The Australian Breakthrough Cancer (ABC) Study will work with over 50,000 Australian residents to investigate the causes of cancer and other diseases. Using the latest genetic technologies, we will investigate the role that our genes, lifestyle and environment play in the development of disease.

The ABC Study is building a large research resource aiming to achieve better-targeted cancer screening. Using the knowledge gained from the ABC study, we will be able to screen only those people who will benefit from screening, sparing a large proportion of the population from unnecessary investigations. Public health messages, too, can be directed at the people who need them most.

For example, by identifying those who are at greater risk of a particular cancer (i.e. bowel cancer) both through genetics and lifestyle, those at greatest risk could be given more thorough screening, while those at lower risk could have less frequent testing.

Having such a large group (aka cohort) also makes it easier for us to learn more about some of the rarer cancers that occur in the population.

To find out more about what we are trying to achieve and how, listen to ABC radio's Trevor Chappell's 15 December 2016 interview with Associate Professor Roger Milne, who is a Principal Investigator on the Study.  Roger is also Head of the Cancer Epidemiology and Intelligence Division at Cancer Council Victoria. Note: the ABC Study is not affiliated with ABC broadcasting.