CANCER STUDY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25902, 7 September 1949, Page 6

CANCER STUDY

AUCKLAND RESEARCH SCHEME "The Press’ Special Service AUCKLAND, September «. A cancer research studentship in pathology may be established at the Auckland Hospital. A scheme drawn up by the medical executive of the Auckland division of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society was upproved in principle by the Auckland Hospital Board. The board decided to ask the Health Department to give its approval. The medical executive stated in its proposals that two channels should be followed in the effort to attaqk the ravages of cancer. Plans for one. concerned with attempts to reach an early diagnosis of the disease, were maturing. The second channel was directed toward the problem of the disease itself and the questions of why it occurred and what factors influenced its growth. Research could be undertaken in the city at a small cost to the community. The three fields in which research could be carried out were clinical, pathological and radiological, the executive stated. If conditions could be created for research in pathology, the door was opened for more extensive work in all fields in time to come. The fact that a well-equipped laboratory and a cancer consultation clinic already existed meant that abundant material was available to be studied and that no great obstacle stood in the way of the institution of a ednder research studentship in pathology.

The executive suggested that a junior or senior specialist employed 'by the board should be appointed t<s‘ a research studentship and should give half his time to the work. The board would pay half the salary and ’ho society would pay the othei' naif, namely, about £6OO. The work would be done in the Auckland Hospitals pathology department and a full-time assistant would be employed by the society. It was suggested that the term of studentship for an appointee should be two years, with an option to extend it annually if the appointed' satisfactory.