AI solutions for cancer therapy
Cancer is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. One in two Australians will be diagnosed in their lifetime, and by 2034, more than 209,000 people will be diagnosed each year*. But rapid advances in AI, immunotherapy and mRNA technology are transforming what’s possible for cancer detection, treatment, and cure.
A global hub of biomedical innovation
La Trobe is fast becoming a global hub of biomedical discovery - home to BioNTech’s new mRNA manufacturing facility and the Australian Centre for AI in Medical Innovation (ACAMI) - the world’s first university centre dedicated to applying AI to medical science.
We’re also partners with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI), La Trobe’s School of Cancer Medicine, where researchers work just metres from the patient’s bedside. This allows cutting-edge discoveries to quickly move from the lab to patient care.
Unlocking a new era in cancer research
At ACAMI, researchers are using one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers to accelerate the development of personalised cancer vaccines. By analysing vast amounts of a patient’s genetic data, AI models can pinpoint tumour-specific mutations and generate tailored mRNA sequences that teach the immune system to detect and destroy cancer - offering new hope, especially for hard-to-treat cancers.
AI is unlocking a new era in cancer research. It helps us find patterns in complex data that once took years to decode, enabling treatments that are more accurate, effective, and personalised. And with BioNTech’s manufacturing facility right on campus, discoveries can move swiftly into clinical use. Philanthropic support will fund two expert research positions - one in AI and one in lab science - to drive this innovation to find and test the most promising vaccine candidates.
The next generation of treatment
Your support will drive the next leap forward in cancer treatment, fuelling pioneering research that brings new, personalised therapies to patients faster.
* Cancer Council 2024, Facts and figures, Cancer Council.