Featured in Burwood Scene, June 5, 2013.
The owners of Ashfield Mall and Birkenhead Point shopping Centre, Abacus Property Group, generously kick-started the ANZAC Research Institute Medical Appeal with a $5,000 donation on Wednesday, May 29 at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL during the presentation of the 2013 Inner West Local Business Awards.
A partnership between the ANZAC research Institute and Bendigo Bank for an Australia-wide appeal to fund human clinical trials for an anti-cancer vaccine was announced during the evening, urging all local business owners to be involved in the Appeal which is seeking an initial target of $185,000 in Sydney to provide one more researcher and equipment for Professor Hart’s group at Concord hospital.
Local businesses can be involved by displaying a poster in their shops, supporting or hosting fundraising events or providing advice and expertise.
The ground-breaking discoveries being made by the Group at the ANZAC Research Institute into a vaccine to fight Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), which can then be used to combat other cancers, is close to starting human clinical trials.
“Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is the most common type of adult leukaemia and affects the older age group in particular. Whilst there has been some progress in combining established chemotherapy drugs and supportive care for patients, the majority of patients still die of their disease or its complications,” Professor Hart said.
The Group has made significant recent advances in the fight against leukaemia and have identified the first member of the CD300 family of molecules.
In a huge breakthrough, the Professor’s team including PhD student, Dr Robin Gasiorowski, who is leading the AML research, has initiated a project to complete essential preclinical work defining CD300f as a leukaemic target and to make a fully humanised anti-CD300f molecular antibody for phase 1 clinical trial.
“The data suggests that antibodies targeting CD300f are effective in eliminating human AML cells in a mouse model,” Professor Hart explained.
The ANZAC research Institute Medical Appeal will be formally launched in mid-June through all Sydney Bendigo Bank branches before being rolled out Australia wide for a total target of $5million.
Image Caption: Sarah Smith (Birkenhead Point), Linda Lord (Ashfield Mall Manager), James Zagarella (Manager for Professor Hart’s Group), John Chandler (Bendigo Bank), Amanda Kearney (Ashfield Mall) and Robert Smith (Birkenhead Point).
