$100 mln for Lifehouse at RPA - the new Sydney cancer centre

The not-for-profit Lifehouse at RPA will be a state-of-the-art treatment centre combining all facets of clinical care for both public and private cancer patients.

The new centre will bring experts together in cancer treatment and research and will have a particular focus on using new research discoveries in patient care.

The centre will also give young cancer specialists, researchers and medical staff first-rate training and experience – helping us develop a new generation of world class cancer experts.

This $100 million announcement today is in addition to the $50 million already committed by the Rudd Government for this important centre. This will bring the total Government investment to $150 million over the three years to 2011-12.

Lifehouse at RPA will be built adjoining the Royal Prince Alfred-Sydney University precinct in Camperdown.

The centre is the culmination of work undertaken by surgeon and cancer patient Professor Chris O’Brien – who has long advocated that bringing different cancer services under one roof would provide the best conditions for comprehensive treatment breakthroughs.

Building is expected to commence in late 2009, with the official opening scheduled for early 2012.

Over 100,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that one in three men and one in four women will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 75.