Prostate Cancer Alliance Launched
Monday 01 December 2008
A new $15 million international network of scientists, clinicians and facilities dedicated to the research of prostate cancer was launched in November.
Based in Brisbane and recently awarded a $2 million Smart State grant from the Queensland State Government, the Australian-Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Alliance will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources across both countries.
Directed by Queensland University of Technology's Professor Colleen Nelson, the Alliance will connect nearly 200 prostate cancer scientists and clinicians across Australia and Canada.
"In Queensland, the Alliance will engage with the state's world class research institutes, which will encourage technological advances in prostate cancer research," Professor Nelson said.
"The Alliance will facilitate access to key expertise, unique resources and technologies through collaborations and short term exchanges of trainees, staff and faculty."
Professor Nelson is also the chair of prostate cancer research at QUT's Prostate Centre, being established in the Princess Alexandra Hospital Biomedical Precinct, which will form the main hub of the Alliance.
"The Alliance will bring members together for exchange of ideas at bi-annual scientific and clinical meetings, and will provide electronic-based networking and data sharing, as well as small-scale seed funding of collaborative projects," she said.
Professor Nelson, who was a founding member of the Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, said Australia and Canada share a collaborative spirit and have similar academic and clinical practices, which leads naturally to an alliance between the nations.
"The key scientific objectives of this collaborative initiative include the employment of state-of-the-art technology for pathology, imaging and drug screening, and the development pre-clinical model systems, pharmacology and advanced informatic tools," she said.
"The main aim is to facilitate and accelerate the development of new biomarkers and therapeutics for prostate cancer."
The Australian-Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Alliance was launched at the inaugural clinical and scientific meeting in conjunction with the National Prostate Cancer Conference on the Gold Coast in November 15-17.
Further Information
http://www.international.qut.edu.au/news/news-event.jsp?news-event-id=22358