The Morrison government is investing $15 million to help establish an innovative cancer genomics laboratory in South Australia, which aims to improve treatment options for Australians with cancer.  

The new laboratory will be established in SA Pathology. It will strengthen South Australia’s capacity in genomic diagnostic testing, which is key to finding new pathways for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

“While survival rates in Australia are high by world standards, we still lost almost 50,000 people to cancer last year. This is why medical research is so important,” Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said.

“Genomics uses a person’s own genetic makeup to analyse and understand their disease and unlock personalised treatments.

“By analysing DNA to work out how to target and destroy cancer cells, we can get a better understanding of what medicine or treatment will work best for a patient.”

The Morrison Government has invested more than $150 million across 40 research projects as part of the Medical Research Future Fund’s $500 million Genomics Health Futures Mission.

In addition, the Government has also invested $50 million for Omico, a nationwide network of cancer research and treatment centres to develop genomic testing, which will improve medical care for Australians with cancer.