Major research announcement: new cancer research funding opportunity from NBCF and Movember

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and the Movember Foundation are offering up to two translational research grants with a total value of $2.5 million to Australian researchers whose research projects target breast, prostate and ovarian cancer.

Applications close 31 March.  More details HERE.

The Movember Foundation – National Breast Cancer Foundation, Prostate and Breast Cancer Research Collaboration Initiative

The Movember Foundation and the NBCF fund innovative research that is aimed at improving outcomes for men with prostate cancer, men and women with breast cancer. For the first time the two organisations have come together to jointly fund high impact translational research that spans both prostate and breast cancer.

We are seeking high quality translational research proposals with the potential to transform the clinical management of both prostate and breast cancer. Proposals may also include an ovarian cancer stream where relevant.

The total funding available through this collaborative initiative is $2.5 million for up to 2 projects commencing in 2017.

Key dates:

• Requests for Proposals will open: Monday January 30th 2017
• MRO Compliance Date close: Friday March 17th 2017
• Requests for Proposals will close: Friday March 31st 2017

CLICK HERE for further information

Unique smartphone app to reduce suicide deaths

Suicide is now the greatest killer of Australians aged 15 to 44 according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A collaboration between Monash University and beyondblue – with funding from the Movember Foundation – has led to the development of a world-first smartphone app and website to help save lives when people feel hopeless and helpless, and want to die.

Dr Glenn Melvin, Senior Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist at Monash University’s Centre for Developmental Psychiatry & Psychology was central to developing the app’s safety plan format. He believes the app is a practical suicide prevention tool that can help save lives. “The safety planning app documents a series of steps that the person can use to keep themselves safe when they have suicidal thoughts,” he said.

 “It starts with things they can do themselves, then moves onto people they can contact for support. All this information is with them constantly on their phone and they can access it privately.”

Called the BeyondNow app, which is free and can be downloaded onto a smartphone, it shows people how to create a plan to refer to when they are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are in a suicidal crisis, according to beyondblue CEO, Mr Jeff Kennett.

“A tool like this has been needed for a long time. We know that having access to a safety plan in crisis situations can save lives. Now, we’ve used technology to convert written suicide safety plans, which have been used successfully with American service veterans, into a free app,” he said.

“I hope that men, in particular, will work with their GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists and carers to personalise their safety plan on the BeyondNow app and refer to it when they feel at risk of harming themselves.”

It is estimated 76,000 people attempt suicide each year in Australia. Research shows 15 to 20 per cent of those who try once will try again. The first three months after an attempt are regarded as the highest risk period.

The free BeyondNow App can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play store.