Collaborative research into the cause of early-onset bowel cancer received a significant boost this week with the establishment of an inaugural $5.8 million Early-Onset Bowel Cancer Centre of Research Excellence.
To be known as the Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) ARTEMIS, the Centre’s five-year research program will investigate the aetiology, risk factors, tumourigenesis, exposures, microbiome and immune susceptibilities in early-onset bowel cancer.
One of Australia’s pre-eminent early-onset bowel cancer researchers, Associate Professor Dan Buchanan, will lead CRE ARTEMIS and its 22-member team across multiple disciplines, from six universities, four research institutes and four hospitals and health services, including A/Prof Lisa Mielke from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI).
A/Prof Lisa Mielke leads a laboratory focused on understanding how immune cells influence gut microbiome balance and cancer progression in the large bowel and stomach.
“As a CI of CRE ARTEMIS, my colleagues and I will focus on three connected themes over the next five years:
- Understanding how the gut microbiome influences the development of early-onset bowel cancer.
- Creating a detailed molecular atlas to map the changes that occur from normal bowel tissue to early-onset polyps and ultimately to bowel cancer.
- Using functional testing and preclinical models to investigate the causes and pathways of early-onset bowel cancer.”
A/Prof Dan Buchanan, Director and Lead Investigator of CRE ARTEMIS, said, “the team are all very excited and committed to identifying the causes and mechanisms driving the increasing rates of early-onset bowel cancer.”
The CRE was named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, reflecting the team’s determination to track down what is causing early-onset bowel cancer and the alarming rise of the disease in young Australians.
CRE ARTEMIS will also train and mentor the next generation of early-onset bowel cancer researchers, developing a national workforce with the cross-disciplinary skills needed to drive innovation in prevention, early detection and future treatment.
Bowel Cancer Australia has committed $3 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) to establish one of the nation’s most esteemed and prolific teams of researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience to identify what is causing the alarming increase in early-onset bowel cancer.
The charity’s commitment will be supported by additional funding of $2.8 million from CRE ARTEMIS’ participating institutions and partners.
Bowel Cancer Australia CEO, Julien Wiggins said, “We congratulate Dan and A/Prof Lisa Mielke on their successful application and look forward to working with the CRE ARTEMIS team as they investigate the causes as to why Australia has the highest rates of early-onset bowel cancer in the world.”
1-in-8 Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer are aged under 50, and the risk of being diagnosed before age 40 has more than doubled since the year 2000. Around 1,900 young Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year.
To learn more about the CRE ARTEMIS visit – artemiscre.org
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