A new, state-of-the-art holographic microscope that allows cancer researchers at QUT’s Cancer and Ageing Research Program to view living human cells in 3D has been made possible with a grant from the William & Hilde Chenhall Research Trust.
Chenhall Research Scientist QUT’s Associate Professor Derek Richard said the microscope and other cutting-edge technology made possible by the funding would enable rapid development of a new generation of therapeutics for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
“The microscope allows us to screen hundreds of potential cancer-fighting drugs by enabling us to watch in 3D, real time responses by living cancer cells to different drug compounds,” Professor Richard said.
“The Chenhall funds will also improve the Cancer and Ageing Research Program’s development of new technology to detect cancer more quickly and more effectively, and to develop a new drug that seeks to prevent cancer from developing.”
The new microscope and research equipment will be housed in the Queensland Centre for Drug Target Screening and Characterisation at the QUT laboratories at the Translational Research Institute.
“The funds from Chenhall were key in catalysing the development of the Centre. Their funding support encouraged other benefactors, end users and industry to contribute to the establishment of the $3.5m centre which aims to speed up the development of much needed anti-cancer and other drugs," Professor Richard.
QUT Institute of Health and Biomedical Research (IHBI) executive director Professor Lyn Griffiths said it was pleasing to see continued philanthropic support from the Chenhall Research Trust for the Cancer and Ageing Research Program based at the Translational Research Institute.
“IHBI is very thankful to the trust for supporting not only vital equipment but also researcher salaries to enable increased capability and important advances in our anti-cancer research," Professor Griffiths said.
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