The NSW Government has awarded $1.8 million in research equipment grants, including funding for advanced manufacturing-related tools, to support cancer research across the state, with a University of Newcastle project among the recipients.
In a statement, the Minns Labor Government said University of Newcastle Professor Nikki Verrills had received almost $600,000 through a Cancer Institute NSW Research Equipment Grant to purchase a CellenONE instrument, a precision tool designed to isolate individual living cancer cells.
The government said the equipment would support more detailed analysis of cancer cells and contribute to the development of improved treatments.
According to the NSW Government, the device enables researchers to identify subtle differences between individual cells within a tumour, helping teams better understand why some cancer cells resist therapy or contribute to relapse.
The work led by Professor Verrills will focus on blood cancer, breast cancer and brain tumours, with the aim of advancing precision therapies tailored to the cellular characteristics of each cancer.
Two additional grants of $600,000 were also awarded. University of Sydney Professor Hilda Pickett received funding for two high-resolution microscopes that will allow researchers to observe cancer cells as they grow, change and respond to treatment in real time.
The NSW Government said the technology would assist in visualising how cancers develop, spread and become resistant to therapy.
Associate Professor Emily Blyth, also from the University of Sydney, was awarded funding for two specialised systems designed to streamline the complex steps involved in cell therapy manufacturing.
The government said these systems would enable such therapies to be produced more efficiently and safely, and support efforts to scale up manufacturing to improve patient access.
The NSW Government said the grants form part of its ongoing investment in world-class research infrastructure intended to accelerate cancer research and improve care. It noted it has invested more than $575 million in cancer research over the past 20 years, supporting more than 1,000 competitive research awards and grants.
Minister for Medical Research David Harris said targeted research plays an important role in improving cancer outcomes. He said the government was proud to support researchers working to reduce the impact of cancer and improve treatments for people in NSW and beyond.
NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Cancer Institute NSW chief executive Professor Tracey O’Brien AM said progress had been made in understanding and treating cancer, but it remained the leading cause of death in NSW.
She said the institute was continuing to partner with clinicians and researchers to advance understanding of the disease.
Professor Verrills said past limitations in technology meant cancer research often focused on tumours as a whole, which could allow resistant cells to remain after treatment.
She said the new equipment would allow researchers to study cancer cells individually, supporting deeper analysis and new discoveries that could lead to improved therapies for hard-to-treat cancers.
