SKMRC Lunch Boosts Melanoma Research

June 18th, 2012

The 2012 luncheon for the Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre was another roaring success, with an incredible $87,000 raised to fund melanoma research.

"The audience obviously felt inspired to dig deep after heartfelt speeches by Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC and John Blake who lost his wife and the mother of his two children to melanoma," said SKMRC founder, Vonnie Kirkbride.

"The funds raised through the wine wall, silent auction, live auction, raffles and more will make a huge difference to the important melanoma research projects underway in laboratories around Perth."

A highlight of the luncheon for researchers working for the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research was the announcement during the event that Dr Keith Giles, Mike Epis and Professor Peter Leedman received the Suncorp Bank Discovery Research Grant for 2012.

The team's project, entitled "Evaluating the functional role of a microRNA in melanoma" investigates the use of a specific microRNA as a new treatment to control the growth and spread of melanoma.

WAIMR Director Professor Peter Klinken also announced that this year's SKMRC Discovery Research Grant was awarded to the project "Genetic Analysis of Melanoma Cells in Blood to Personalise Treatment Management."

The study, by Dr Elin Grey and Professor Mel Ziman from Edith Cowan University, in collaboration with Professor Michael Millward from the University of WA and the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, proposes to demonstrate that circulating melanoma cells can be used to detect drug resistance seen in treatment using BRAF inhibitors.

"This cutting edge research wouldn't be possible without widespread community support for SKMRC," said Mrs Kirkbride.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to all our corporate supporters who provided us with fabulous prizes. As usual Mustard Catering did a fantastic job with the three course meal and the entertainment by comedienne Marney McQueen was hilarious. We'll definitely do it all again in 2013!"

Vonnie Kirkbride with comedienne Marney McQueen.	[L to R]: Dr Keith Giles, Suncorp Regional General Manager WA Carl Cockerham and WAIMR Researcher Michael Epis.
The SKMRC's Dr Carolyn Williams collects donations.	John Blake with friends of his wife, Shannon, who died from melanoma.
Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC with Marney McQueen.	WAIMR Chairman Laurence Iffla with wife Nicola.
Professor Peter Klinken with Discovery Grant winner Dr Elin Grey.	Master of Ceremonies Steve Rogers.

For more information please contact:
Carolyn Monaghan
Communications Manager
Mobile: 0448 021 932 (media enquiries only)
Office: (08) 9224 0377
Email: carolyn.monaghan@waimr.uwa.edu.au