Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute

22/04/2026

️🚴🏻‍♀️ Tour de Cure funding awarded

Congratulations to our researchers who were awarded funding from Tour de Cure to pursue innovative and impactful cancer research projects.

• Dr Bhupinder Pal, laboratory head, will investigate strategies to restore anti-tumour immune function and improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes.
• Dr Zhipeng Cao, postdoctoral researcher, will create a new type of cancer immunotherapy using a novel antibody previously developed by his team.
• Dr Rebekah Crake, postdoctoral researcher, will explore therapy combinations to improve treatment response in different types of cancer.

These grants were made possible by the 2025 VIC Discovery Tour, which raised over $580,000 thanks to the powerful commitment of generous supporters and donors.

Thank you, Tour de Cure Australia, for your commitment to our research and for supporting our team.

➡️ Read more: https://ow.ly/YruA50YKLTm

20/04/2026

We are incredibly excited to be a part of Pancare Foundation's Par 5 Women of Impact event.

Funds raised at this event support the Eliza Wilmot Scholarship, which is powering promising upper GI research at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute.

📆 Thursday 23rd April, 7:30am
📍Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney
🎟️ Limited tickets remaining. Find out more: https://ow.ly/T6HE50YMnS2

Why upper GI cancer research needs your support:

• Upper GI cancers account for nearly 1 in 5 cancer deaths in Australia
• 13,000+ Australians are diagnosed each year
• Average 5-year survival is just ~21.7%
•️ Diagnosis is increasingly affecting younger Australians

Secure your ticket today to take part in this important event and to make an impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families!

20/04/2026

Last week’s Student Morning Tea welcomed new faces, connected them with students further along their journey, and shared the tools and opportunities available to all students at ONJCRI.

We are proud to support the next generation of cancer researchers.

Learn more about studying with us: https://ow.ly/EEat50YMlZB

01/04/2026

We are thrilled to acknowledge our friends at KBT Community Theatre, who brought incredible performances to last week's Easter Family Night at Bunnings Warehouse Australia, Mill Park, and fundraised in support of cancer research at ONJCRI.

The performance also offered a preview of their upcoming production of Grease, the Musical.

📆 Date: May 14-16, 7pm
📍 Location Yan Yan Theatre, South Morang VIC 3752

🎟️ Tickets for the production are available via KBT Community Theatre’s website, with a portion of proceeds being donated to support our research: https://ow.ly/e08150YBzVR

We thank the KBT Community Theatre team for their generosity and commitment to making a difference through community-led fundraising!

31/03/2026

100 lab coats were hung outside Victoria’s Parliament House today. Half grey, half white.

Behind every grey coat is a project that could transform a life, but may never proceed without the right investment.

ONJCRI is proud to stand alongside our colleagues across Victoria’s medical research sector to call on the Victorian State Government to fund the full cost of research.

Among those advocating for improved funding for medical research today was Steve Hargreaves.

Steve was just 56 when he was diagnosed with cancer in his lung, liver and bowel. With limited treatment options, Steve joined a clinical trial led by ONJCRI clinician-scientist A/Prof Oliver Klein.

After two years on the trial, Steve is now cancer-free, back at work, and looking forward to celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife, Juli.

As Juli said in their speech today, “Breakthroughs are more than just science. They are a second chance at life.”

Stories like Steve’s are only possible because of research. But without sustainable funding, breakthroughs and clinical trials required to successfully treat patients cannot be achieved.

Together with Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) VIC, we are calling for a $95 million investment in independent medical research institutes in the 2026–27 State Budget.

Because without it, the gap between scientific discovery and patient care will only continue to grow.

Write to your local Member of Parliament and support the campaign: https://ow.ly/qqb950YB1S9

30/03/2026

We are thrilled to be partnering with Tour de Cure Australia for another epic VIC Discovery Tour, this time riding through beautiful Gippsland!

Funds raised by the VIC Discovery Tour 2026 will power our research into cancer therapies and diagnostics that are more effective, tolerable and accessible, making a true difference to patient outcomes.

Learn more about the adventure, or register as a rider or support crew.

Tour de Cure’s VIC Discovery Tour 2026 is now open for registration and donations! The 3-day ride takes place from 22 to 25 November 2026, riding from Traralgon to Melbourne, via the stunning landscapes of Gippsland and Victoria's breathtaking coastline.

Now in its sixth year, VIC Discovery Tour supports the work of the Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI), providing world-leading treatment and care complemented by wellness programs to support patients. Join us as we help make change the face of cancer and its cure, while enjoying some of Australia's most spectacular scenery.

To learn more or register, visit: https://vicdiscovery.tourdecure.com.au/

17/03/2026

Harmony Week at ONJCRI 🌏

Yesterday, we celebrated Harmony Week at ONJCRI in recognition of the diverse cultures and backgrounds represented at the institute.

The EDI Committee held a morning tea, inviting colleagues to bring a delicacy or treat from their culture.

• Pol Toffee (Sri Lanka 🇱🇰)
• Kue Dadar (Indonesia 🇮🇩)
• Gentse vlaai (Belgium 🇧🇪)
• Dulce de leche pancakes (Argentina 🇦🇷)
• Biko (Philippines 🇵🇭)
• Znood elsit (Lebanon 🇱🇧)
• Quiche (France 🇫🇷)
• Scones (UK 🇬🇧)
• Pikelets (Canada 🇨🇦)
• Lamingtons (Australia 🇦🇺)
• Pandan coconut bau (Malaysia 🇲🇾)
• Vetkoek (South Africa 🇿🇦)

EDI Committee Co-Chair, Dr Jessica Kvansakul, highlighted the importance of this annual celebration of cultural diversity:

“Celebrating Harmony Week helps us honour the many cultures that shape our community and recognise the unique contributions each person brings. It reminds us that our diversity strengthens our Institute and enriches the way we work, learn and connect.

“Sharing food and stories during Harmony Week highlights the joy of learning from one another and building a truly inclusive community.”

💛 Thank you to the staff and students who joined us and contributed to the spread. Creating a culture of diversity and inclusion is possible when we learn from each other.

11/03/2026

International Women’s Day at ONJCRI 🌏

Yesterday, we marked International Women’s Day with a fantastic talk by an inspiring woman.

Investigative journalist and Walkley-award-winning author Lucie Morris-Marr Investigates was thriving in her career when she was diagnosed with stage IV bowel cancer. She was only 44 years old.

“The statistics showed the chances of surviving beyond five years were around 10–14%”, she said.

After thousands of hours of chemotherapy, targeted radiation, four open surgeries, a temporary stoma bag, a liver transplant and keyhole surgery, she was recently declared cancer-free by her healthcare team.

Over the six-and-a-half-year treatment journey, Lucie made the most of the pockets of time when she was feeling well enough to focus on her writing.

She wrote her second non-fiction book (Processed: Allen & Unwin Books which investigates the link between processed meats and negative health impacts, including bowel cancer. She also freelanced for UK and Australian media outlets and mentored fellow cancer patients.

“Being able to keep my sense of identity and do the work I love really helped during this long fight.”

Lucie, who has been treated at Austin Health, where ONJCRI is located, shared her inspiring story with our staff and students, a powerful reminder that there is still research needed to develop more effective, tolerable and accessible treatments.

Patients are at the heart of every initiative we undertake, and we strive to create opportunities for people with lived experience and our researchers to connect.

Thank you to Lucie for sharing her powerful story of resilience 💛

04/03/2026

🎉 We are thrilled that nivolumab + ipilimumab combination treatment has been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the treatment of all immunosensitive advanced cancers.

Data from ONJCRI’s MoST-CIRCUIT trial, which evaluated the efficacy of this treatment combination in various rare cancers, contributed to the approval of this new treatment combination.

One of our valued past trial participants rejoices at this life-changing milestone.

Dairy worker Steve Hargreaves was just 56 years old when he received a shock diagnosis in 2022: he had cancer in his lung, liver and bowel.

Despite the sudden diagnosis, Steve retained a positive outlook and put his trust in the hands of the healthcare professionals treating him.

“I received chemo for five months, but the treatment started affecting my ears and hearing. So we stopped that.”

Because Steve’s cancer was rare and difficult to treat, his options were limited. But he was eligible for and invited to take part in the MoST-CIRCUIT trial, led by A/Prof Oliver Klein.

Steve was enrolled in the trial for two years and finished his treatment in August 2024. He returned to work full-time in May the following year.

“The liver and lungs all cleared up with all the treatment. Everything's clear, everything's gone, everything's good.”

After a challenging few years in and out of hospital, with the uncertainty of how his cancer would respond to this innovative treatment approach, Steve is delighted to be celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife Juli in June 2026.

We take this opportunity to thank all patients who take part in ONJCRI clinical trials. It is your involvement that creates these new and promising treatment avenues for others 💛

Thank you to Bristol Myers Squibb, Omico, La Trobe University and the Minderoo Foundation for making this clinical trial possible.

11/02/2026

🌏 International Day of Women and Girls in Science

February 11th marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This year, we shine the spotlight on one of our scientists who has been with ONJCRI for over a decade.

Dr Ingrid Burvenich is a Platform Lead and National Imaging Facility (NIF) Fellow at ONJCRI. She shares why she chose a career in cancer research:

“At the age of ten, I already had a love for numbers and could picture myself one day pursuing a career in science.

Around that same time, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. He lived for another four years, and because he lived next door to us, I witnessed his journey up close.

Those early experiences helped me see that science could be more than just numbers or experiments; it could also be about people, impact, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.”

Dr Burvenich’s advice to women and girls who are considering a career in science:

“Science needs you: your curiosity, your questions, and your unique way of thinking. What matters most is staying curious and choosing work that genuinely inspires you, because passion is what sustains you through the inevitable challenges.

Passion doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic; it can be a quiet, steady interest that keeps drawing you back. When you care deeply about what you do, work no longer feels like work. Follow what excites you, and let that passion guide your path.”

🔬 Dr Burvenich leads the Translational Precision Imaging Facility, which provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for advanced imaging of preclinical disease models, supported by specialised scientific expertise.

“Looking ahead to 2026, my goal is to engage more researchers in using the facility’s capabilities and to support them in advancing impactful medical research across diverse fields.”

➡️ Interested in a career at a leading cancer research institute? Explore our available positions: https://ow.ly/OuoF50Ybp5j

05/02/2026

🌏 World Cancer Day 2026

Last night, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) marked World Cancer Day with an educational and interactive event, co-hosted with the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS).

It was an opportunity for the public to step inside our research laboratories, discover cutting-edge science, and for our community and team to connect.

🔬 Demonstrations of AI-generated patient models, witnessing how cancer cells die, learning about nanotechnology to detect disease, and more.

🗣️ Our fantastic panel focused on bowel cancer and advancements in cancer diagnostics.

It told a bedside-to-bench-to-bedside story by providing patient, researcher and clinician perspectives in cancer research.

Thank you to our amazing panellists, Bowel Cancer Australia advocate Jemima, Austin Health clinician Dr Su Kah Goh, ONJCRI researcher Dr Gemma Trollope and LIMS Deputy Director, Distinguished Prof Brian Abbey.

And thank you to all who attended this fantastic event!

We were delighted to showcase the technologies and science that are bringing the cancer treatments of tomorrow to life.

La Trobe University, World Cancer Day

02/02/2026

🌈 ONJCRI is proud to have taken part in the 2026 Midsumma Festival Pride March!

Yesterday, ONJCRI joined thousands of people in St Kilda to celebrate diversity, visibility, and inclusion.

It was a joyful and significant day that marked our ongoing commitment to a workplace where everyone belongs.

Thank you to everyone who marched, supported, and helped make the day such a positive experience.

We are proud to stand with the LGBTQIA+ community, at Pride and every day.