What we do – supporting the Alfred

The Mt Aspiring Challenge raises money through fundraising activities for research into Leukemia and Lymphoma cancers, with 100% of profits donated to the Alfred Bone Marrow Transplant and Immunotherapy Research Group.

By supporting the Mt Aspiring Challenge you are directly assisting the Alfred Bone Marrow Transplant and Immunotherapy Research Group in their research into treatments and new methods of treatments for leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma cancers.

THE FAST FACTS - Blood and Bone Marrow Cancers

· Each year, approximately 7,300 Australians are diagnosed with leukaemias, lymphomas or myeloma; the equivalent of 20 people per day.

· The most common blood and bone marrow cancer is lymphoma. Every year in Australia approximately 3,878 (53%) persons are diagnosed with lymphomas, that’s a staggering 11 people every day, 2,370 (33%) with leukaemias and another 1,049 (14%) with myeloma.

· Blood and bone marrow cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are haematological malignancies.  Myelodysplasia and aplastic anaemia are related disorders.

· Lymphomas are the sixth most commonly occurring cancer in Australia. Leukaemia is the number one childhood cancer in Australia.

· Typically more Australian males are diagnosed with and die from leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma than females. This is also found with cancer in general.

· The incidence of leukaemias in males and females has decreased between 1990 and 2000 by an average per year of 0.7% for males and 0.3% for females. In contrast B-cell and T-cell lymphoma (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or NHL) has increased by an average of 0.8% per year in males and 1.7% per year in females during the same period. The incidence of myeloma remains stable.

· The Federal Government has listed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as one of the eight ‘priority’ cancers listed under this National Health Priority Area.

· Lymphomas are the number one form of haematological cancer.

· Lymphomas are the fifth most common form of cancer in Australian women and the sixth most common in Australian men.
 

The Alfred Bone Marrow Transplant and Immunotherapy Research Group

The members of the Alfred Bone Marrow Transplant and Immunotherapy Research Group include clinicians (medical doctors), research scientists, PhD students, science students and data managers who undertake clinical and laboratory research.

The research group’s main clinical focus is developing new treatments for leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma using haematopoietic stem cell transplantation through new drugs or new methods of treatment.

Sometimes their research is part of an international study involving many centres from different countries, or alternatively it is part of a national or locally driven study which involves only one or a few centres.

The research group’s main laboratory focus is cellular immunotherapy which looks at methods and techniques that can boost the immune system of cancer patients to improve the chance that the cancer is cured and to decrease the risk of the various infections that cancer patients are susceptible to.

All the scientists, students and data managers involved in the research group are employed using research funding which is the single largest expense involved. Other expenses include consumables such as a variety of chemicals and reagents, antibodies, tubes and specialty kits. Intermittently, the research group also requires equipment – such items are usually quite expensive. At regular intervals, once or twice per year, the scientists and students will attend a research meeting, usually in Australia but occasionally overseas, to present and discuss their work with other researchers.

All research funding obtained from grants or donations goes only towards the support of the research group as outlined above. None goes towards administration.

Your support will assist in this vital research.

Copyright © 2006 Mt Aspiring Challenge (The Alfred Foundation)
Last modified: 11/15/06