Cancer research to receive $2.7 million investment

Three cancer research projects are to share an investment of $2.7 million over the next three years.

The government will provide the funding for studies into bowel cancer, palliative care and prostate cancer, while the research itself will be carried out at Auckland and Massey universities.

Around $1m will be allocated to Auckland University to study patient outcomes from colorectal cancer. A further $800,000 will be used to look at more efficient palliative care for cancer patients at Massey University. The remaining $900,000 will fund a study of screening programmes for prostate cancer by an Auckland University team based at the Waikato Clinical School.

The Health Minister said he hopes the research will help all healthcare professionals work together in delivering effective treatment to patients.