News and Events 2013

Cancer Council Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea at the Kolling Institute

Once again the Kolling Institute is hosting a Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for Cancer Council Australia, who help fund cancer research here at Kolling. Sadly 110,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Australia last year, and the Cancer Council supports the fight against cancer through funding for research, as well as working to prevent cancer and providing support, information and advocacy for people affected by cancer. Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is Cancer Council Australia’s most popular fundraising event and the largest, most successful event of its kind in Australia, and we are proud to be participants in this.

Event: Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea at the Kolling Institute
When: Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 10:00–11:30am
Where: Level 5 foyer, Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital

We will have delicious home baked cakes, biscuits and other treats for sale along with tea and coffee. So please come and join us for some sweet treats and a cuppa, and at the same time you will be helping to raise funds for a great cause.

There is also the opportunity to take a guided tour of some of the state-of-the-art Kolling Institute laboratories. Registration for a tour is essential – please contact the Kolling Institute Tumour Bank on 9926 4471 if you are interested in taking a laboratory tour.

If you are unable to attend but would still like to make a donation, you can do so by clicking here.

For more information, please visit the website for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.

We look forward to seeing you at the Kolling Institute’s Biggest Morning Tea!

Kolling researchers recipients of Cure Cancer Australia grants

Congratulations to Dr Emily Colvin, of Bill Walsh Cancer Research, for being awarded a research grant through the 2012 round of the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS) and is co-funded by Cancer Australia and Cure Cancer Australia Foundation. Congratulations also to Dr Viive Howell, Director of Research for Bill Walsh Cancer Research, for coming into the second year of her two-year Cure Cancer Australia grant.

Dr Colvin’s grant will fund vital ovarian cancer research, and Dr Howell has been investigating how to improve the treatment of malignant melanoma.

As a second time grant recipient, Dr Howell highlights the significance of this funding: "Cure Cancer Australia grants fund new researchers and innovative new ideas and as such are unique in their funding policy. This provides essential funding to begin new areas of research, which may deliver a new approach to an existing problem," said Dr Howell.

Dr Howell hopes the current grant, undertaken in collaboration with angiogenesis expert Dr Anthony Ashton from Perinatal Research, Kolling Institute, will lead to a larger project investigating tumour blood vessels as targets for anti-cancer treatment, initially using melanoma as a model.

This year Cure Cancer Australia is directing a record $3.2 million of seed funding to 38 young researchers. This is comprised of 29 new grant recipients from around Australia, who join the 9 young investigators who are in the second year of two-year grants introduced in 2012. This investment in the fight against cancer wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and support of donors, fundraisers and corporate partners.

For full details of grant recipients, please see: http://www.curecancer.org.au/Research/Currentandpreviousresearchersfunded.aspx

Kolling Institute Director awarded AM in Australia Day Honours

Kolling Institute Director, Professor Jonathan Morris, was honoured as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2013 Honours List.

This award recognises Professor Morris’ significant service to maternal and infant health as a clinician, educator, patient advocate and researcher.

“I am blessed to work with outstanding people in a very special discipline. There are many who are deserving of recognition, so I feel very humbled,” said Professor Morris.

A graduate from the University of Edinburgh with a PhD from Oxford, Professor Morris took the position of maternal foetal medicine specialist at Royal North Shore Hospital in 1998. Over the last 14 years he’s dedicated his career to improving the health of mothers and their babies and leads several clinical studies aimed at preventing preterm birth and its complications.

“For many women, pregnancy and childbirth isn’t a joyful event. I’m passionate about improving the quality of healthcare for expectant mothers and offering a healthy start to life for all Australians. This can only be achieved through medical research,” said Professor Morris.

Professor Morris is also Associate Dean and Head of Northern Clinical School at the University of Sydney, and serves on the NHMRC Academy.

Postgraduate Scholarship to investigate ovarian cancer progression

A full-time postgraduate scholarship is available for an eligible candidate to undertake a PhD research project in the Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research. For details and to apply, please see: http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1232

Kolling Knowledge – Events in 2013

The Kolling Knowledge series of free health forums will recommence in 2013. We're currently planning these events and a schedule with health topics, dates and times will be available in the coming months.

If you'd like to receive news via email about Kolling Knowledge events for 2013 as soon as it comes to hand please register your details by clicking here.

What is Kolling Knowledge?
Kolling Knowledge is a series of free health events. Each event comprises a panel of experts who inform on management and treatment of various conditions and share research highlights. The panel is also joined by a patient ambassador who shares their personal story, offering a first hand account of their experience with a particular illness or condition.

The evenings are not only informative but also entertaining with an opportunity to ask questions at the end. Come along and meet our experts - everyone is welcome. Registration is free but essential as places are limited. You can register online at www.kolling.com.au.