Ballarat Cycle Classic 2021: Chance to tackle brain tumour research

Pivotal to launching the new program will be efforts made in Sunday's Ballarat Cycle Classic, which is the Institute's major annual fundraising drive.

FECRI honourary director George Kannourakis confirmed on the eve of the Classic, the Institute was expanding its specialised study in a bid for greater understanding on how the body's immune system could better tackle cancer.

Only one in five Australians who are diagnosed with brain cancer will survive beyond five years. This survival rate has not changed in more than 30 years.

Professor Kannourakis said brain cancer research typically focused on genetics, while FECRI plans to explore living cell components.

"We need to be learning more about the biology of these tumours and the role of immune cells," Professor Kannourakis said. "This is similar work we are doing with other types of tumours. We want to know if there are unique features about brain tumour cells.

"...We know immune cells go into the brain but chemotherapy and other treatments don't cross into the brain. That's really important to look at these differences.

"Fiona Elsey has a role to play in this important area. Events like this allow us a catalyst into more research."

This comes on the back of an ambitious $300,000 community effort last year, just before pandemic lockdowns, allowing FECRI to fully launch a new breast cancer research program.

Focusing on aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, the program led by decorated senior researcher Aparna Jayachandran has already achieved internationally-recognised results. In turn this program had become near-self-sustainable.

MORE CLASSIC INSPIRATION

FECRI's proposed brain tumour program will sort brain tumour cells from supporting cells, on which the cancer originates, and compare the proteins creating a fog to elude the body's immune cells. This can be done via FECRI's phaged library which, at the same time, can look for antibodies that match each protein.

City of Ballarat's new chief executive Evan King said this prospect added motivation to get moving on Sunday. Mr King, a keen cyclist, is set to take on the 100-kilometre Classic road ride.

"There's a group of us doing it together. This is a chance to be doing something you love and doing something to raise money at the same time," Mr King said. "You can see that direct correlation for each kilometre you ride or walk or run, and that's important."

Every cent from Classic registrations directly supports FECRI's research: ballaratcycleclassic.com.au.

EVENT STARTS:

All events, excepting the endurance runs start from the event precinct in Windmill Drive. Registrations remain open on Saturday at ballaratcycleclassic.com.au or in the event village on Sunday morning.

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