In 1990 when vivacious, teenager Fiona Elsey was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma (a form of bone cancer in adolescents) and given about a 10% chance to beat it, she travelled to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital to receive treatment, under the care of oncologist Professor George Kannourakis.
Over time, Fiona became fascinated by the cancer research being conducted at the LARCH (Leukaemia Auxiliary Royal Children’s Hospital) cancer research unit by Professor Kannourakis and before long planted the seed of an idea for him to consider, “why wasn't there a cancer research laboratory in her home town Ballarat?”
Just sixteen months on, Fiona lost her fight for life. However, Professor Kannourakis, Fiona’s mother Gail Elsey, and family and friends embraced Fiona’s idea, sharing it with Ballarat’s wider community who wanted to see Fiona’s dream become a reality.
In 1996, the fundraising group, CICA (Cancer in Children and Adults) was formed and took up Fiona’s cause. Supported by a generous Ballarat and wider community, the group raised initial funds to support the development of the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Laboratory. At that same time, an opportunity arose for Professor Kannourakis to continue his clinical practice in Ballarat and in February 1998, with the support of the University of Ballarat and St John of God Hospital Ballarat, Fiona’s dream was realised.
The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Laboratory was officially opened, by the then Health Minister, Hon Robert Knowles.
Many people who have been touched by cancer and general supporters have, through donations, supported Fiona’s inspirational dream. Over the years, Fiona’s laboratory has been developed to include the Bruce Stafford Laboratory, Ainsley Dansick Laboratory, the Jack and Millie Borbidge Laboratory and the Robert Clemence Laboratory and more recently the Tom and Betty Smith Laboratory.
In 2005 a Board of management was established to oversee the future development of the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Laboratory. The Board undertook a building development phase which saw Fiona’s laboratory incorporated into a larger facility. That facility is today called the Ballarat Cancer Research Centre (BCRC).
The redevelopment included a new state-of-the-art laboratory, new staff office space, and a new fit out to existing laboratories, all generously sponsored by local builders H. Troon and JG King. Going forward, Fiona’s laboratory will remain the main laboratory in the Centre.
St John of God Hospital Ballarat has continued its generous support of the BCRC by providing extra space within the hospital’s ‘Old Boiler’ house for the Centre’s redevelopment.
BCRC is now an Affiliate Institute of the University of Ballarat. This affiliation allows for major collaborative relationships and teaching facilitations at the Centre.
BCRC was also officially dedicated by Professor Peter Doherty (AC Laureate for Medicine) in 2007.
Within the new Centre, is the Bruce Stafford Cancer Research Laboratory. Bruce, a well known identity throughout regional Victoria, and patient of Professor Kannourakis, was diagnosed with cancer twice in his lifetime. First, he survived Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but lost his fight to beat Mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) in 2006. Bruce’s laboratory was officially dedicated by Professor Jan-Inge Henter (President of the International Histiocyte Society & Professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm). A three-year world-first trial into individualising chemotherapy treatments for lung cancer patients is currently underway in this laboratory.
Breaking new ground in cancer research, the world-first trial is focusing on lung cancer and Mesothelioma. The trial aims to gain a better understanding of how unique combinations of drugs may achieve better outcomes than the current standardised approach to treating cancer patients where a ‘one size fits all’ may not be the best option for each cancer patient and their unique disease.
In 2009 the Millie and Graeme Troon Auditorium was officially dedicated by Professor Richard Boyd, Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories Director and member of BCRC’s Scientific Advisory Committee. This brand new facility provides a state of the art area within the centre for seminars, training, entertaining donors and board meetings, and also houses the Development and Communication office.
The Centre has benefited from a number of generous bequests, major private donations, associations and fundraising events, that have enabled the employment of a team of dedicated scientists, the purchase of significant equipment to enhance the Centres' research capacity, the funding of a Development Team.
The Centre has also received substantial funding from the Percy Baxter Charitable Trust and Slater & Gordon Lawyers, to enable it to undertake the world-first trial into induvidualising chemotherapy treatments and maintain world-class cancer research standards.
Today, Ballarat has a well resourced cancer research facility well poised to undertake internationally competitive cancer research. The Centre, located in the heart of regional Victoria is a vital contributor to the global search to unlock more of the riddles of cancer.
Ballarat Cancer Research Centre is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 12 March 2004, is an income tax exempt health promotion charity, and endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient.
AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN DANIEL K. LUDWIG ESTABLISHED THE LUDWIG INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH IN 1971 FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONDUCTING INCISIVE LONG-RANGE RESEARCH PROGRAMMES DIRECTED TO THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF ERADICATING CANCER. TODAY THERE ARE TEN LUDWIG RESEARCH BRANCHES IN ENGLAND, BELGIUM, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL AND THE USA.
“The rare vision and ability needed in the battle against cancer are not limited by frontiers, and the scientists who possess these gifts must be sought wherever they are to be found. Nor does cancer reveal itself in the same guise in every nation, but strikes different populations in different forms. I am persuaded that eventual mastery of cancer will come only from intense and unremitting scientific exploration (research) over many decades…” Ludwig 1974.
