Why we doWhat we do
Our priority is to outsmart cancer.
Our vision is to help people live better with cancer and defeat it.
Our mission is to discover and develop breakthrough cancer therapies to provide the best health outcomes for patients.
We do this by discovering and developing new cancer therapies to provide real and life changing benefits for people impacted by cancer.
With researchers based just metres from where people are receiving treatment, our scientific discoveries are rapidly translated into breakthrough clinical therapies.
Our four core research programs focus on developing treatments for a range of cancers including breast, bowel and gastrointestinal tract, lung, skin, liver and brain cancer.
Emerging knowledge from the laboratory is quickly translated into patient trials, with our investigators overseeing active clinical trials right across Australia.
Observations from the clinic are then investigated by our research team, creating a continual cycle of learning and improvement between scientific research and patient care.
At a glance
Our Research
We have more than 140 research studies currently underway across four core research programs. Learn more about our research programs.
Publications
Our researchers publish, on average, more than 100 scientific papers every year. A full list of publications is available in our Annual Report
Clinical Trials
In 2022, we proudly partnered our researchers and clinician scientists with patients from many areas in Australia to lead 11 Institute-sponsored clinical trials. Find out more about our Clinical Trials.
Global Network
Each year we have 65 international researchers from 25 countries working to deliver high-impact translational research, and 209 collaborations across 13 countries.
La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine
Learn more about the school
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute is the La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine.
The school is located in the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, a comprehensive cancer centre at Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia.
All research activities are supported by outstanding research services and technical expertise. The School’s significant contributions to basic discovery, translational research and clinical trials are enhanced through research and training collaborations with the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science and other Schools at the University’s Bundoora campus.
Our Partners
La Trobe University
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute is proudly affiliated with La Trobe University, leading to the establishment of the La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, based at the Institute. Together we undertake collaborative research, joint training of medical researchers and translate research into clinical practice, ultimately improving health outcomes for patients with cancer.
ONJ Cancer Centre
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre is a partnership between Austin Health and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute. Together, we are a comprehensive cancer centre. This partnership provides a unique facility that helps patients live better with cancer and defeat it through world class treatment, integrated research, leading clinical trials and tailored wellness programs.
Austin Health
Austin Health is a leading specialist tertiary and quaternary public health service based in Heidelberg, Melbourne. Austin is recognised rfor our specialist work in cancer, infectious diseases, obesity, sleep medicine, intensive care medicine, neurology, endocrinology, mental health and rehabilitation, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in hospital-based research. They are also the largest Victorian provider of training for specialist physicians and surgeons.
Board
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute is an independent organisation. The Board governs the activities of the organisation, manages policy and provides strategic direction.
Executive
Our Executive Team are driven by our shared focus to outsmart cancer. Together, they lead the operational decisions and strategic priorities of the Institute.
Research Leaders
Our strong commitment to research which translates from bench to bedside, to accelerate learning is reflected across all laboratory programs.
Clinician Scientists
Our team of clinician scientists helps to ensure that we can rapidly translate our research knowledge to patients. These scientists move between the clinic – where they directly treat patients with a range of cancers – and the laboratory, where they collaborate with researchers to improve and develop treatments. Being in the clinic regularly means our clinician scientists are working hard to find answers to the questions which matter most to our patients.