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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Patient reported outcomes in the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma
Dr. Elizabeth Goodall (BMedSci Hons, MBBS Hons, FRACP, FRCPA) is a PhD student and early career researcher with La Trobe University and the Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI), and Haematologist at Austin Health and Monash Health, Melbourne.
Her specific interest in how patients experience their illness and treatment forms the basis for her research in improving patient outcomes. This research comes at a pivotal time in modern lymphoma management with an ever-increasing number of treatment options available and renewed focus on each patient’s journey.
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Jessica Lo (Jess) is a Research Associate at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), UNSW Sydney, Australia. For over seven years, she has been instrumental in leading and coordinating research for the international Stroke and Cognition Consortium (STROKOG), collaborating with global experts to address key questions related to vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.
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Anaemia guidelines updated after 50 years
Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha is the Acting Deputy Director at the Walter Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia. He is also a clinical haematologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. From a young age, Prof Pasricha dreamed of becoming a doctor and found joy in learning about the human body and how to care for patients. After completing medical school, he developed a passion for working in low and middle-income countries, which led him to spend time working in East Timor, India, and Central Australia with First Nations communities.
