Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation

20/12/2025

Finding a ‘peek behind the curtain’ for CAR T-cell therapies may be the answer to new ways of treating solid cancer tumours.

CAR T-cell therapy has been a game-changer in treating blood cancers. Patient immune cells are modified to recognise cancer cells and attack them. Unfortunately, it has not been as successful in treating solid tumours. One potential reason is that not enough of the immune cells travel to the tumour to be effective. There is currently no method for locating and tracking these cells in real-time, making it hard to understand why CAR T-cell therapy is largely ineffective at treating solid tumours.

With the support of a Peter Mac Foundation Grant, Dr Rebecca Abbott is exploring if a molecule called a ‘tracer’ can be used to watch CAR T-cell therapy in action. This could potentially be a powerful tool in providing insights on why CAR T-cell therapy often doesn’t work in solid tumours, and how we can design CAR T-cells which are more effective.

Dr Abbott’s research can help to change the course for CAR T-cell therapy and expand treatment options across more cancer types. Thank you for supporting groundbreaking research that helps people with all cancers.

19/12/2025

Warragul was buzzing with energy on Sunday as the Western Oval came alive for the 10th Annual Hallora Marathon Festival. From the epic 42km and 24km runs from Hallora to Warragul, to the 16km, 8km, 5km, and the adorable Kids Dash across the oval – every stride told a story of determination and community spirit.

✨ Together, Hallora Marathon raised an incredible $35,700 for cancer research at Peter Mac.

A huge thank you to event organisers, Laura and Daniel Pratt, all 800 runners, the 50 volunteers, and spectators who made this day memorable despite the squally winds and rain, in support of life-saving cancer research. 💜

18/12/2025

We are excited to announce our new national partnership with Oolio Giving, bringing life saving cancer research a little closer with every coffee, meal or drink.

Through Oolio's donation technology available on payment terminals, venues across Australia can now invite customers to round up or donate at checkout, with 100 percent of funds supporting The Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

A small act at your local café or restaurant can help drive big impact for people facing cancer.

Want to get your favourite local cafe or restaurant involved? Learn more here https://www.oolio.com/solutions/payments/oolio-giving

15/12/2025

Together, with our Parkville Local Health Service Network, we extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to all those impacted by the devastating attack in Bondi last night.

Everyone has a right to feel safe and welcome in our community regardless of their religion, background, identity or beliefs. To our Jewish community, we are here for you. Everyone is always welcome here.

Events like this can be deeply distressing. If you, or someone you care about, needs support, confidential help is available.

Beyond Blue -1300 224 636
beyondblue.org.au
13YARN - 13 92 76
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800
For children and young people aged 5 to 25
Open Arms - 1800 011 046
For current and former ADF members and their families
If you are in immediate danger, please contact 000.

11/12/2025

Thank you to the Laanecoorie Gold Bash, who once again struck gold for cancer research!

The annual Laanecoorie Gold Bash event brings together over 600 gold enthusiasts from across Victoria to enjoy prospecting, information sessions, market stalls, food and entertainment.

At this year’s event, the Gold Bash celebrated its highest-ever fundraising result of $60,703. This brings their overall fundraising contribution to Peter Mac’s cancer research to an incredible $347,307.

This is an amazing effort from the committee, volunteers, sponsors and participants, who have held this fundraising event 15 times now. Thank you to Laanecoorie Gold Bash and Bendigo Prospecting Club Group for their enduring support for life-changing cancer breakthroughs.

08/12/2025

Decades of research mean that testicular cancer is survivable – but the toll can last for years. One research is working to change that.

Associate Professor Ben Tran is one of Australia’s leading testicular cancer researchers. His work focuses on improving treatments for testicular cancer – not just for the body, but the mind also.

“Testicular cancer tends to affect young men, just as they’re stepping into the prime of their lives – starting careers, families, and shaping their futures. It’s devastating,” – A/Prof Ben Tran

A/Prof Tran is leading several innovative studies. He’s aiming to:

✓ detect cancer earlier,

✓ safely spare some patients from invasive treatments, and

✓ ultimately give patients better quality of life after treatment.

Without vital funding for cancer research, essential projects like A/Prof Tran’s could be set aside, or abandoned altogether, delaying much-needed new treatment options.

This Christmas, your support can help fund the next breakthrough – and the brilliant minds behind it.

Read more: foundation.petermac.org/aprofbentran

Testicular cancer disproportionately affects young men. It often strikes in the teens, twenties and thirties, just as they are beginning their adult lives and building their futures.

04/12/2025

Meet Dr Julia Lai-Kwon, one of our inspiring 2025 Discovery Partner Fellows.

Dr Lai-Kwon, a medical oncologist at Peter Mac, is focusing on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and how we can best integrate them into routine care. Through her work, she wants to ensure that the patients’ voices are at the heart of care.

At Peter Mac, Dr Lai-Kwon draws on expertise from across the precinct, from biostatisticians to digital health specialists to turn her research into real impact.

Thank you to our amazing group of supporters who choose to give a monthly gift to Peter Mac through our Discovery Partner Program.

You can support life-changing research like Dr Lai-Kwon’s by becoming a Discovery Partner today via this link: https://foundation.petermac.org/ways-to-donate/make-a-monthly-gift

02/12/2025

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation Christmas tree is now on display at Parkville!

Each year, our Christmas Appeal gives our wonderful supporters the opportunity to send in holiday wishes to the patients at Peter Mac. Handwritten on cardboard baubles, these lovely messages are placed on the Christmas tree in the main foyer for all to read.

Alongside well wishes, supporters will often share their cancer story and express gratitude for the exceptional care they received at Peter Mac. These are a touching reminder to our doctors, nurses, researchers and staff of the difference they make for so many people affected by cancer.

A sincere thank you to everyone who generously sends in their holiday wishes. Your words go a long way in spreading festive cheer and gratitude at Peter Mac during this special time of year.

28/11/2025

Congratulations to all the talented Peter Mac researchers who have been celebrated for their outstanding work. Thank you to all Peter Mac supporters, whose generosity helps our hardworking scientists make lifesaving cancer research discoveries.

We’re proud to share that Peter Mac researchers have once again been celebrated for their global impact and leadership in cancer research.

Seven of our experts have been named on the 2024 Highly Cited Researchers List by Clarivate — an accolade reserved for researchers whose work is shaping their fields worldwide.

Congratulations to Professors Sherene Loi, Michael Hofman, Darcy Phil, Paul Beavis, John Seymour, Andrew Wei, and Shahneen Sandhu on this outstanding achievement.

In addition, The Australian’s 2026 Research magazine has recognised five Peter Mac researchers as Australia’s best in their respective fields: Professors Sherene Loi, Michael Hofman, Professor Monica Slavin, Dr Dale Garsed, and Dr Attila Horvath.

These honours reflect the depth of talent across Peter Mac and the extraordinary impact our researchers have on improving outcomes for people with cancer.

Congratulations to all who were recognised — and to the teams who support and collaborate with them every day.

Read more: https://www.petermac.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/details/peter-mac-researchers-recognised-for-their-global-influence

27/11/2025

Melanoma is a serious and potentially fatal cancer. The number of melanoma cases is rising in Australia, especially among younger adults. Despite advances in therapy, 50% of patients eventually relapse or progress to metastatic disease. The reasons for this are unfortunately still not fully understood.

Dr Fayrouz Hammal was recently awarded a Peter Mac Foundation Grant to research why melanoma returns and progresses. With the support of this grant, she will use advanced sequencing technologies to explore an overlooked part of our DNA previously called ‘junk DNA’. These may hold the key to understanding why some melanomas resist treatment or evolve into more aggressive forms.

By improving our knowledge of what drives melanoma, Dr Hammal’s work has the potential to break new ground for melanoma treatment and care. The findings will help clinicians to identify at-risk patients earlier, improve treatment plans, and may even lead to new therapies that bring hope to patients and families facing advanced melanoma.

Thank you for allowing Peter Mac researchers like Dr Hammal to make discoveries that improve and save the lives of people affected by cancer.

25/11/2025

Lung cancer is currently the fifth most diagnosed cancer – and the most common cause of cancer death – in Australia.

For Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we are pleased to highlight the efforts of Peter Mac researchers Professor Steven Stacker, Dr Aadya Nagpal and Dr Rae Farnsworth in pursuing new pathways for treating this devastating disease.

Prof Stacker, Dr Nagpal and Dr Farnsworth are hard at work using innovative techniques to better understand how tumour cells can enable both primary and secondary lung cancer. Their key projects explore:

🔬 How cancer cells evolve to resist chemotherapy

🔬 How tumours that start in other parts of the body spread to the lungs

Having already made important breakthroughs, our researchers are now poised to make discoveries that can transform the future of lung cancer treatment. Their work has the potential to improve outcomes and save the lives of the many people diagnosed with cancer.

Read more about this incredible research here: https://foundation.petermac.org/about-us/news/details/unlocking-powerful-new-insights-in-lung-cancer

18/11/2025

It started with a knock to the stomach. It ended with a diagnosis Charles never saw coming.

At 20, Charles was a strong and ambitious athlete, with his sights set on becoming a footy star in Melbourne.

But during a game he took a light knock to the tummy, the kind he’d brushed off countless times before.

This time, however, something was very wrong. He doubled over in agony.

In the emergency room, doctors ran test after test until the diagnosis came: testicular cancer. And it was aggressive.

“It was a very traumatic experience… You go from being young, fit and healthy… to losing your strength, your sense of self and even your self-confidence,” Charles says.

Over the coming months, Charles’s strength was tested – nothing was easy. He lost his hair, became gaunt, and was unrecognisable to himself.

Cue Peter Mac’s Associate Professor Ben Tran – an oncologist and expert in testicular cancer. He set up Charles with the best treatment available.

‘It’s because of cancer research, and because of people who cared enough to support it, that I’m still alive’, says Charles.

This Christmas, make cancer just a footnote in someone’s life, rather than a defining chapter.

Read more: foundation.petermac.org/charles