Matthew Fisher Sarcoma Research Fund

Dear donors

Thank you again for your kind donations to the Matthew Fisher Sarcoma Research Fund. It’s almost been three years since his death and the establishment of his research fund, Matt’s final wish to support critical research to change the current trajectory for patients living with a sarcoma diagnosis.

We are pleased to let you know that the first round results of the IL 23 trial can now be widely shared.

The trial lead, Professor David Thomas will be presenting virtually to the Matthew Fisher Sarcoma Research Fund donors on Tuesday 14 November at 12.30 pm (Canberra time). The online presentation will be followed by a short Q&A session.

The link to the live presentation will be provided on this site the day before the event.

For those based in Canberra, IP Australia Canberra office will be hosting the event at their Amenities Room, near the Security Desk in the main foyer. Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation will be providing a light lunch. If you would like to attend in person, please RSVP to [email redacted].au for catering purposes.

For those who are not able to join the presentation live, a recording will be available at a later date.

About Professor David Thomas

Professor David Thomas is CEO of Omico since 2018: the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre and inaugural Director of the Centre for Molecular Oncology at UNSW. He has a background in medicine and cancer research. He undertook his medical training at the University of Melbourne (1982-1988), and completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 1997. He was the founding Chair and board member of the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group (2007-18). He heads the Garvan Institute of Medical Research’s Genomic Cancer Medicine Laboratory.

The Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation (CRBF)

Is dedicated to the fight against sarcoma, a cancer of the connective tissue and bone, affecting all ages, but disproportionately affecting children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, please visit crbf.org.au

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Matt was diagnosed with a rare aggressive cancer rhabdomyosarcoma in February 2020, and unfortunately this has proved to be terminal. Matt’s down-to-earth and caring nature for his family (wife Naomi, two daughters Vivi and Sylvie), friends and work colleagues is well known. Now we’d like to support Matt’s final wish for increased sarcoma research.

Throughout his treatment in 2020, Matt continued to be your typical chemical patent examiner and would research the patents on his chemotherapy drugs and relay what he found to his oncologist, who believed one was an invention stolen from Australia.

Given his scientific research background, it's no surprise that his final wish was to support critical research required to change the current trajectory for patients living with a sarcoma diagnosis.

All raised funds will be passed to The Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation, which is currently seeking funds for the a world first IL23 sarcoma clinical study in conjunction with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. This fund is being named in Matt’s honour.

For more information on the The Matthew Fisher Sarcoma Research Fund, please visit https://www.crbf.org.au/matthew-fisher-sarcoma-research-fund/