$200k for key research component

A KEY space at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute is getting an upgrade thanks to a significant donation by four community banks.

Bendigo Bank branches from Buninyong, Creswick, Beaufort, and Ballan have pooled their money into a $200,000 gift so the Institute’s tissue bank can get an overhaul.

The tissue bank consists of 25,000 samples of cancer cells stored in liquid nitrogen and the money will go towards expanding capacity by a further 5000 as well as reorganising the specimens and creating a fit for purpose space.

“This means that we can have everything in one area in the lab,” said FECRI director Professor George Kannourakis.

“When a sample comes in we can process it in a biohazard cabinet and separate out the cells.”

The money has been raised by the four Bendigo Community Bank branches under their business model where profits are donated back to efforts across the region.

“The whole ethos of community banking is supporting the community,” said Marcus Walsh, chair of the Creswick and District Community Bank.

“Our customers support us and in turn we inject funds into community assets such as FECRI. Because FECRI does a huge job, not only within the Creswick area, but the general district we banded together with our fellow community banks and pooled our money to make a bigger impact.”