Genomic research forwarding the fight against genetic disease and cancer

The Federal Government is unlocking the power of genomics research to improve early cancer detection and treatment, with more than $27 million for eight new projects from leading researchers across the country.

10 July 2024

 

THE research projects look to find ways to use a person’s genetic makeup to detect and diagnose disease at early stages, better identify types of cancer, and improve cancer outcomes by tailoring treatment to each individual.

 

Among the $27 million in funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, is $8 million to develop a national platform to assess and implement new AI technologies in the diagnosis of severe genetic diseases such as muscular dystrophy.

 

Nearly $8 million has been granted to the Centre for Population Genomics, a joint initiative of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

 

The new platform is called the Australian Alliance for Secure Genomics and AI in Rare Disease (AASGARD). It will develop and rigorously test new AI-driven analysis tools against ethical and clinical criteria before they are used in health care.

 

Once validated, the applications could help tens of thousands of Australian patients.

 

AASGARD will also monitor the results, informing the medical landscape.

 

Several projects seek to progress liquid biopsies, which use a blood test rather than a solid tissue sample to detect cancer:

 

• The University of Melbourne has been granted nearly $3 million to work on the next generation of liquid biopsies for breast cancer, to improve our ability to detect cancer at earlier stages and identify any residual disease after treatment.

 

• Monash University researchers have been granted $1.7 million to generate a liquid biopsy for the blood cancer Multiple Myeloma.

 

• Macquarie University has been granted more than $2.5 million to create a new liquid biopsy test for melanoma, which will determine which patients need further treatment after their melanoma has been surgically removed.

 

Another major genomic breakthrough is the discovery that each patient has a unique bowel cancer with an individual make up. The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research has been granted nearly $3 million to investigate this, using state-of-the-art technology to personalise treatment.

 

Federal Minister for Health, Mark Butler said “This research is world-leading and these projects have the potential to be game changers that will lead to advances in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for Australians and around the world.

 

“Genomics is an exciting field that we can use to improve early detection and treatment of cancer.

 

“I want to thank the ongoing work of our top scientists, whose research in this field will make a real difference to people’s lives.

 

“Protecting Australians from the misuse of AI in healthcare is essential. The potential of AI is enormous in improving healthcare across the board. But it comes with risks that must be understood and mitigated."

 

Full details of the projects funded are available here.