Lions reach major milestone for melanoma research

Melanoma is one of Australia’s most prevalent cancers with two in three Australians diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70.

The Lions Cancer Institute (WA) is on a mission to change this through the establishment of the Lions Cancer Institute (WA) Colin Beauchamp and Sue Goddard PhD Scholarship at Curtin University.

The three and a half year scholarship marks a crucial step forward in the fight against melanoma, one of Australia’s most prevalent cancers.

The scholarship aims to empower researchers to address the complexities of melanoma and develop innovative treatments for better outcomes.

The scholarship is named after Lions Past District Governor Colin Beauchamp AM and his wife Sue Goddard Beauchamp OAM who have been an integral part of the Lions Cancer Institute (WA) since 1990 and have played a significant role in driving the Institute’s focus on skin cancer screening.

“We are proud to be partnering with Curtin University to launch the inaugural Lions Cancer Institute (WA) Colin Beauchamp and Sue Goddard PhD Scholarship,” says Lions Cancer Institute (WA) Chair Mick Wainwright.

“To date, our skin cancer screening program has screened over 90,000 people throughout WA, with a referral rate of approximately 23% to see their GP. Of these we believe about 6% had a life-threatening cancer detected.”

Through decades of providing free skin cancer screenings to the community, the Lions Cancer Institute (WA) are committed to doing what they can to not only help with detection but also help with education, prevention and innovative treatment options.

“Through this scholarship, we aim to substantially increase the survival rate and reduce the incidence of melanoma,” adds Mick.

The Lions Cancer Institute (WA) has supported 15 PhD students in cancer research over the years.

This newly established scholarship will play a pivotal role in enabling researchers to explore effective treatments, unravel the complexities of resistance, and lay the groundwork for improving long-term outcomes for individuals living with melanoma.

Partnerships and contributions from organisations and individuals are integral to the success of research initiatives, and Lions Australia acknowledges the critical role played by such support in the mission to save lives now and in the future.

Learn more about the Lions Cancer Institute (WA) and its commitment to melanoma research here.