Health Minister Jillian Skinner today announced the 17 recipients of the 2015 Cancer Institute NSW Research Equipment Grants.

The $5.5 million investment will provide leading researchers from eight institutions with the tools they need to gain new insights into cancer and novel treatments.

The research equipment ranges from high-powered computers to precision microscopes and sophisticated specimen preparation and identification tools.

“Through these grants, we are providing our best research minds with the technologies they need to make ground-breaking discoveries, including personalised drug treatments, new therapies to block cancer growth and greater understanding of how cancer genes behave,” Mrs Skinner said.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting researchers to fast-track these discoveries into treatments and therapies for people with cancer across NSW.”

The Cancer Institute NSW, which is the state’s cancer control agency, stipulates that equipment grant recipients must share any unused capacity with scientists from other universities and research bodies across the state.

Cancer Institute NSW chief executive and NSW Chief Cancer Officer Professor David Currow said: “NSW remains at the forefront of cancer discovery and this investment supports our scientists to enhance the quality of their research and broaden the scope of their work.

“The Cancer Institute NSW is proud to support the work of our brilliant cancer researchers, which not only benefits the people of our state but also contributes to the global cancer research community.”