$2m grant to boost cancer immunotherapy research in Australia

The centre will advance immunotherapy through real-time monitoring of patients' immune responses.

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Centre for Dynamic Immuno-Oncology will be established at the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre, following a $2m grant to The Alfred and Monash University.

Professor Mark Shackleton, director of Oncology at Alfred Health, said the centre will advance immunotherapy by enabling real-time monitoring of patients' immune responses.

“By combining advanced imaging technology with cutting-edge tools to study cancer immunology at a cellular level, we will gain unprecedented insights into how immunotherapies work, ushering innovations and a new era in cancer treatment,” he said.

“Our real-time monitoring will not only improve the effectiveness of these therapies but also help identify and prevent potentially debilitating side effects before they occur,” added Shackleton.

Immunotherapy, whilst effective, can cause side effects in up to 30% of patients, the organisation said.

The research will use the new Quadra PET/CT scanner, part of a $24m funding package announced earlier this year by the Australian and Victorian Governments, to enhance cancer treatment precision.