World Cancer Research Day
Double your donation on September 24
World Cancer Research Day 2026: double your impact for women in cancer research
This World Cancer Research Day, every dollar you donate to Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) will be matched by Amgen, up to $50,000.
This year, we’re shining a light on brilliant women in cancer research and the discoveries they’re helping make possible.
That means your gift can go twice as far to help provide Australian researchers with the technology, equipment and infrastructure they need to find new and improved ways to prevent, detect and treat all types of cancer.
Your donation goes twice as far
$50 from you + $50 from Amgen = $100 for cancer research
World Cancer Research Day is a global movement marked each year on 24 September. It highlights the central role research plays in improving how cancer is prevented, detected and treated, and calls for continued collaboration and investment.
At ACRF, we know brilliant ideas need the right tools. Since 1984, we have funded the technology, equipment and infrastructure Australian scientists need to pursue pioneering research across all types of cancer.
Double your impact and help back the next breakthrough!
Brilliant women, backed by supporters like you
Four researchers. Decades of progress. One shared belief in what research can make possible.
Your donation on World Cancer Research Day will be doubled by Amgen and will give more brilliant researchers the tools they need to take the next step.
“Science is a team effort. You are not working on your own, and you will get further if you bring people along on your journey.”
Professor Marina Pajic, Co-Director of the Translational Oncology Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Today, Professor Pajic leads research into personalised treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer. Her team’s new clinical trials will draw on technology at the ACRF MATRIX Centre to study how individual tumours respond to treatment and help identify who may benefit most from different approaches.
“I see every day how research changes lives – giving people the chance to live longer, healthier lives. ACRF plays a vital role in helping make the next breakthrough possible.”
Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, NSW Chief Cancer Officer, Paediatric Oncologist & ACRF Funded Researcher
“You’re only as good as the people around you.”
Professor Kaylene Simpson, Head, ACRF Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics in cancer at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
A $2.5 million ACRF grant awarded in 2008 helped establish the ACRF Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics in cancer at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. This Centre supports a technology platform that enables researchers to study the mechanisms driving resistance to cancer treating drugs by investigating genes that are important in regulating changes in cell behaviour. Nearly two decades later, its capabilities continue to be essential for cancer research discoveries.
“The tumour microenvironment is the next frontier in cancer research.”
Dr Amelia Parker, Senior Research Officer, Cox Lab, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Dr Parker is part of the team at the ACRF MATRIX Centre, which uses advanced imaging technology to investigate why some cancers resist treatment and spread. In 2025, she received the Amgen Women in Cancer Research Grant Award, providing $100,000 a year for three years to advance her work.
Partnering to empower women in cancer research
In early 2025, Australian Cancer Research Foundation and Amgen began a three-year partnership built around a shared commitment to support women in oncology and related fields at every stage of their careers.
The partnership includes a survey into the experiences of women working in cancer research, a study tour at Amgen's global headquarters, Empowering Women in Cancer Research Leadership Series and the Amgen Women in Cancer Research Grant Award, worth $100,000 a year for three years.
This World Cancer Research Day, Amgen is extending that support by matching donations to ACRF dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. Together, we can help more brilliant women pursue the research that will shape what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a 24 hour period, starting from 10am on the 24 September 2026, all donations made to Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) via https://www.acrf.com.au/donate will be matched dollar for dollar.
During the 24-hour matched giving campaign period, we are hoping to raise $50,000 that will go towards cutting-edge cancer research into all types of cancer.
In the unlikely event that the donor decides to no longer provide the matching gift donation the campaign will not go ahead. We will notify people of this event via acrf.com.au along with announcements on ACRF social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram).
The matching gift comes from Amgen. They have pledged a total amount of $50,000 to Australian Cancer Research Foundation. The amount has been confirmed in writing.
Once the matching amount has been exhausted, communications will be updated across the acrf.com.au website to reflect that the matching campaign is no longer running. Along with this, an announcement will be made on ACRF social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook). This announcement will be made in a reasonable time-frame/as soon as is practical and may be impacted by the time of day at which point the allocation is exhausted.
Will you help fund what's next?
Your donation on 24 September 2026, will be doubled by Amgen, to help provide the technology and infrastructure researchers need to make tomorrow's breakthroughs possible.