Two Ballarat success stories – the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute and Lake Imaging – have joined forces to further research in to cancer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two organisations have entered in to a three-year partnership with Lake Imaging providing $10,000 a year sponsorship to FECRI.
FECRI director Professor George Kannourakis said the partnership would help progress research in to ovarian cancer, leukemia, immunology and histiocytosis research and open up new opportunities for medical imaging and image transfer.
“One of the major interests we have with Lake Imaging is not only are they a local group who started in Ballarat and expanded, but we have also been in a similar mode starting in Ballarat and expanding to collaborate with national and international groups,” he said.
“One of the interesting things is Lake Imaging pioneered a system of getting images to doctors and clients, high power, high intensity images to doctors to be able to read radiology in real time and on the spot … the technology they use for imaging transfer is useful in the research area so we will be looking at how we can do the same with our high power digital image microscopy we want to send overseas and to collaborators.”
Nine years ago, Lake Imaging established the first PET scanner in regional Victoria, which oncologist Professor Kannourakis uses in research and treatment for his cancer patients. Lake Imaging has also been part of FECRI’s clinical trials.
“It takes a lot of radiologist time to actually read the images in all these trials, and we are very grateful for their involvement in clinical trials,” Prof Kannourakis said.
Lake Imaging general manager Dan Hilbert said he was excited to work in partnership with FECRI, having informally supported the institute through research pathways for some time.
“Our two organisations are linked by a strong Ballarat heritage. It’s exciting when two organisations from Ballarat can come together to take our place alongside the world elite healthcare providers and research institutes,” he said.
Lake Imaging’s Dr Stefan Khosh has been involved in reading images for FECRI clinical trials.
“We help and we are also learning which keeps us at the cutting edge and allows us to keep with the latest research,” Dr Khosh said.
The annual Ballarat Cycle Classic will take place on Sunday 17th February at Lake Wendouree to raise funds for FECRI. Riding events include the Protect 100km, 50km, 60km and 85km Cycle Classic road ride, the 30km and 50km BJT Legal Fat Tyre Mountain Bike Challenge, the Eclipse Ford 6km and 28km family rides.
There’s also a PETstock Family Lake Walk and Run for non-cyclists and pets.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
