Pharmacy Daily | Leukaemia research boost

THE Leukaemia Foundation of Australia has announced a new national multi-million dollar research program targeting blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Research focus will examine innovation in diagnosis and treatments and improving the quality of life across the blood cancer spectrum, a foundation announcement said.

The first project identified under the new program will be a $1 million investment over five years (2018-2022) to the Centre for Blood Transplant and Cell Therapy (CBTCT), aiming to discover new treatment approaches to better prevent and treat deadly graft versus host disease (GVHD).

GVHD is one of the most significant contributors to transplant related deaths and 20% of SCT recipients develop severe acute GVHD that does not respond to conventional treatment, resulting in more than half of those people dying.

Principal investigator, Professor David Gottlieb (pictured) said the funding would help support research into a better outcome for all Australians living with GVHD.

"The reality is that most patients say they would rather not live than spend the rest of their lives with this awful disease," Gottlieb said.

"This investment will contribute to generating new knowledge in the fields of transplant immunology and cell therapy and improve patient outcomes nationally."

The CBTCT's scientific partners are Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and Monash University in Australia, and the international centres are the University of Minnesota and Icahn Centre School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

MEANWHILE the Leukaemia Foundation is also highlighting its upcoming Light the Night ceremony which brings together Australia's blood cancer community.

The annual day of recognition, this year on Fri 05 Oct, sees families and friends gather at sunset to light up Australian skies with one of three coloured lanterns chosen to signify their journey and to raise funds for research in the hope of a future free of blood cancer: gold - to remember loved ones lost to blood cancer; white - for those diagnosed themselves; or blue - to show support for those affected.

Visit leukaemia.org.au for details of venues and more.