New blood cancer research centre established with generous gift
20 December 2022
The Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers will advance treatment and prevention of one of Australia’s deadliest cancers - Multiple Myeloma - and related blood cancers with poor outcomes. The new centre will be established through the generosity and vision of the late Dr Barrie Dalgleish, who died from myeloma in 2021. Dr Dalgleish was intent on supporting further research into blood cancers, leaving a substantial gift to advance this work. The Trustee of the Barrie, Walter and Helene Dalgleish Foundation (Dalgleish Foundation) has committed an initial $5 million, with a further $10 million as milestones are reached. The new centre will be led by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) and will also partner with scientists and clinicians at WEHI, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital. Peter Mac Executive Director of Cancer Research, Professor Ricky Johnstone, said the incredibly generous philanthropic funding would drive an exciting program of discovery-based, pre-clinical and clinical research. “We’ll examine how and why myeloma develops, develop innovative new ways to treat it and enhance the prognosis and quality of life for people with multiple myeloma,” said Professor Johnstone, who is also inaugural Director of the Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Myeloma and Related Blood Cancers. “We will initially focus on multiple myeloma given this remains an incurable disease but will expand our efforts to related B-cell malignancies and - given the nature of these diseases - any discoveries will be relevant and important for a broad array of blood cancers. “On behalf of research colleagues at Peter Mac and our participating institutes, we are incredibly grateful to Barrie and the Dalgleish Foundation for this major contribution to blood cancer research.” Peter Mac’s acting Chief Executive Karen Fox said investments in cancer research were pivotal to securing better outcomes for the next generation of cancer patients. “This new centre will translate Barrie’s vision and generous contribution into discoveries and innovations that change our understanding of myeloma and other blood cancers and lead to better outcomes for patients,” Mrs Fox said. Peter D’Ambrosio, chairperson of the Trustee of the Dalgleish Foundation - and cousin of Barrie - said the Board of the Trustee was looking forward to working with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and research team. “Barrie was very keen to fund such research and I know he would have been very happy with the team we have met at Peter Mac,” Mr D’Ambrosio said. “They have brought great focus to the discussions, and we are hopeful that this centre will provide solutions to the eventual cure of these blood cancers.” Dr Dalgleish’s generous gift is received by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, and Foundation chief executive Kate Torney said this highlighted the vital role that bequests play in supporting Australian cancer research. “A gift in a Will of any amount will help Peter Mac researchers to improve the health outcomes of people living with cancer for generations to come,” Ms Torney says. This year 2,600 Australians were newly diagnosed with myeloma and 1,100 lives were lost to the blood cancer that affects white blood cells. Chance of survival after five years is currently 55%1. As a group also including lymphoma and leukaemia, blood cancer ranks alongside prostate and breast cancer as Australia’s leading causes of new cancer diagnoses - and alongside lung and colorectal cancer as leading causes of cancer deaths. Each year 19,403 Australians are diagnosed with blood cancer while 5,950 lose their lives to blood cancer or related blood disorders2. Resources: Contacts: About Peter Mac Dr Barrie Dalgleish was born in Melbourne, attended Northcote High School where he won Dux of School, studied at the University of Melbourne where he gained an arts degree with Honours then continued his education in Canada and UK gaining his Masters and PhD in Psychology. He had a career in psychology, working in academic Institutions internationally for many years, before returning to Australia and working in childhood psychology with a particular interest in childhood development, especially with children with hearing impairment. He co-wrote books in this area. He died from myeloma in 2021.
For more information contact the Peter Mac Communications team on 0417 123 048
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.
About Dr Barrie Dalgleish
Hear from a Peter Mac myeloma patient