2023 Donor Impact Report - Flipbook - Page 8
Cancer Research
Reaching the target to
stop melanoma
Through the overwhelming generosity of UniSA’s supportive
philanthropic community, more than $150,000 has been
raised for research into melanoma – a disease that is almost
universally fatal if it spreads to vital organs.
One of the hundreds of donors to this appeal
is Ian Dempster, whose melanoma diagnosis
in 2014 led to years of surgery, drug infusions,
radiotherapy and finally, remission.
“Melanoma is so
prevalent in this
country and anything
we can do to support
research to find better
treatments, and even a
cure, is vital.”
Professor
Claudine Bonder,
Research
Professor, Centre
for Cancer
Biology
In 2022, we reached out to our global
community and asked for donations towards
melanoma research led by Professor
Claudine Bonder (Centre for Cancer Biology).
We received more than $80,000 from
our alumni and supporters and a grant of
$70,000 from the Mazda Foundation.
This incredible support is funding vital
histology to better understand how the
protein desmoglein-2 helps melanoma to
grow, in addition to providing a researcher
who is working on making new discoveries in
the fight against cancer.
The protein has been found by researchers
at the Centre for Cancer Biology (an alliance
between the UniSA and SA Pathology)
to dramatically accelerate the spread of
melanoma.
6
unisa.edu.au/melanoma-research
Ian Dempster
“On behalf of everyone at the Centre
for Cancer Biology, I would like to share
a heartfelt thank you to everyone who
supported our appeal to raise awareness
and funds for melanoma research,” says Prof
Bonder.
“This is an extraordinary achievement and we
are eternally grateful for everyone’s support.
Together, we are strengthening the fight
against this most insidious disease.”
Donor, Ian Dempster,
is currently in
remission after
extensive treatment
for melanoma
