High-tech equipment at centre in Adelaide BioMed City on North Terrace to personalise treatment of cancers
South Australian governor Frances Adamson (front, third from right) officially opened Australian Cancer Research Fund centre for integrated cancer systems biology across two sites of North Terrace, Adelaide city, in 2023. Also pictured with offical guests was professor Tim Hughes (front, second from right), chief Investigator at the new centre.
A state-of-the-art suite of high-tech machinery, officially launched in 2023, was enabling South Australian cancer researchers to detect, target and treat the disease tailed to an individual’s needs rather than rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
A $2.5 million grant from its parent foundation bought the next-generation equipment to the Australian Cancer Research Fund centre for integrated cancer systems biology across two sites of North Terrace, Adelaide city: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute’s headquarters and the adjacent University of Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences building.
Professor Tim Hughes, chief Investigator at the new centre said the incredible technology and expertise was being deployed against an array of cancer streams including leukaemias, myelomas, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. “Cutting-edge mass spectrometry instruments will allow scientists to identify novel molecules and pathways that play key roles in cancer development and progression”.
Professor Hughes said the strength and potential for great advances that this centre were centred around the partnerships across Adelaide BioMed City on North Terrace. Hughes embodied those partnerships as a co leader of SAHMRI’s precision cancer medicine theme, a beat cancer rofessor with Adelaide University and a consultant haematologist with the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
He said the Australian Cancer Research Fund centre for integrated cancer systems biology was being used by some of the world’s most respected cancer researchers: “These highly intelligent, highly skilled professionals have extensive experience in the bench-to-bedside journey including preclinical studies, investigations with vast patient sample repositories, drug development and clinical trials.
Hughes predicted significant advancements through enhanced access to an expanded and well-resourced bioinformatics team that would process complex datasets generated by the latest equipment: “This will provide insights into cancer hallmarks that are specific to each patient, leading to innovative, personalised approaches to effectively treat their cancer.”
The Australian Cancer Research Fund grant to the Adelaide centre was made in 2018 and the centre has been making a material difference to cancer research since 2019, although its official launch was delayed by Covid-19. Founded in 1984 by Peter Abeles and Sonia McMahon, Australian Cancer Research Fund backed pioneering research and helped give scientists the tools and infrastructure needed to achieve medical breakthroughs.
