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.
-
Study on digital tool for pharmacists in aged care
In March 2022, the Australia government announced $350 million of funding over 4 years to employ on-site pharmacists in residential aged care, starting July 2023. In April 2023, the government made changes to the proposed on-site pharmacists, where the new program will now be delivered by and through community pharmacies. Regardless of how the model will be implemented, the goal remains the same – to improve quality use of medicines and medicines safety for aged care residents.
-
Sovereign capability uplifted
Skilled labour, in particular skilled in the manufacture of MTP products, namely competency in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), was identified as one of the key priorities, according to Jarrod Belcher, Director of the REDI Program at MTPConnect. Through a competitive process, MTPConnect selected additional industry training providers to deliver new programs addressing key skills gaps in the sector workforce.
Launched in September 2022, one of these programs is GMP Uplift developed by the Centre for Biopharmaceutical Excellence (CBE). CBE bring experience across large and small Biologics, Pharmaceuticals and Regenerative Medicine companies, both in consulting and GMP related enterprise training. CBE staff also have extensive experience in GMP operations, compliance, auditing and QMS design, a wide industry network for guest lecturers and readily available case studies.
-
Australian Digital Health Industry Report 2020
ANDHealth CEO Bronwyn Le Grice steps us through key report data from 317 emerging high growth potential digital health companies across Australia. Each of these companies has been supported in some way by ANDHealth since 2017.
