In a national first, a $25 million grant has been awarded to an extraordinary research partnership led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, in close collaboration with St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney and other national and international partners. The initiative, called AllClear, is taking on one of the toughest challenges in breast cancer: stopping the disease from coming back.

While most people survive their initial breast cancer diagnosis, many live with the fear that their cancer will return — sometimes decades later. This return is often driven by dormant cancer cells that hide in other places like the skeleton. Until now, these cells have been nearly impossible to find, study or remove.

But the AllClear team has already made breakthroughs — discovering how these hidden cells evade the immune system and how we might eliminate them. With world-leading biobanks, cutting-edge genomics, machine learning tools, and deep collaboration across cancer research, immunology, clinical trials and community engagement, this program aims to give patients the “all-clear” with confidence – by finding cures for patient, and developing the next generation of specialist investigators and clinicians.

By combining scientific innovation with clinical care and equity, AllClear shows the power of partnership across the St Vincent’s Sydney Health Innovation Precinct to rewrite the future of breast cancer.