The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) is an Australian
not-for-profit organisation
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
which funds research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer. It provides multimillion-dollar grants for high-end research equipment, technologies, and infrastructure development to support the work of Australian cancer scientists.
History and structure
Established in 1984 by businessman and philanthropist, the late
Sir Peter Abeles AC.
Lady (Sonia) McMahon was also a founding Board member until her death in 2010.
A Board of Trustees, composed of prominent and influential Australian business people, administers the organisation. The current chairman is Mr Tom Dery AO, Worldwide Chairman of
M&C Saatchi
M&C Saatchi Group () is an international communications network headquartered in London, formed in May 1995. With more than 2,400 staff, the network spans 23 countries with major hubs in the UK, Europe, US, Middle East & Africa, Asia and Austral ...
.
A Medical Research Advisory Committee (MRAC) assesses all grant applications and advises the ACRF Board of Trustees on which research institutes will have the highest impact in cancer prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment. Membership of the MRAC is authorised by the
Department of Health and Ageing
The Australian Federal Department of Health and Ageing was an Government of Australia, Australian government Government department, department that existed between November 2001 and September 2013.
The department was created after th ...
with each appointment being three years. The current Chairman of the MRAC is
Professor Ian Frazer, co-creator of the cervical cancer vaccine
Gardasil
Gardasil is an HPV vaccine for use in the prevention of certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Text was copied from this source which is copyright European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledge ...
.
Funding
The Foundation awards grants between $1.5 million and $10 million, based on scientific excellence. To date, $159.8 million has been awarded in 75 grants to 54 research institutes, universities and hospitals in every Australian state and the Australian Capital Territory, for research into all cancers. The ACRF is a privately funded charity—receives no government funding. Financial statements are publicly available on the Foundation's website.
Project funding approved
References
External links
The Australian Cancer Research Foundation
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Cancer organisations based in Australia