September 18, 2018

Australian researchers will share in $10 million of funding toward developing groundbreaking treatments to help people living with rare cancers and diseases, including myeloma.

The funding will be shared across six clinical trials and will be conducted by researchers at Monash University, the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney and La Trobe University.

The Leukaemia Foundation said the research would give hope to Australians living with myeloma with the aim to help to save and extend lives.

Currently in Australia approximately 10,000 people are living with myeloma, and each year just over 1,800 new cases are diagnosed (equivalent to five people every day).

”Myeloma is a disease that has seen incredible improvements in treatment over the past ten years, however, as incidence continues to rise, more needs to be done,” a Leukaemia Foundation spokesperson said.

“The Leukaemia Foundation welcomes this funding which will help to improve, extend and ultimately save lives.”

The funding is part of a Federal Government $248-million, five-year commitment toward research into rare cancers like myeloma, and an additional $50 million commitment toward research into cancer genetics.

The spokesperson said the Leukaemia Foundation strongly encourages ongoing government support into cutting-edge genomic and precision medicine research – a growing area of medicine showing promising breakthroughs in cancer treatments.

“The Leukaemia Foundation recognises these areas of research are spearheading major advancements into treatment for these diseases.”

“We need this type of funding to continue to make breakthroughs in this research so we can work towards a future free from myeloma, and all blood cancers,” they added.