Lions Foundation Cancer Collaboration
31 July 2013 at 1:37 pm
A new research partnership hopes to get more ‘bank for its buck’ in funding childhood cancer research.
The Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) has entered into what it describes as a unique healthcare research program with the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation (ALCCRF).
The partners say the community research partnership agreement will develop a national 10-year strategic plan for prioritisation and funding of childhood cancer research that is incontestable, robust and internationally relevant.
“When this project was first proposed by ALCCRF we saw it an opportunity to use skills within MGSM to work with key opinion leaders in the field of childhood cancer research,” MGSM’s Deputy Dean, Professor Guy Ford said.
“There are about 600 new cases of childhood cancer diagnosed every year in Australia,” Dr Joseph Collins founding Chairman and Trustee of ALCCRF said.
“If we can help all those passionate philanthropic donors in the community more easily understand where their dollar can have the greatest impact in saving more kids lives then we are doing one of the fundamental jobs Lions International was established for, which is 'We serve” – the community'.”
“We are keen to help provide the philanthropic sector with leadership and transparency to enable improved coordination and focus on national research priorities, aligning and leveraging donors for the greatest impact on improving current standards of care; improving survival rates and minimising adverse side effects of current treatments,” Dr Collins said.
The partnership between MGSM and ALCCRF will involve a series of interviews with Australian and international key opinion leaders in childhood cancer research and multiple stakeholders culminating in a national plan due to be completed early in 2014.
