Each day, 396 Australians hear the words: you have cancer.
Behind every diagnosis is a life changed — a family holding its breath, and a future suddenly thrown into uncertainty.
At the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, we are doing something about it.
There are many exceptional cancer research centres around the world. But what makes our institute unique is how a number of rare advantages come together — right here, in regional Victoria to create something truly world-class.
One of these is our live tissue bank, now housing over 35,000 cryo-preserved patient samples. Unlike traditional storage methods, our samples are kept ‘alive’ in liquid nitrogen — meaning the cells remain viable for experimentation over extended periods of time.
“In just the last five years, our researchers have published over 60 peer-reviewed papers — and sixteen publications in the past 12 months, a significant contribution to global knowledge from a small institute with no government funding.”
Why does this matter?
Because it allows us to test how cancer behaves in real time — not just once, but across many years. The variety of experiments we can perform becomes almost limitless. It means we can chase answers with a level of certainty that most researchers only dream of.
Our research is revealing how cancer hides from the immune system — cloaking itself in a protective “fog” that stops the body from recognising the threat. We’re pinpointing exactly how to lift that fog, exposing the cancer cells so the immune system can do what it was designed to do: fight back.
This is where we believe some of the most promising breakthroughs will come — and we are already seeing results that point to new treatments on the horizon.
We work across a range of cancers including breast cancer, bowel cancer, brain tumours, blood cancers, ovarian and renal cancer, and rare diseases like Langerhans cell histiocytosis. In just the last five years, our researchers have published over 60 peer-reviewed papers — and sixteen publications in the past 12 months—a significant contribution to global knowledge from a small institute with no government funding.
We are on the edge of real breakthroughs.
We don’t have government funding. What we do have is a small, fiercely committed team — and an incredibly supportive community. Every dollar we receive from donors like you directly powers our research.
We do this work quietly, without fanfare, and entirely thanks to the support of our community. And that support matters more than ever.
Because this is more than science. This is personal.
I’ve seen what cancer does to people I know and love — and I know you have too. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to this work. And it’s why I’m asking, sincerely, for your support before June 30.
A donation to the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute is tax-deductible — but more importantly, it’s powerful.
It helps us keep going. It keeps the lab lights on. It keeps the questions coming — and the answers, too.
Thank you for believing in research. Thank you for believing in us.
Together, we will find the answers.
Producing Results
Featured Articles
The Signaling Networks of TIM-3, TGF-β and STING in Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain tumor resulting in low overall patient survival rates of 12–15 months post diagnosis. Some of the signaling pathways involved in glioblastoma progression include ERK, NF-κB, Wnt, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR. The TIM-3 and TGF-β signaling is altered in glioblastoma patients and may contribute to cancer progression. This review highlights the role of these three key cancer-related pathways in glioblastoma and their mechanistic link. Better understanding these links may result in improved treatment targets or disease progression biomarkers.
A powerful new chapter for cancer research in Ballarat
The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute has launched a state of the art mass spectrometer, a significant step forward in what its scientists can see, measure and understand. This technology allows researchers to analyse the molecules that drive cancer with extraordinary precision, helping our scientists better understand how cancer develops, responds to treatment and, importantly, how it can be stopped. This milestone has been made possible through the extraordinary generosity of John Turner and the Gull family, whose $500,000 gift brought this technology to life.
Our Research
Our Research
Projects
Our research is focused on the role of the immune system and how it relates and can be used to treat cancer.
Our Research Team and Collaborations
We have a team of fifteen researchers, three visiting researches, and two collaborating clinicians.
Our
Publications
Our research breakthroughs and findings are regularly published in reputable scientific and medical journals.
