$15 million investment to tackle early onset cancer

Early onset cancer is defined as cancer diagnosed beyond adolescence but prior to 50 years of age (20–49-year-olds). Since 2000, there has been an increase in incidence in a number of early onset cancers, with an estimated 18,600 new cases diagnosed in Australia alone during 2025.¹

Seven projects will share in the combined investment under the 2025 Cancer Australia Research Initiative (CARI) Targeted Call for Research (TCR) into early onset cancer, of which $7 million will be provided by NHMRC and $8 million from Cancer Australia.

Research generated from these projects will enhance understanding of early onset cancer and develop new clinical approaches for earlier diagnosis and screening, and innovative models of care to ensure effective management for those diagnosed.

This will be achieved through strategic, long term approaches to address possible causes, pathogenesis, early recognition and diagnosis, as well as complexities of management and survivorship associated with early onset cancer.

Among the projects receiving funding are:

• Associate Professor Erin Symonds of Flinders University will identify risk factors for bowel cancer in young people and offer simple tests for targeted, earlier detection screening to catch cancers early and inform prevention strategies for young Australians.
• Doctor Jie-Bin Lew of the University of Sydney will lead the STRIVE-EOC project to identify and test the most effective, affordable, and fair interventions for early onset bowel, breast, pancreatic and liver cancers to ultimately save lives and reduce cancer burden.
• Professor Alexandra McCarthy of Griffith University will lead a project to develop and test a new tailored model of care for young Australians diagnosed with colorectal cancer to ensure they experience better quality of life and health, which in tandem reduces the burden on the health system.

CARI is directed by Cancer Australia and jointly funded with NHMRC. This is the first in a series of annual grant opportunities.

Full details of the researchers and projects funded are available to download on NHMRC’s outcomes of funding rounds page.

Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh:

• “The jointly funded CARI provides a powerful, unique opportunity to drive research focused on early onset cancer and other emerging priorities in cancer research.
• “The findings from this research will help fill crucial gaps in our understanding of early onset cancer, with the goal of improving outcomes across a range of cancer types including bowel, pancreatic and breast.
• “This approach is vital for developing strategies to prevent increasing rates of early onset cancer and for supporting the health of Australians affected by these diagnoses.
• “I welcome the opportunity to partner with Cancer Australia on this joint initiative and congratulate all chief investigators and their teams receiving funding under this announcement – your research has the potential to save the lives of many Australians.”

Quotes attributable to Cancer Australia CEO, Professor Dorothy Keefe PSM:

• “CARI is committed to strengthening the research workforce and we are pleased that the majority of projects will be led by female researchers and to see projects from institutions around Australia.
• “The Australian Cancer Plan emphasises that cancer research investment must be targeted, innovative, and aligned to areas of unmet and emerging need, ensuring the research system remains responsive to changing priorities across the cancer care continuum.
• “We are delighted to partner with NHMRC to bring together national expertise and investment, strengthening Australia’s capacity to respond to emerging health challenges like early-onset cancer.”

¹ Cancer Australia. Early-onset cancer statistics. Early-onset cancer statistics | Cancer Australia