Former Hodgkin’s lymphoma sufferer Delta Goodrem has been named as the patron of the new $100 million Cancer Centre within the St Vincent’s Research precinct in Sydney.
The centre, which is being set up by the Institute of Medical Research and St Vincent’s & Mater Health, will aim to discover novel drugs, diagnostics and prevention strategies.
Delta, who was treated at St Vincents five years ago during her own battle with Hodkin’s lymphoma, says she and the doctors have a fair bit in common.
“Now I’ve actually tried to tell the doctors here and the professors that I too am actually a doctor in my own way," she said.
“I’m in the healing world… I am a songwriter. I’ve always made music to heal.
“I write songs for people to escape in to, to connect, to be able to relate from experiences that I’ve had
“But I’m here today not as a musician but as a human being who has been affected.”
The new centre will house approximately 250 researchers and clinicians in a ‘collaborative environment’ to help with research into the disease.
It will focus particularly on prostate, breast, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers, as well as leukaemia.
Funding will be raised via philanthropic and corporate gifts, as state and Commonwealth government support.
