TRANSFORMING CLINICAL CARE: IMPACT OF LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION’S RESEARCH FUNDING INTO BLOOD CANCER
With
Bill Stavreski, Head of Research
Leukaemia Foundation, Australia
RESEARCH IMPACT
Filmed in Melbourne | May 2025
Released to coincide with World Blood Cancer Day 2025
The Leukaemia Foundation is committed to funding research innovations that drive advancements in new diagnostics, treatments and novel therapies, supporting the careers of promising scientists and clinicians and giving Australians access to global clinical trials.
The Leukaemia Foundation state there are over 120 different types of blood cancer and all of which the Foundation provides support to people.
Bill Stavreski is the Head of Research at the Leukaemia Foundation who talks about the research impact in recent years. The Foundation itself marks its 25th anniversary in 2025, having funded a wide range of health and medical research since 2000. With a focus on basic science, health services research, treatment, and care, the organisation has invested nearly $90 million (adjusted in current dollars terms) in approximately 370 research grants over the years.
The Foundation primarily relies on the generosity of public donations, with no government funding. This funding has led to significant advancements in clinical practice, including a groundbreaking diagnostic test now available across Australia, significantly easing the financial burden on patients.
One notable achievement includes the first successful growth of leukaemic cells in a dish, facilitating advancements in treatment testing. Additionally, the Foundation established a pioneering genomic screening program for patients with hard-to-treat blood cancers, significantly improving the chances of finding effective treatments.
Through this work, the Foundation underscores that research is centred on people, aiming to transform lives and support families affected by blood cancer.
Source: Adapted from the Leukaemia Foundation website and transcript
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Electrical stimulation on organic conductors
Professor Gordon Wallace AO is the Founder and Director of the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) at the University of Wollongong and Founding Director of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Materials Node. He was previously the Executive Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES).
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Role of metabolic dysfunction in advanced prostate cancer
Dr Gunter was drawn to the area of prostate cancer research and the intersection between chronic metabolic disorders and their emerging relationship to cancer. Her strengths include expertise in the metabolic syndrome, insulin signalling and metabolism, and she has a demonstrated record of successful and productive research projects in metabolic research where she now applies her efforts to understanding the role of metabolic dysfunction in advanced prostate cancer.
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Developing upper limb motor biomarkers of dementia
Kaylee is currently a research fellow with the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. She has recently submitted her PhD thesis, reporting the findings of her research on developing upper limb motor biomarkers of dementia. She has postgrad degrees in physiotherapy and experience working in the community and aged care across Tasmania for several years, where she worked with people with dementia.
