
a little about...
The Cancer Research Trust
Mission
To enable cancer research in Western Australia (WA) that is unique, excellent, and collaborative.
Vision
The Cancer Research Trust’s (CRT) vision is to make an internationally significant contribution to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. To achieve this, we are actively driving world-class innovative and collaborative research in WA, and reversing the brain drain by enticing back to Perth our most valuable export, world leaders in medical research.
Research
The CRT WA Collaborative Cancer Research Grant was created and first awarded in 2017 via a competitive application process to support a leading-edge cancer research capability in WA, with a focus on sustainability, longevity, and continuity.
The CRT is currently funding two major world class collaborative cancer research projects awarded WA Collaborative Research Grants in 2017 and 2020, respectively:
- In 2017, funding of up to $6.75m plus an additional 30% matched funding for up to nine years was awarded to Chief Investigator Professor Alistair Forrest’s (Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research) grant application “Enabling Advanced Single Cell Cancer Genomics in WA”. Further information can be found on the project summary page.
- In 2020, funding of up to $9m plus an additional 30% matched funding for up to nine years was awarded to Co-Chief Investigators Professor Peter Leedman (Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research) and Associate Professor Nina Tirnitz-Parker (Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute) for their grant application “Defeating Primary Liver Cancer”. Further information can be found on the project summary page.
Information and updates on previously funded projects is also available.
News & Events

Opportunity to apply for CRT co-funding in the event of a successful 2025 ACRF Grant application
The CRT is pleased to advise that the co-funding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) and the CRT has once again been extended for a further three years until the end of 2028.
Should a WA-based cancer researcher applying for an ACRF grant wish be eligible and wish to be considered to receive additional CRT funding of $100,000pa for 3 years in the event of a successful application, they should submit an Executive Summary of their ACRF grant application to the CRT by 9th May 2025 prior to submission to the ACRF by 23rd May 2025 (ACRF Grant Round closes) in order to receive a Letter of Support for inclusion with their ACRF application, subject to meeting the CRT criteria.
Ben Dwyer Successfully Awarded a $0.5m Grant from the FHRIF to Set up an Organoid Hub
The CRT congratulates Dr Ben Dwyer on being awarded more than $500,000 from the WA Government’s Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund – Enabling Scheme, in order to create of the Western Australian Organoid Innovation Hub (WAOIH).