Pharmacy Daily | Crowdfunding research

THE Oncology Network has launched a campaign to raise funds for The Cancer Crowd, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to cancer research, technology and support projects. The Network was trying to raise $25,000 which would be used to launch, manage and promote the platform and projects, Oncology Network marketing director Graham Knowles said. When launched, the platform would be free to not-forprofit organisations to launch crowdfunding campaigns for their oncology projects which needed funding, he said. Oncology Network executive officer Rachael Babin said it was difficult to attract lower levels of funding for smaller projects and the platform would help with this. It would give the oncology community a new option for funding and a dedicated oncology crowdfunding platform would ensure projects were easy to find and get people excited about, Knowles said. The campaign would help educate the oncology community about what was involved in crowdfunding campaigns and the associated processes and difficulties, he said. Projects applying to use the platform would be vetted for eligibility using criteria laid out by the Oncology Network and any ambiguous applications would be reviewed by experts from the oncology community, Knowles said. Crowdfunding sites generally charged 5 to 10% of the target to use the site and The Cancer Crowd would likely charge forprofit organisations towards the lower end of this, he said. Once the funding target was reached, the platform could likely be launched in four weeks, Knowles said. Within 48 hours of the campaign’s launch, more than 13% of the target had been pledged, the Oncology Network said. Knowles said this kind of funding would develop into niche areas, such as heart research, in the future. There are 56 days left to raise the funds - CLICK HERE for more. Research Australia ceo Elizabeth Foley said crowdfunding was one of the major forces of the future and she applauded the move. It was great to see the sector developing digital competency, she said, and she too believed the sector would see more of this in the future.

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