Cervical Cancer research & Professor Ian Frazer
Throughout our many years of operation, Lions Medical Research Foundation has assisted in raising much-needed funds to support research for various diseases. One significant cause which we helped get off the ground is the cervical cancer research conducted by Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer, and his team at the University of Queensland. Professor Frazer is responsible for the development of the cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil.
Cervical Cancer explained
According to the Cancer Council website, Cervical Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells within the lining of the cervix. In 2018, Cervical Cancer was responsible for 232 deaths. However, the death rates in Australia have halved since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program in 1991.
Most cases of Cervical Cancer are caused by a persistent infection with some high-risk forms of the human papillomavirus, more commonly referred to as HPV. Some other risk factors identified include a weak immune system or if your mother was prescribed diethylstilbestrol—an artificial form of the female hormone oestrogen during pregnancy. This would have been between 1939 and 1971.
Cervical Cancer research & finding a cure
Professor Ian Frazer started researching and developing the HPV vaccine in the 1990s, assisted by his colleague, Dr Jian Zhou. The TGA approved Gardasil in 2006, which meant Australia became the first country to roll out a national vaccination program.
Today, the vaccine is distributed to 130 countries and has proven to be extraordinarily effective. Here at Lions Medical Research Foundation, we are proud to have assisted in funding the early stages of Professor Ian Frazer’s research.
The HPV vaccine
Between 2007 and 2017, the vaccine Gardasil was used to protect against various HPV types. Since then, the vaccine has been further developed and Gardasil 9 is now administered. As the name suggests, Gardasil 9 offers protection against 9 types of HPV.
This vaccine is rolled out via a national immunisation program, generally offered in the first year of secondary school for students aged between 12 and 13. The vaccine was originally only for girls, however, in 2013, boys were also added to the vaccine rollout.
Help us fund future medical research
The team at Lions Medical Research Foundation believes that today’s research is tomorrow’s cure—just like the original cervical cancer research conducted by Professor Ian Frazer resulted in the successful Gardasil vaccine. We look forward to funding future research endeavours. Help us find a cure by donating today. For all enquiries, be sure to get in touch with our team based in here in Brisbane.