At QIMR Berghofer, our leading cancer researchers are developing new techniques that will help us to understand, prevent, detect and treat cancer, which is the leading cause of death in Australia.

Our researchers are working on a number of projects which include;

• Prevention: identifying specific modifiable environmental and genetic factors that reduce a person’s risk of developing cancer.
• Detection: developing better screening tests, so that cancer can be detected earlier.
• Treat: identifying better treatments for cancer and conduct clinical trials to test for effectiveness.

Cancer cases are expected to grow to 185,000 over the next decade as Australia’s population ages. It is the second most common cause of death, exceeded only by cardiovascular disease.

Although overall cancer survival rates have improved in the past 20 years, several types of cancer have poor five-year survival rates. These include ovarian, brain, oesophageal, lung, pancreas and colorectal cancer.

The research at QIMR Berghofer is aimed at developing a better understanding of who is at risk of particular types of cancer and how treatment options can be tailored and more effective.

Our researchers continue to pioneer novel strategies and treatments across a broad range of cancers to help save lives and improve the quality of treatment.

Professor Steven Lane, Program Director

Professor Steven Lane is the Program Director for Cancer Research at QIMR Berghofer. He is a clinical haematologist and devotes a third of his time to seeing patients with leukaemia and related blood disorders at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Professor Lane has had an esteemed clinical and research career which includes appointments at the RBWH and the University of Queensland. He was also a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School.