The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) is a proud research partner of The Brain Cancer Centre, a new research Centre established to bring together Australia’s best medical research minds to end brain cancer as a terminal illness.

Carrie Bickmore OAM, Professor Doug Hilton AO and representatives of the Brain Cancer Centre
Carrie Bickmore OAM, Professor Doug Hilton AO and representatives of the Brain Cancer Centre

Founded by Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer and led by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), The Brain Cancer Centre will drive research to improve treatment options and survival rates for brain cancer patients.

The Centre has been established with an initial commitment of $40 million, which includes a foundation gift from Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, and a $16 million commitment from the Victorian Government.

WEHI Director and Head of The Brain Cancer Centre, Professor Doug Hilton AO, said improving outcomes for children and adults with brain cancer required a coordinated and long-term commitment to collaborative research and discovery.

“The Brain Cancer Centre will provide the increased momentum and collaboration needed to take out vision of ending brain cancer as a terminal illness and make it a reality. It will enable us to attract the best new talent and build our local capabilities in brain cancer research and translation, and to develop new treatments that will be more effected with fewer side effects, improving quality of life.

“By combining the scientific knowledge and clinical expertise of Australia’s top brain cancer researchers, and training the next generation of leading brain cancer researchers, the Centre will have the best chance of making the long-term and transformative discoveries that will have a real impact on brain cancer patients, now and in the future,” he said.

Founder of Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, Carrie Bickmore OAM said she was excited to see The Brain Cancer Centre brought to life after years of fundraising efforts.

“Establishing The Brain Cancer Centre is only possible because of the generosity of Australians who supported Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer and bought a beanie, held a fundraiser or donated.

“We want to see a day come when no family has to lose someone they love to brain cancer. We want to make sure that every Australian diagnosed with brain cancer will have access to the best treatments and be given real hope for a positive outcome.

“I truly believe that together we can achieve that,” she said.

The Brain Cancer Centre includes research collaborations between WEHI, the RMH, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Monash University, the University of Queensland and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. The teams will concentrate their efforts on new brain cancer discoveries, diagnostics and treatments.

Mobile Stroke Unit with Ambulance Victoria paramedic and the RMH Stroke team
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