NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION (NBCF) OUTLINES PINK HORIZON RESEARCH STRATEGY AT BREAST CANCER FORUM Breast Cancer Awareness Month demonstrates integral role of NBCF in research and clinical support
Filmed in Brisbane, Queensland | November 2024
Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz, Chief Executive Officer of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, leads an organisation dedicated to funding world-class breast cancer research in Australia. The Foundation has a bold vision of achieving zero deaths from breast cancer.
Every October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the foundation uses this time to raise awareness about breast cancer and its impact in Australia. It also emphasises the critical need for funding breast cancer research to improve outcomes.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation collaborates with researchers, providing essential funding while also engaging them, clinicians, and consumers to establish research priorities.
Australian Health Journal met with Assoc Prof Anderiesz to hear of the new 5 year Pink Horizon research strategy. Those with lived experience of breast cancer, along with researchers, clinicians, and other funding organisations, have contributed to the development of the foundation’s new five-year Pink Horizon research strategy. This ambitious plan aims to invest $125 million to accelerate research efforts towards the vision of ending deaths from breast cancer.
Recently, Assoc Professor Anderiesz presented at the Public Breast Cancer Research Forum hosted by The University of Queensland and the Translational Research Institute, where she highlighted the accomplishments of the National Breast Cancer Foundation over the past 30 years. During this time, the Foundation has invested over $200 million into more than 600 research projects across Australia, supporting 1,800 researchers at 120 institutes to advance impactful breast cancer research.
Professor Anderiesz believes it is essential for all members of the breast cancer community to consistently seek opportunities to raise awareness about the disease’s impact. This awareness should extend beyond October and include efforts to inform primary care physicians and specialists. Additionally, there is a need to promote groundbreaking research and advocate for changes in policy and care to improve outcomes for individuals affected by breast cancer.
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More health care volunteers needed for Street Side Medics
Identifying a gap in the healthcare of vulnerable people in New South Wales, Dr Daniel Nour founded Street Side Medics in August 2020, a not-for-profit, GP-led mobile medical service for people experiencing homelessness.
Dr. Daniel Nour is a cardiology advanced trainee at Royal North Shore Hospital and the founder of Street Side Medics, a mobile medical service dedicated to providing GP-led care to individuals experiencing homelessness. The initiative started from a customised van, which serves as a medical clinic, visiting food services and shelters across New South Wales and recently Victoria. Street Side Medics offers free medical care without requiring documentation, ID, or a Medicare card.
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Strategic research investments for health and prosperity
The CEO of Research Australia, Nadia Levin spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
– Current medical research and development landscape in Australia
– Investment required to support the Health and Medical Research and Innovation pipeline
– The National Medical Products Industry Plan and its impact on the Australian economy
– The Health and Medical Research WorkforceIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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CASE STUDY: Creating awareness, workforce education & dissemination strategy in national screening
At the recent Screening Conference 2025 in Sydney, hosted by Public Health Association, Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow at The Daffodil Centre, spoke about the information and educational resources created to increase awareness in the healthcare workforce and community on the upcoming Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program commencing in July 2025.
