WE CAN SAVE LIVES TOGETHER

Since 1998, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has made significant discoveries into the diseases that most affect our families, in particular heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Over 200 researchers, scientists and clinicians are housed in two state-of-the-art research facilities. The Perkins is committed to giving yourself and those you love the opportunity to live longer, healthier and better lives by helping WA’s best medical researchers beat the world’s toughest diseases. 

Research teams dedicated to finding answers to defeat cancers are funded from the MACA Cancer 200 each year.

In 2025, this is how you are having an impact.

IMMUNOTHERAPY

Your generous funding is advancing groundbreaking research in immunotherapy.

Professor Ruth Ganss and her team have found that administering anti-cancer drugs at a lower dose than current protocols could actually make the abnormal vasculatures surround a tumour more normal which then allows immune cells to enter and attack cancer cells. This could potentially help those affected by melanoma, brain and pancreatic cancer using already clinically approved anti-cancer drugs.

Professor Ruth Ganss

Dr Jennifer Currenti

Emeritus Professor George Yeoh
Professor Peter Leedman AO

LIVER CANCER

Liver cancer, still poses a serious risk to the health of Australians, with an alarming survival rate of 18%. Perkins researchers are leading the charge to change this by uncovering new treatments and improve outcomes for those affected.

Thanks to your support, Dr Jennifer Currenti is progressing in her research looking into immune cells to identify markers that will tell researchers if they will respond to immunotherapy, meaning patients can receive more targeted treatments that will lead to better health outcomes.

Research also continues through RNA-technology lead by Prof George Yeoh and Prof Peter Leedman. Their teams have identified a mirco-RNA, specifically microRNA-7, as a possible effective inhibitor of liver cancer. Remarkbly making drug-resistant liver cancer cells receptive to the same drug again.

protecting the future

Thanks to your generosity, the funds you raise will protect early-to-mid career researchers through the Perkins Safe Harbour Fellowship.

This year's recipient is Dr Qi Fang. He is addressing a critical issue in breast cancer surgery.

For one in four patients, residual cancer cells are missed during initial surgery to remove the cancer. Qi, a biomedical engineer and physicist is developing optical imaging tools for surgeons to help them detect the presence of microscopic cancer cells during surgery. The outcome for patients means reducing the need for subsequent surgeries, less trauma and more targeted care. 

The pursuit of bold ideas and exciting discoveries like this are made possible by the funds you raise ensuring that innovative medical research continues to be nurtured and stay in WA.

Doctor Qi Fang

Professor Ryan Lister

INVESTING IN COLLABORATION

You are helping Professor Ryan Lister lead a game-changing cancer research project with a real global impact. Using advanced genomics, his team explores T-cell immunity in viral infections.

These committed researchers map the genes and molecules involved in a successful immune response, aiming to enhance immunotherapy for solid cancers. Understanding immune system memory and activation could lead to strengthening and creating more potent T-cells for cancer treatment. This research may lead to more targeted approaches to treatments and better health outcomes for our loved ones.