|
2010 Beneficiaries |
CHW Tumour Bank – Cancer
research on a national and international level.
Funds raised by Team K4KK 2006/07 will go directly to children’s
cancer research and support, supporting the Pathology Support
Laboratory Initiative – in turn supporting a national
co-ordinated search for a cure for cancer.
In 1998, the Tumour Bank began. The idea was seeded by
scientists at The Oncology research Unit. The initial
funds were raised by a lone kayaker, Bob Glenister of Kayaking
for Kemo Kids, whose daughter was undergoing treatment for cancer.
At that time, who was to know what the future held...but the
seeds were sown.
Since then Bob and his team of dedicated supporters have raised
almost $400,000 thousand dollars for the Tumour Bank.
The Tumour Bank was an Australian first and first on the World
Wide Web. It is now recognised as a blue print for ethically
and professionally setting up such Cancer Research & Support
Units on a national and internationally respected level.
In July 2004 the Federal Government announced the recipients
for the 2004 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Enabling Grants. Amongst the grantees was the Australasian
Biospecimens Network-Oncology (ABN) - a collaboration of 7 large
tumour banks around Australia for which, The Children’s
Hospital at Westmead Tumour Bank is one of the founding members.
The ABN was awarded a grant over five years to build a structured
nation-wide network to collect process and disseminate Tumour
tissue and will strategically target specific tumour types,
such as paediatric tumours, that can only be collected in substantial
numbers through the formation of such a network.
Additional funds awarded for 2005-6 has allowed the CHW Tumour
Bank to establish a Pathology Support Laboratory (PSL) which
will support cancer researchers and those working with the Australasian
Biospecimens Network, by facilitating research through the provision
of specialized expertise in research-based tissue handling techniques.
This in effect has allowed us to 'value add' to our Tumour Banking
activities through the purchase of specialised equipment such
as a Tissue Arrayer, an Immunohistochemistry Staining Instrument
and a Virtual Microscopy Suite. This laboratory will support
not only the activities of the CHW Tumour Bank but work with
researchers accessing tissue from other member banks within
the ABN. This will be done in a coordinated fashion throughout
the network.
Having a histopathology-skilled person employed to work within
the PSL long term is crucial. Consequently, we are looking
for further support for the Pathology Support Laboratory initiative
as this will directly support and link the 7 major Tumour bank
locations in the country.
So, whilst the focus of the K4KK fundraising will still be at
the CHW Tumour Bank, it will allow us to further develop a nationwide
activity via our interactions within the ABN. |
|
| |
|
