back brilliant cancer research and fast-track breakthroughs across all cancer types
unlock CSR, ESG, marketing and stakeholder engagement benefits deliver significant social impact to individuals, communities, and Australia’s health system
In 2000, approximately 88,000 cancer cases were diagnosed in Australia. By 2024, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimated this number to rise to around 169,000 cases—a 93% increase over 24 years. This equates to an average of more than 463 cancer diagnoses per day. 1
New research shows that 1.45M Australians will die of cancer over the 25-year period from 2020-2044 unless there are major investments in prevention, early detection, and patient care.2
1. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/overview
2. https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/06/03/1-4-million-australians-will-dieof-cancer-in-the-next-25-years-.html
Australia loses nearly $2 billion of GDP every year due to people with cancer leaving the workforce.1
2 in 5 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, and the other 3 will be closely impacted by a diagnosis. This means that the entire Australian population will come face to face with cancer at some point in their lives.
1.
Christmas Frankie took her last chemotherapy tablet. Frankie is currently in recovery and thriving in her first year of primary school.
Fiona was diagnosed with terminal metastatic breast cancer at 35.
Read more about Fiona’s story
The best way to reduce suffering caused by cancer:
The factor that has made the most difference to research:
The funding supports pioneering research across Australia into all cancer types in the areas of:
Ground-breaking research projects
Awarded in grants
Research institutes across Australia
ACRF does not just support the most exciting cancer research in the country. It leverages it for exponential impact – speeding up the delivery of new cancer prevention, detection, and treatments.
ACRF is considered the leading cancer research funder across all cancers and our year-on-year philanthropic investment equates to around 30% of all non-government funding for cancer research infrastructure in Australia.
ACRF supports a bold piece of research with technology, equipment and infrastructure
The technology helps researchers get faster results. These results make it an attractive investment by other funders and Government
This draws more offers and opportunities for national and global collaborations
One piece of technology or infrastructure
Used by multiple researchers and research organisations
Technology used by researchers across several projects
Our Medical Research Advisory Committee (MRAC) is a panel of the best and brightest Australian and International cancer researchers. The MRAC reviews submissions from leading cancer research organisations all over the country and selects the best of the best for further support.
Our MRAC only endorses the most promising projects with potential to deliver the greatest health and social returns.
ACRF’s research funding decisions are highly regarded, and governments and other investors frequently follow our lead. Our provision of seed funding enables and accelerates pioneering research that may otherwise be delayed or go unfunded.
Former Chair of ACRF’s Medical Research Advisory Committee (MRAC). Currently CEO of the CSIRO.
It is transformative for individuals, families, communities and Australia’s health system.
from a very small operating cost base.
loss of productivity, and human suffering caused by cancer. This impact is limited only by lack of funding.
We seek to understand your business, your challenges and your strengths and work collaboratively with you to build a bespoke partnership that delivers the outcomes you are seeking.
Whether you’re seeking brand alignment, positive reputation and PR outcomes, more engaged employees, or a reason for your customers to engage with your business, we can work with you to design a partnership that best fits your needs.
Your support will provide ACRF with the momentum to leverage brilliant cancer research for exponential impact – speeding up the delivery of new cancer prevention, detection, and treatments.
As a credible and trusted brand, ACRF offers a number of marketing driven opportunities across our organisation. Opportunities include campaigns or projects for brands to partner for values alignment, positive reputation and PR outcomes, and new audience reach.
Cause-related marketing provides the opportunity for brands and businesses to support ACRF through a percentage of sales, agreed donation amount per sale of a product, donations at point of sale, or licensing fees to utilise the ACRF logo for a limited time.
A cause-related marketing campaign with ACRF can help your business in the following ways:
• Improve your brand or organisation’s reputation with consumers and clients
ACRF welcomes the donation of goods in kind to help us with our fundraising, as prizes or incentives for our fundraising supporters.
As a DGR1 charity, ACRF welcomes tied philanthropic investments and untied donations for projects that give you the opportunity to support Australia’s best, most progressive cancer research.
• Demonstrate your brand purpose
• Drive purchase intent and loyalty from customers
• Increase sales and market share
Match donations for a particular campaign or time period, providing that extra motivation for donors to take immediate action.
Workplace giving is a simple and effective way for employees to regularly donate to ACRF through their pay cycle. Workplace giving allows employees to donate from their pre-tax salary, so they receive the tax benefit straight away, rather than waiting until the end of the financial year. It’s a small act with a big impact. Several corporate partners match their employees donations –doubling the impact of support.
Hosting a fundraising event or activity in your workplace is a great way to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.
Whether it’s a morning tea, casual dress day, barbeque lunch, a social gathering, corporate golf day, auction or raffle - ACRF has loads of ideas and resources to help make your workplace fundraising activities a success.
ACRF holds regular online physical activity challenges which provide easy, accessible, and achievable challenges suitable for individual or team participation. We support our corporate partners with toolkits and helpful resources that make employee communication and recruitment easy.
‘Run for Research,’ combines fun, fitness and fundraising for organisations and their employees. We take an active role in helping to engage and inspire your team to get active, connect with each other and raise funds for Australia’s best cancer research by taking part in running events across Australia.
In 2014, ACRF provided funding for the pilot study into precision medicine for children with high-risk cancers – those who face less than 30 percent chance of survival.
The Zero Childhood Cancer Program (ZERO) involves analysing each child’s cancer at genomic level and developing individual targeted treatments for that child.
ACRF’s initial funding of $1.5M for the successful pilot was in turn used by Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) to leverage additional investment (reported at $130M since 2014).
In February 2023, the Australian Government and other investors pledged their support for ZERO, allowing significant expansion of their research.
In July 2023, ZERO Childhood Cancer Program reached a milestone in Australia’s medical history with the enrolment of the 1000th child.
ZERO is generating huge amounts of data, providing unprecedented insights into childhood cancer.
Professor Michelle Haber AM
Executive Director Children’s Cancer Institute & Co-Chair, ACRF’s Medical Research Advisory Committee (MRAC)
Melanoma kills more Australians each year than roadside accidents.
To tackle this national health epidemic, ACRF granted $9.9 million to the University of Queensland in 2018 to establish the ACRF Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis (ACEMID).
ACEMID uses sophisticated 3D imaging systems to produce whole-body scans and build a database of 100,000 patient ‘avatars’. The avatar database, coupled with artificial intelligence tools, will form a comprehensive diagnostic tool for skin specialists and clinicians.
The technology will make it easier to diagnose and monitor skin lesions, enabling the earlier detection of melanoma. It will also allow dermatologists to assess scans from patients in rural and remote areas –improving access to specialist care.
ACRF ACEMID Chief Investigator
At 49 years of age, Fiona received news that she had renal cell carcinoma. As an oncology nurse, she knew she that she faced gruelling treatment. But it was her family she was most devastated for. She wanted to keep caring for them and be part of their future.
Fiona had surgery to remove her kidney, but a CT scan six months later showed the cancer had metastasised to her brain.
Thanks to research a breakthrough in cancer treatment, Fiona was offered a new oral medication. For 10 years, she took that drug every day. It kept the cancer at bay and allowed Fiona to see her children grow up.
Until it stopped working.
Today, Fiona and her family are hoping that brilliant cancer research will produce another treatment – and give them more time together.
Learn more about Fiona’s story
Sophia was just 13 months old when she was diagnosed with an extremely rare tumour behind her left eye.
Nothing could have prepared her Mum, Liz and her Dad, Pat for the devastating news. But they were soon given hope. The oncologist told them that thanks to medical advances, there was a “70 or 80% chance” of Sophia’s cancer being treated successfully.
Sophia started treatment immediately. She has sadly lost sight in her left eye due to the cancer but has otherwise recovered. Today she’s a happy, healthy little girl.
Read more about Sophia’s story
In 2019, Simon was enjoying life. He had a successful career and a wonderful daughter –and he’d just found love again.
But what started as a suspected stomach ulcer was later diagnosed as late-stage Oesophageal cancer. This ‘late-stage’ diagnosis was significant. Simon’s oncologist told him that his cancer was aggressive.
Simon’s treatment team hit the cancer with everything available to them – the highest possible dose of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour and reconstruct his oesophagus
It is thanks to this state-of-the-art treatment, guided by cancer research of the last 10 years, that Simon gained more time with his loved ones.
Read more about Simon’s story
ACRF was founded in 1984 by the late Sir Peter Abeles AC and the late Lady Sonia McMahon.
After surveying several scientists and medical professionals and asking what they needed most to progress cancer research in Australia, they identified a primary need for physical buildings in which to conduct research activities. This determined the focus for The Foundation.
As the research landscape has evolved, so has the areas of funding for ACRF. Currently, ACRF grants cover technology, equipment, and infrastructure – both physical and virtual.
ACRF invests in research conducted in institutes, hospitals and universities with outstanding credentials and/or potential in cancer research to facilitate new and sustainable programs and to provide platforms that will add to Australia’s cancer research capacity.
Grant applications must demonstrate clear research vision and planning, strong leadership and experienced management.
Without any direct government funding, ACRF relies on private sources to support our grant awards. This allows unrestrained focus on science and research that will have the greatest impact.
ACRF has agreements with several other cancer organisations to create combined value. This collaborative funding is typically applied to personnel and other project elements that do not fall within ACRF’s funding scope. This derives incremental value through increasing efficiency in the cancer research sector in Australia. We drive collaboration and efficiencies by encouraging joint applications that pool the efforts of teams and institutions, so research questions can be answered faster and more effectively.
For 40 years, ACRF has been trusted by donors who want to accelerate the progression of cancer research in Australia.
ACRF’s Board of Trustees determines who receives ACRF funding each year. Contracts are agreed upon for grant funding and obligations. Beyond the award, ACRF governance requires grant recipients to report annually (for 7 years) on their progress and research outcomes.
Australian Cancer Research Foundation has already saved the lives of Australians who would otherwise die from their cancer or pay an unacceptably high price for more time. Our unique model continues to drive exponential impact.
It means we have to say ‘no’ to cancer research with groundbreaking, dial-shifting potential.
At Australian Cancer Research Foundation, we know that only brilliant ideas can tackle something as big as cancer.
That is why we give scientists the technology, equipment and infrastructure they need for pioneering research.
By funding research that seeks to progress and transform the way we prevent, detect and treat ALL cancers, we are committed to our vision of one day reaching a world without cancer.
