A new collaboration between the Brain Cancer Centre, the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research and the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) will investigate what drives the development of brain tumours.

The Brain Cancer Centre, founded by Carrie Bickmore’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer Foundation, will provide $100,000 a year for three years to fund research into the genetic links behind brain cancer.

The “Brain Cancer Research Program” will further the Brain Cancer Centre’s goal that one day no lives are lost to brain cancer.

The Director of the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Professor Tracey Dickson, is excited at the opportunity for Menzies to partner with the RHH on this new project.

“By combining our considerable expertise and research strengths we will work together and engage with the Tasmanian community to help understand the causes of brain cancer.”

“The project is also an opportunity to train the next generation of talented researchers to work towards treatment and ultimately prevention of the disease.”

Professor Rosemary Harrup, Director of Cancer Services at the RHH, also welcomed the funding.

“One of the advantages of researching brain cancer in Tasmania is there are large, geographically stable family groups and a small number of sites for treatment.”

“Unfortunately several large Tasmanian families have a high incidence of multiple types of cancer, including brain cancer. We are able to track these families and map genetic changes occurring in patients which we expect will unlock vital clues to the development and potential treatments for this often fatal disease.”

Sam McGuane, Chief Executive Officer, Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer and The Brain Cancer Centre, said their strategic plan has always been built around funding impactful brain cancer research.

“Since 2015, Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer Foundation has raised over $21 million for vital brain cancer research.”

“Through the establishment of The Brain Cancer Centre, we are committed to not only supporting great research, but connecting brilliant researchers across the country to ensure we create discoveries faster.  Collaboration is the key to developing new treatments and trials for brain cancer patients. We are excited to extend our national collaborations and partner with the Tasmanian research community by investing in this project.”

“The iconic Point to Pinnacle event has given us an incredible vehicle to invite supporters from all over Australia to participate with Team CB4BC and raise funds for this vital research. It is really exciting for our local Point to Pinnacle participants to be able to support their world class Tasmanian researchers directly this year, now we have a promising local project join our mission.”

In additional to clinical lead Professor Harrup, the research team will include familial genetics lead Professor Jo Dickinson, Dr Owen Marshall, lead epigenetics of brain disease group, Associate Professor Phillippa Taberlay, lead epigenomic remodelling group and Professor Kaylene Young, lead glial research group.

Through research with Tasmanian families, we can develop strategies to ultimately understand, treat and even prevent genetic contributions to brain cancer – research that will also be of benefit elsewhere in Australia and worldwide.