The Australian National University’s (ANU) Associate Professor Dr Anneke Blackburn has been announced as the recipient of the 2018-19 Cancer Council ACT Research Grant.
The $65,000 grant will allow Dr Blackburn, who is from the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the ANU, to continue collaborative cancer research between ANU and the Canberra Hospital.
Dr Blackburn’s research focuses on the development of a drug with very low toxicity, which changes how cancer cells use their metabolism.
“Our aim is to define which cancers respond to this drug, paving the way for clinical trials in patients who will receive the most benefit,” said Dr Blackburn.
Cancer Council ACT Board member, Associate Professor Dr Paul Craft, said the Cancer Council strives to provide a grant for local cancer research each year.
“Supporting local cancer research is a strategic priority for the Cancer Council in the ACT, and each year a portion of funds raised by the Cancer Council are dedicated to local cancer research,” said Dr Craft.
“We could not do this without the support of the local community who donate to the Cancer Council and who also support local fundraising events the Council holds held throughout the year.”
Work starts on Fyshwick wetlands
Construction has started on wetlands in the Fyshwick catchment that will clean stormwater flowing into Lake Burley Griffin and downstream into the Murrumbidgee River system.
The Narrabundah wetlands will be constructed along 420 metres of Jerrabomberra Creek and include a chain of six open water ponds. The other two wetlands will be between Eyre Street and the Jerrabomberra Wetlands in Kingston and on Jerrabomberra Creek off Dairy Road.
The projects are part of ACT Healthy Waterways, a joint initiative of the Australian and ACT Governments, and were announced by ACT Senator Zed Seselja and ACT Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman on Thursday 24 January.
Call for firefighters
All Canberrans who are ready, willing and able are encouraged to apply to be one of the ACT’s future firefighters, with applications now open for the 2019 ACT Fire & Rescue (ACTF&R) recruitment round.
Following a competitive recruitment process, up to 18 successful applicants will secure a position in the ACTF&R College 41.
The 18 new recruits will be in addition to six experienced firefighters recently recruited through a lateral recruitment process from the NT, Queensland and NSW. The recruitment of new and lateral firefighters is funded as part of the ACT Government’s 2017-18 Budget.
Applications close at 9am on Monday 18 February.
For more information, visit esa.act.gov.au/actfr/careers
Have your say on electoral boundaries
ACT residents are invited to suggest how Legislative Assembly electoral boundaries for the 2020 ACT election might look.
The public consultation process for the redistribution of the ACT Legislative Assembly’s electoral boundaries began on Tuesday 5 February. The boundaries are to be redrawn in preparation for the 17 October 2020 election.
Complete electoral enrolment statistics and further detailed information are now available from the ACT Electoral Commission’s website [elections.act.gov.au].
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