NHMRC funding for breast cancer research
In the period 2004-09, NHMRC contributed over $80 million to Australian research into breast cancer.
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expenditure ($) | 8,056,701 | 9,327,900 | 11,899,267 | 14,588,288 | 17,482,128 | 18,724,425 |
| Number of Active Grants | 66 | 71 | 83 | 99 | 117 | 118 |
| Number of Researchers Involved | ||||||
| People Support Grants | 7 | 20 | 27 | 38 | 44 | 40 |
| Research Support - Project Grants | 22 | 22 | 27 | 39 | 39 | 22 |
| Research Support - No of Researchers | 88 | 93 | 115 | 162 | 197 | 241 |
Some NHMRC-funded research projects into breast cancer
Green tea and cancer prevention
Chief Investigator Professor Cashel D'Arcy J Holman, University of Western Australia
There is laboratory evidence that chemicals in green tea (polyphenols) protect against cancer. Epidemiologic studies in humans have generally supported these findings, especially for breast cancer. This project is a crucial stepping stone towards future prospects of a large-scale trial using green tea extract. It will see if the protection extends to leukaemia and bowel cancer, and will identify the genetic makeup of people who are able to benefit the most from green tea polyphenols.
NHMRC Project Grant
Inhibiting cancer induced osteolysis
Chief Investigator Dr Mark C Waltham, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research
In breast cancer the spread of cancer (metastasis) to bone occurs frequently and causes significant problems including pain, fracture, immobility and paralysis. We have recently discovered that a drug, widely used in Japan and Korea for skin disorders, inhibits breast cancer growth in bone using animal model systems of this disease. This is a very exciting and novel finding. We will further investigate the potential of this drug and identify precisely how it works at the molecular level.
NHMRC Project Grant
Identification of genes that control the spread of breast cancer
Chief Investigator Dr Robin L Anderson, University of Melbourne
Breast cancer is the major cause of cancer-associated death in Australian women. Once the disease has spread to other organs, as occurs in about 20% of cases, our ability to treat the disease is limited and mortality is high, leading to an enormous social and economic cost. New therapies for advanced disease are needed urgently. To facilitate this, we need to understand the molecular regulation of metastasis to distant organs and use this knowledge to develop new molecular targeted therapies.
NHMRC Project Grant
Does shift work cause breast cancer?
Chief Investigator Associate Professor Lin Fritschi, University of Western Australia
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women and there have been a number of recent events which have raised public concern that occupational exposures are contributing to the increasing occurrence of this cancer. In this study, we will investigate occupational causes of breast cancer, particularly shift work, industrial solvent use and combustion products. We will compare occupations of 1000 women with breast cancer and 2000 women without cancer.
NHMRC Project Grant
IBIS II
Chief Investigator Professor John F Forbes, University of Newcastle
The IBIS II trial builds on the successful IBIS 1 breast cancer (BC) prevention trial in determining whether a chemopreventive strategy towards BC is beneficial. Women who are postmenopausal with an increased risk of BC are randomised to receive either anastrozole (an aromatase inhibitor) or placebo as a daily tablet. Neither the woman nor her clinician know which treatment has been allocated (double blind study). IBIS 2 has the potential to benefit many higher risk women worldwide.
NHMRC Project Grant
Determination of unwanted radiation dose outside of the radiotherapy treatment field
Chief Investigator Professor Tomas Kron, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Every medical intervention is associated with risk. The present proposal aims to quantify the dose from radiation that is delivered outside the actual target region in radiotherapy of breast cancer patients. This information can help the development of better irradiation techniques as well as inform patients and their carers about possible long term side effects. Finally, the research can be used to fine-tune radiobiological models by comparing clinical outcomes and accurately calculated doses.
NHMRC Project Grant
Sources
1. AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) & AACR (Australasian Association of Cancer Registries) 2008. Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008. Cancer series no. 46. Cat. no. CAN 42. Canberra: AIHW.