The ACT Government has announced it will fund a high profile chair in cancer research to be based at The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) at the Australian National University (ANU).

 

The ACT Government has announced it will commit $1.5 million to the project if it keeps office in next month’s election.

 

The ANU welcomed the announcement, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young saying it will have a significant impact in the research of deadly cancer.

 

“This is terrific news for the John Curtin School and ANU, but more importantly for the global fight against cancer. It is also good news for every Canberra family touched by this terrible disease,” Professor Young said.

 

 “Cancer is Australia’s biggest killer, with 115,000 new cases every year, and 44,000 deaths. One in three Australians will contract the disease before they reach the age of 75, and 19 per cent of the health system’s budget is spent on it,” JCSMR Acting Director Professor Chris Parish said.