“Until recently, the Peter MacCallum’s Research Division and CBCT had conducted several projects of mutual interest, but were constrained by the lack of any physical laboratory in which to conduct the translational research requirements that emerge as research is applied in the clinic.

“CBCT has a focus on the production of cell and tissue for transplantation under cGMP regulation whereas HITRL has more of a research focus with a very practical or applied outcome. This is a very powerful resource to have available when a new topic is being migrated from the laboratory into the clinic and there is a requirement to both understand and have access to resources that can work in both the research and production disciplines.”

The HITRL is currently involved in several major projects, including one that started as a research project within the Centre’s cancer immunology research group. The so-called ‘Lewis-Y’ study is investigating how T-cells, which are responsible for identifying cells that are foreign to the body, (including cancer cells), can be expanded and used to trigger the body’s natural eradication processes for foreign or cancer cells.

“Part of this study aims to see if we can produce enough new T-cells and deliver them to a patient to help fight cancer,” Dr Ritchie said. Such immuno-based techniques, if successful, would give practitioners a far more ‘natural’ and less invasive way to attack cancer rather than via radiation and chemotherapy.

The integration of pure research, translational laboratory and licensed cGMP facility has been recognised by the US-based Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society - the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services, as a novel capability and they have awarded Peter MacCallum competitive research grants that utilise these resources.

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