OCRF's Mass Spectrometry Suite at Prince Henry's Institute

The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) has contributed valuable funding in support of the purchase of a mass spectrometer, (UltrafleXtreme MALDI TOF/TOF (from Bruker Daltonics) Time-of-Flight Mass) at Prince Henry’s Institute (PHI).

The OCRF was established in 2000 and remains led by eminent gynaecological oncology specialist, Chairman/Co-Founder Associate Professor Thomas Jobling and CEO/Co-Founder Liz Heliotis. It has developed to become one of Australia’s pre-eminent bodies supporting ovarian cancer research programs that occur nationally and is focused upon the understanding of the causes of ovarian cancer, its early detection and improving patient survival.

While awareness of the disease has increased amongst Australians, four in nine women still incorrectly believe that a pap smear will detect ovarian cancer. Unfortunately the reality is that there is no simple early detection test. Ovarian cancer remains a silent killer, with two thirds of women diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease; with 77% of these not surviving beyond 5 years.

In Australia, one woman dies of ovarian cancer every ten hours. This disease affects women - mothers, sisters, daughters - of all ages and has a higher mortality rate amongst women diagnosed than those diagnosed with breast cancer.

The OCRF wish to thank all their key stakeholders and the community including Gold Buyers. Their combined financial contribution has assisted in funding this core piece of equipment vital in advancing our research into an early detection program for ovarian cancer and continuing to prosper vital research programs.

“As there is currently not an early detection program for ovarian cancer, Gold Buyers hopes to raise the profile of this disease across our 130 plus stores nationally and is delighted to help advance cancer research through the support of this vital equipment,” says Mrs Wendy Stewart, Director  Gold Buyers.

This new equipment contains the latest in mass spectrometry technologies – a technique for the very high resolution analysis and identification of proteins and of key importance in the identification and development of very low abundance markers of early stage ovarian cancer. This purchase of equipment is a key step forward for empowering our research endeavours.