Thanks to a $5.5-million philanthropic donation by a Melbourne couple, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is now home to a hub for genetic testing for those with lymphoma, the most common form of blood cancer in Australia.

For many patients with lymphoma, the condition is curable. However, in decades past, some patients have been given an arduous series of treatments by doctors, until they found one that worked.

With the development of genomic testing, specialists have been able to discover exactly which genes have mutated in the cells of their patients, and develop "personalised medicine" specifically tailored for them.

For some, chemotherapy can be completely avoided. The testing will also lead to quicker diagnosis, and it is hoped eventually the development of better or new treatments.

"We realised looking back that we have been treating patients in the dark," said Professor Miles Prince, co-founder of the Snowdome Foundation, which led the fundraising for the new centre.

"Genomics will save people's lives, no question."

Professor Prince said in years past patients were sending their tests overseas - but the results were often of poor quality, while local researchers had to focus their limited testing on those who were at the end of their life or "clutching at straws".

Chris and Bruce Wilson are the big donors behind the centre, which is officially launched on Tuesday and will be named The Christine and Bruce Wilson Centre for Lymphoma Genomics.

Bruce sits on the board of plumbing and bathroom supply company Reece.

His wife Chris was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's follicular lymphoma 25 years ago when she was aged 44. She received numerous failed treatments before doctors found one that worked - a very taxing but ultimately successful chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

"It has been 20 years since I had that groundbreaking stem cell transplant," she said. "It was tough and at times during the high dose chemotherapy we wondered whether it was worth it," Chris said.

"Clearly it was. I never thought I would get to meet one grandchild, let alone spend quality time with nine of them."

Lymphomas are cancers that affect the lymphatic system, and over time can weaken the immune system's ability to fight infection.

Associate Professor David Westerman???, who is heading the centre, is confident advancements in genomics would eventually eliminate the need for chemotherapy in treating cancer.

"When we use chemotherapy it is often a fairly crude method to kill cancer and tumour cells. It is a bit like carpet bombing an area or a city," Professor Westerman said.

"When you are using a targeted therapy it is much more sophisticated. It's like cutting off supply lines."

Professor Westerman said there was no other lab in Australia performing the same standard of genomic lymphoma tests - while overseas testing may cost up to $5000.

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the University of Melbourne are also committing resources for the centre, but the Snowdome Foundation is still seeking donations to reach its $10 million goal.

Donations can be made at snowdome.org.au/donate.