Singapore: Cancer Council NSW, Australia's non-government cancer research funder, has granted almost $7 million to researchers who are set out to discover new methods to curb cancer and look at new ways of treating it.

19 research projects have been awarded the grant that will be directed to new areas of research such as indenitifaction of new drugs to stop cancer cells from absorbing nutrients, thus starving them, led by Associate Professor Jeff Holst at The Centenary Institute.

Associate Professor Karen Canfell, director, Cancer Research, Cancer Council NSW said, "We received 143 outstanding applications for grants this year, which shows the drive in the medical research community to learn more about cancer and the ways we treat cancer, which is a very complex disease," she said.

"We have whittled down to the top 19 ground-breaking projects and look forward to seeing the results from these projects in the future," she said.

Grant recipient Dr Micklethwaite is developing a technology that will help the immune system target and destroy cancer cells.

Dr Micklethwaite, University of Sydney said, "Cancer is mostly invisible to the immune system but we have developed an artificial cell receptor which can recognise and kill myeloma cells. We will improve this artificial receptor to ensure maximum effectiveness in stopping cancer."

Associate Professor Canfell added, "We are working with the best cancer researchers in Australia, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognised for their work.

"Dr Nikki Verrills and her team at University of Newcastle are testing a new gene marker that can predict which breast cancer patients won't survive, and so should be offered new therapies. This study could lead directly to human trials. These are just a few examples of the new and novel research that is being funded in Australia thanks to generous donations."