Laura McKoy | 0435 094 788
*Priority Impact Research Awards recipients
Dr Shanice Mah, The University of Adelaide (SA)
Precision medicine approaches for targeting fatty acid oxidation in prostate cancer
This project will help to develop novel and safe therapeutic strategies to delay progression of prostate cancers by developing a circulating metabolic biomarker assay so that clinicians can select the right treatment at the right time for each patient.
Dr Oliver Schumacher, Edith Cowan University (WA)
Exercise medicine for men with prostate cancer during radiotherapy
This project will evaluate the effect of a single session of around 10 to 15 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity step exercise on tumour blood flow, as a potential means to improve prostate cancer outcomes for men undergoing radiotherapy.
Dr Katie Owen, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (VIC)
The development of preclinical models of advanced prostate cancer for radiotherapy and tumour-immune targeting during radiotherapy
This project will involve the collection of prostate tumours which have metastasized to the bone, matched with blood samples from consenting patients, to create an urgently needed platform to categorise and profile bone-metastatic tissues. The findings could have major implications for prostate cancer treatment and management, to improve overall survival.
Dr Pierre-Antoine Dugué, Monash University (VIC)
Prostate cancer subtyping and prediction of outcomes using genome-wide tumour methylation data
This project will investigate DNA methylation, one of the most promising areas of epigenetics in the field of prostate cancer research. The aim of the project is to help specialists improve the accuracy of clinical prognosis and the effectiveness of treatment pathways and precision care for each patient.
A/Prof Haitham Tuffaha, University of Queensland (QLD)
The value of genetic testing for prostate cancer
This project will develop and evaluate prostate cancer genetic testing and counselling strategies to help inform policy and reimbursement decisions towards the subsidisation of testing and the listing of targeted drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
