$65 million
invested into world-class research by WA donors since 1963
Cancer Council WA are the largest charitable funder of cancer research in Western Australia — over 90% of the research we fund is directly supported by the West Australian community. It is critical that we use donations, from people like you, in the most effective and efficient way possible.
92
researchers supported last year
1307
WA-based research projects funded since 1963
Our competitive research program aims to retain world-class researchers here in WA, by supporting them at every step of their career. Not only are these researchers vital to our fight against cancer, they inspire future generations to take up careers in cancer research, safeguarding our local research sector.
Thanks to the generosity of West Australians, our competitive research funding program stands out. Our funding is highly sought after, offering a range of opportunities to students, early-career, mid-career, and senior researchers, enabling us to fund world-class research that reduces the incidence and impact of cancer right here in WA.
Research awards 2023
What is our research strategy?
In 1963, we contributed $3,500 to the Scientific and Advisory Committee for small research projects and the first Vacation Scholarships for tertiary students — these scholarships are still awarded today. Since then, our research funding program has expanded to support seven grant schemes. We support a wide range of research activities into cancer causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care. We ensure we have an open and competitive process to fund the best cancer researchers in WA, and we build collaborative co-funding partnerships to maximise our research spend so we can work together to build cancer research capacity in Western Australia.
Our collaborative partners include: Future Health Research & Innovation Fund, Cancer Research Trust, Lions Cancer Institute, Abbie Basson Sarcoma Foundation, and James Croft Hope Foundation.
Our strategy is guided by the WA Health and Medical Research Strategy 2023-2033, the WA Cancer Plan 2020-2025, and the Australian Cancer Plan.
Access the Future Health Research & Innovation Fund media statement
How does our funding program work?
The process below ensures we fund the best research using the best methods, to make the most of the vital funding we have.
Step 1:
- Cancer Council WA invites researchers to submit their application.
Step 2:
- We send the application to an external committee for independent assessment against the set criteria. They provide a score for each application. The committees consist of internationally and nationally recognised WA cancer researchers alongside community representatives (not Cancer Council WA staff).
Step 3:
- The scores of individual committee members are combined to give an ‘average’ of the scores. The average scores are then ranked from highest score to lowest.
- Committee members are excluded from scoring and decision making for proposals where they may have a current or past connection, through work or personally, with the grant applicants in the past (as this could be a conflict of interest).
Step 4:
- In most cases, committee members meet to discuss the individual scores they gave to the applications and agree on the final ranking.
- Shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview for some grants.
Step 5:
- The external committee submit their recommendations to our CEO.
- Once approved by our CEO, funding is offered to the researcher.
How do we fund the highest quality research?
- We only accept submissions from recognised universities or research institutes in Western Australia.
- Applications are required to be submitted by a specified date.
- All applicants are assessed through a peer-reviewed process, where experts assess applicants on specified criteria that ensure the science is excellent, and the research is current, competitive and achievable.
- We have community representatives to assess specific community criteria to help ensure the research we fund is relevant to the WA community, ensure accountability to our donors and improve how research outcomes are communicated to the wider community.
- We have a monitoring and evaluation framework in place to better inform our strategic decisions.
Thanks to our WA researchers, their research and people like you, our understanding of cancer has significantly increased. Together, we have been able to achieve impressive technological advances, which has created exciting opportunities to develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
Our Research Grants Advisory Committee and its Subcommittees
Our Research Grants Advisory Committee and its subcommittees’ role is to assess and award funds on the basis of scientific quality and responses to carefully developed and specific community criteria. This ensures we are investing in the highest quality cancer research in WA.
The committee members generously volunteer their time, knowledge and expertise.
For information on how to express your interest in becoming a research committee, subcommittee or community member, please use the link below that is relevant to you.
Structure
The Research Grants Advisory Committee is a committee of Cancer Council WA, and oversees three subcommittees, the Postdoctoral Research Grants Advisory Subcommittee, the Pre-doctoral Research Grants Advisory Subcommittee and the Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme Advisory Subcommittee.
The roles of our committee and subcommittees
The roles of our committee and subcommittees
The Research Committee review the Research Fellowship and Project Grant applications. The assessment periods for the Project Grants are July/August and October/November and will include at most two meetings. The assessment period for the Fellowship is June/July, and will include at most two meetings, one of which will be for interviews. The Research Committee also meet at most twice a year to discuss items relevant to guidance on the direction of the Research Funding Program. The membership term for this committee is two three year terms.
The Postdoctoral Subcommittee review the Postdoctoral Fellowship and Early Career Investigator Grants. The assessment period for the Postdoctoral Fellowship is May/June and will include at most two meetings, one of which will be for interview. The assessment period for the Early Career Investigator Grants is August/September and may include at most one meeting.
The Pre-doctoral Subcommittee review the PhD Top Up and Vacation Scholarship applications. The assessment period for the Vacation Scholarships is August/September and may include at most one meeting. The assessment period for the PhD Top Up Scholarships is November and will include at most one meeting.
The Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme Subcommittee review the Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme Applications. This funding opportunity is run every 2-3 years for which the assessment period is confirmed prior to the grants being open for applications and will include at most three meetings, one of which will be for one day of interviews.
Research Grants Advisory Committee membership
Prof David Preen (Chair)
| A/Prof Georgia Halkett | A/Prof Juliana Hamzah | A/Prof Peter Franklin | Prof Elin Gray | Dr Ninh Ha |
| Prof Delia Nelson | A/Prof Fiona Pixley | Dr Andy Redfern | Prof Rob Newton | Dr Sebastien Malinge |
| Dr Connie Jackaman |
This committee also assess the Research Fellowship and Project Grant applications.
Postdoctoral Grants Advisory Subcommittee
Dr Connie Jackaman (Chair)
| Prof Fraser Brims | Dr Ben Dessauvagie | Dr Bree Foley | |
| Dr Carolyn McIntyre | Dr Jennifer Stone | Dr Laurence Cheung | A/Prof Vinicius Cavalheri |
This subcommittee assesses the Postdoctoral Fellowship and Suzanne Cavanagh Early Career Investigator Grant applications.
Pre-doctoral Grants Advisory Subcommittee
Prof Delia Nelson (Chair)
| Dr Rodrigo Carlessi (Deputy Chair) | Dr Jessica Buck | Dr Omar Elaskalani |
| Dr Ben Wylie | Dr Melvin Chin | Dr Rowan Sanderson |
| Dr Weitao Lin | Dr Helen De Jong | |
| Dr Sung Kai Chiu | Dr Oliver Schumacher |
This subcommittee assesses the Student Vacation Scholarships, and the PhD Top Up Scholarship applications.
Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme Subcommittee
Prof Fiona Pixley (Chair)
| Prof Deidre Combe | Dr Lucy Gilks | A/Prof Elin Gray | Prof Moira O’Connor | Dr Jason Waithman | Prof Lisa Whitehead |
This subcommittee assesses the Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme Grant applications.
