Contents Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre CEO’s report 5 1.5 Tumour Angiogenesis program 58 3.2.2 Centre for Cancer Imaging 110 St Andrews Place East Melbourne Victoria 3002 Director’s report 7 1.6 Cancer Therapeutics program 62 3.2.3 Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials 111 Clinical research overview 11 1.6.1 Gene Regulation laboratory 64 Locked Bag 1 A’Beckett Street 3.2.4 Clinical Trials Unit 112 Victoria Australia 8006 About research at Peter Mac 12 1.6.2 Melanoma Research laboratory 65 3.2.5 Clinical Psychology 113 Telephone (03) 9656 1238 Cancer research at a glance 14 1.6.3 Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapeutics laboratory 66 3.2.6 Familial Cancer Care 114 Facsimile (03) 9656 1411 Metrics 15 1.6.4 Translational Research 3.2.7 Infectious Diseases 115 www.petermac.org/Research Research / Cancer Matrix 16 Laboratory 67 3.2.8 kConFab Follow-Up Project 116 For additional copies of this publication Interdisciplinary Matrix 18 1.6.5 Pfizer/Peter Mac Cancer Genomics 3.2.9 Molecular Pathology laboratory 117 or to provide feedback please contact: Recent research highlights with program 68 Peter Mac Communications and Brand impact on cancer care 19 1.6.6 CCV Venture Grant Initiative 69 3.2.10 Nursing and Supportive Care 118 via [email protected] 1.6.7 CRC for Cancer Therapeutics 3.2.11 Nutrition 119 1 Laboratory Research 20 Front cover: Dr Mark Shackleton, Translational Research laboratory 70 3.2.12 onTrac@Peter Mac 120 Pfizer Australia Research Fellow, 1.1 Cancer Immunology program 24 Head, Melanoma Research laboratory 3.2.13 Pain and Palliative Care 121 1.1.1 Cancer Cell Death laboratory 26 2 Clinical and Translational and medical oncologist, Melanoma Service. Research 72 3.2.14 Pharmacy 122 Below left: Dr Jamie Lopez, 1.1.2 Cellular Immunity laboratory 27 Cancer Medicine 76 3.2.15 Physical Sciences 123 Cancer Immunology program. 1.1.3 Immune Signalling laboratory 28 Below right: Dr Claire Milton, Cancer Surgery 78 3.2.16 Radiation Therapy 124 1.1.4 Immunotherapy laboratory 29 Cancer Cell Biology program. Radiation Oncology and Cancer 3.2.17 Social Work 125 1.1.5 Haematology Immunology Imaging 80 Translational Research laboratory 30 2.1 Medical Oncology and Early Phase 4 Education and Learning 130 1.2 Cancer Genomics program 32 Clinical Trials 82 4.1 Cancer Research Education 1.2.1 Cancer Genetics and 2.2 Breast Service 83 program 133 Genomics laboratory 34 2.3 Gastrointestinal Service 84 4.1.1 Seminar programs 133 1.2.2 Sarcoma Genomics and Genetics laboratory 35 2.4 Gynae-oncology Service 85 4.1.2 Student Training Program 136 1.2.3 Surgical Oncology laboratory 36 2.5 Haematology Service 86 4.1.3 Peter Mac Research Postgraduate Student Society 139 1.2.4 VBCRC Cancer Genetics 2.6 Head and Neck Service 87 4.1.4 Research Awards 140 laboratory 37 2.7 Lung Service 88 4.1.5 Peter Mac Postdoctoral program 142 1.2.5 kConFab 38 2.8 Melanoma and Skin Service 89 4.1.6 Community and School 1.3 Growth Control and 2.9 Paediatrics and Late Effects Service 90 Differentiation program 40 Outreach Activities 143 2.10 Sarcoma Service 91 1.3.1 Growth Control laboratory 42 4.2 Clinical Research Education and 2.11 Uro-oncology Service 92 Training Programs 144 1.3.2 Molecular Oncology laboratory 43 1.3.3 Protein Chemistry laboratory 44 3 Enabling Technologies and 5 Leadership and Governance 146 1.4 Cancer Cell Biology program 46 Interdisciplinary Research 5.1 Research leadership 149 Platforms 96 1.4.1 Cell Cycle and Cancer Genetics 5.2 Cancer Research management 151 laboratory 48 3.1 Enabling Technology Platforms 97 5.3 Governance 152 1.4.2 Cell Cycle Development 3.1.1 Functional Genomics facility 99 5.4 Ethical Conduct of Research 154 laboratory 49 3.1.2 Molecular Genomics facility 100 5.5 Commercialisation 157 1.4.3 Cell Growth and Proliferation 3.1.3 Bioinformatics facility 101 laboratory 50 3.1.4 Flow Cytometry facility 102 1.4.4 Differentiation and Transcription 6 Publications 158 laboratory 51 3.1.5 Microscopy facility 103 1.4.5 Epithelial Stem Cell Biology 3.1.6 Media and Laboratory Services laboratory 52 facility 104 1.4.6 Metastasis Research laboratory 53 3.1.7 Tissue Bank facility 105 1.4.7 Molecular Radiation Biology 3.2 Interdisciplinary Research laboratory 54 Platforms 107 1.4.8 Tumour Suppression laboratory 55 3.2.1 Centre for Blood Cell Therapies 109 As the largest cancer research site in Australia, CEO’s report Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a major contributor to advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment. 2010 was a busy and challenging The co-location of a sophisticated research year for research at Peter Mac. facility and a world-class cancer hospital We continued to win competitive creates a highly synergistic combination. grants; our staff distinguished With researchers and clinicians working themselves in many ways; side-by-side, Peter Mac has made significant we streamlined our research contributions to basic research, translational governance framework and we research and clinical trials. worked hard to strengthen our partnerships with other research organisations and to reach out to the community. In addition, a lot of passion, energy Our research staff also contributed Highlights during the year included and time were devoted to articulating a strongly to the strategic discussions the opening of the Victorian Centre vision for the research facilities to be sponsored by the Victorian CCC Joint for Functional Genomics in Cancer incorporated into the Comprehensive Venture; a group comprising the four (supported by a $2.5m grant from the Cancer Centre to be built in Parkville. Parkville building partners (as above), Australian Cancer Research Foundation) plus the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the establishment of both the As a major focus in 2010, our research of Medical Research, The Royal Women’s Melanoma Research laboratory, as part staff continued collaborating with Hospital and The Royal Children’s of the Cancer Therapeutics program, colleagues from Melbourne Health, Hospital. This group is charged with and the Tumour Angiogenesis program. the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research enhancing collaboration amongst the Considerable energy was also devoted (Parkville Branch) and The University seven independent members to produce to further strengthening our focus of Melbourne in advising on the research better outcomes for cancer patients on translational research. facilities that will form part of the Victorian treated at the new facility ... and beyond. Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC). A number of Peter Mac researchers We finished the year with the three Professor Joe Trapani took up his and clinician-researchers were bidding consortia having submitted their appointment as Executive Director honoured, or published significant formal responses to the Request for Cancer Research at the beginning of articles, in 2010 — in particular, Tender that had been issued mid-year. January 2010, succeeding Professor Professors Mark Smyth, Joe Sambrook Our research staff worked closely with David Bowtell, who returned to full-time and Joe Trapani; Associate Professors the Department of Health’s Project Team research having completed his second Grant McArthur, Danny Rischin and and with the three consortia in working five year term in December 2009. Scott Williams and Dr Mark Shackleton, through many and varied design options. Professor Trapani was well supported amongst others. Dr Hollie Pegram Whilst very time consuming, this was during a year of strategic, funding, was awarded the 2010 Peter Mac also a very stimulating and rewarding space and other operational challenges Postgraduate Research Medal. process — in which our research staff by Assistant Directors: Associate have a clear interest. Professors Ricky Johnstone and Grant McArthur; Chief Operating Officer: Mary At the time of writing, we await a Harney and the Group Leaders. I am decision on the procurement method. very grateful for all their support, advice Craig Bennett Building work is due to be completed and guidance. Chief Executive Officer in late 2015. CEO’s report 5 Introducing our new Director Director’s report ‘The next decade holds the promise of many more targeted therapies and the hope that ultimately, cancer therapy will be individualised according to the molecular profile of that patient’s own disease. This will mean people living longer and fuller lives with cancer, a greater hope of total cure and an overall reduction in the impact of many cancers on patients and their carers.’ Professor Joseph A. Trapani MBBS, FRACP, FFSc(RCPA), PhD Professor Joseph A. Trapani Executive Director, Cancer Research New Director, new directions Among Joe’s research interests are Joe has received many personal In January 2010, I was greatly Immunology and the founding of A recurrent theme in this report is Following an extensive international the cellular and molecular biology awards and prizes including the 2008 honoured to commence a five year Platform Technologies to rival the that the recent massive technological search, Professor Joe Trapani was of cancer cell death induced by the National Health and Medical Research term as the third Executive Director best in the country. Remarkably, an achievements in molecular medicine appointed the Executive Director Cancer immune system, the immunopathology Council Award for Research Excellence of Research at Peter Mac. independent assessment of the impact and genomics find us at the dawn of viral and auto-immune diseases and the 2009 GSK Research Excellence of cancer research publications between of personalised diagnosis and Research at Peter Mac in January 2010, When offered the appointment, and adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. Award, which he shared with long-term 1981 and 2006 (ISI) saw Peter Mac treatment for many cancers.