Thursday, 16 October 2008

Researchers at The University of Western Australia are urging members of the public to join them in this year's International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) fundraising challenge to circumnavigate the globe on foot three times (120,000km).

Members of the UWA Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CGEB) are hosting a four kilometre walk along Cottesloe Beach tomorrow, Friday 17 October at 2.00pm.

All funds raised will be donated to the Cancer Council of New South Wales which recently funded the Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of Glioma (AGOG) project ( https://www.agog.org.au/ ) - the new national brain tumour research initiative led by the CGEB at The University of Western Australia. The AGOG project will investigate the genetic and environmental causes of glioma - one of the most common and serious forms of brain cancer.

High grade Gliomas (a type of brain cancer) are presenting a formidable challenge to doctors and medical researchers according to Professor Lyle Palmer, Chair in Genetic Epidemiology at UWA and Director of the AGOG project.

"All that is known is that patients are typically in either their 30-40's or elderly and there is a higher incidence among males, educated people and those with childhood exposure to radiation. Given how serious this disease is - median survival is very poor and most patients are legally unable to drive, and often unable to work, causing immense lifestyle disruption and financial burdens - we urgently need to know more."

In Australia, there are 1400 new diagnoses of Glioma a year.

With the help of the NSW Cancer Council funds, the AGOG network will monitor new cases of Glioma in an integrated, multi-disciplinary fashion that stands to build unique resources for Australian cancer researchers, and that will place Australia at the forefront of glioma epidemiology worldwide.

WHAT :            Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours
(Open invitation - No RSVP required)

WHEN: Friday 17 October, 2008
2:00pm

WHERE: Starting at Cottesloe Beach Groyne

Media references

Lauren Martin (UWA Genetic Epidemiology)  (+61 4) 21 115 095
Professor Lyle Palmer (UWA Genetic Epidemiology) (+61 8) 9346 1801 / (+61 4)04 028 535
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563 / (+61 4) 32 637 716

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