Cancer doesn’t just change lives. It stops them short. It turns routines into treatments and futures into waiting rooms. Almost every person knows someone who’s faced it.
Since 2018, Minderoo has invested over $122 million in cancer research, prevention, treatment, infrastructure and advocacy. This work remains deeply connected to what we value most – a fair future where people and the environment can thrive – with fewer people getting cancer and more surviving it.
Eliminating cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is preventable, yet it remains the leading cause of cancer death in more than 40 countries, including Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
In 2021, we launched the Eliminating Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific program with an $8.6 million investment. Working with the Daffodil Centre, the program piloted best-practice vaccination, screening and treatment in PNG and Vanuatu. It is on track to vaccinate 30,000 girls, screen 30,000 women and treat 3,600 women in each country and projected to save 10,000 lives.
These pilots have given governments the confidence to commit to longer-term elimination strategies. Our early funding also unlocked significant new investment, with governments, other philanthropies and partners now contributing more than $73.5 million to expand elimination efforts across the Indo-Pacific region.
The next phase will support the expansion of this proven model to 11 countries, screening more than 160,000 women and establishing national programs that empower governments to sustain elimination for future generations. Because no woman or girl should die from a cancer we know how to prevent.
Building better data helps us to get faster answers.
Cancer is complex and precision matters. That’s why we’ve partnered with global leaders to support open data, genomic science and collaboration at scale. We're also supporting emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to analyse and apply genomic data faster, helping clinicians match patients with effective treatments in real time.
Count Me In
This global initiative makes real-world cancer patient data available to researchers. It’s accessed by more than 1,000 scientists every day, helping accelerate the development of new treatments.
Join Count Me In
The Federated Cancer Data Alliance
This international collaboration connects brain cancer data from Australia, the UK and the US. By linking datasets across borders, it helps researchers ask better questions and find clearer answers.
Molecular screening and rare cancer trials
We support trials that use genomic screening to match patients with targeted therapies, especially in rare and underserved cancers. These trials help reach patients who are often overlooked by traditional research and funding.
Our partners are delivering smarter, more personalised care. Especially for those who face the toughest odds.
Zero Childhood Cancer
Gives young Australians access to genomic testing and tailored therapies.
Zero Childhood Cancer website
The Minderoo Precision Brain Tumour Program
Uses real-time DNA sequencing to guide better treatment.
Learn more
5G Platform Clinical Trial
Offers patients from the Minderoo Precision Brain Tumour Program access to novel therapeutics through a multicentre adaptive trial design.
We’ve supported major cancer centres. Not for the buildings, but for what they make possible.
- The Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre will bring more than 900 researchers and clinicians together under one roof - integrating real-time research, diagnostics and treatment in a single facility. It’s the first centre in Australia fully focused on childhood cancer outcomes.
- At The Alfred, we partnered to create the Paula Fox Melanoma Centre and Minderoo Wellness Centre. These centres bring clinical care and supportive services together in one place.
We work on advocacy that changes laws and lives.
We worked with young people, health experts and First Nations organisations to lead the UNCLOUD campaign. It helped change how young Australians think about vaping, challenged misinformation, and shifted behaviour. And it helped pave the way for new national legislation. The campaign is now being scaled by VicHealth.
We also supported the Generation Vape study – Australia’s first large-scale research effort into youth vaping behaviours which helped shape national legislation and close a major public health gap.
In the Western Pacific, we’ve partnered – including with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) – to expand cervical cancer screening and vaccination. This work is helping elevate vaccine equity as a public health priority, especially for women and girls in under-resourced settings.
Cancer doesn’t exist in isolation, and neither does our response.
Cancer connects to the work we do every day. It touches communities, reflects inequality, and is shaped by the environments we live in.
- Communities: We work with partners like Zero Childhood Cancer, Little Big Steps, and the Moriarty Foundation to support care that meets people where they are.
- Gender Equality: Women face unique cancers. They also face delays in diagnosis and access to care. Through cervical cancer programs in PNG and Vanuatu, and women-led partnerships, we’re helping close that gap.
- Natural Ecosystems: The environment shapes cancer risk – from sun exposure to air pollution, and microplastics. We’ve invested in campaigns to raise awareness of these risks and we support prevention efforts in regions affected by climate and health system disruption.
Cancer isn’t just science – it’s someone’s child, partner, parent, friend.
That’s why we’ve backed research, treatment, prevention and advocacy at every stage of the cancer journey; and that’s why we’ll keep going.