A new cancer research and treatment facility, with links to cycling great and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, has opened in Adelaide.
The $28 million Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer includes the Livestrong Cancer Research Centre.
Livestrong is the organisation established by Armstrong, a seven times Tour de France winner, to help the fight against cancer worldwide.
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In Adelaide, the Livestrong research wing will focus on early diagnosis and prevention.
South Australian Health Minister John Hill said the new facility, built with federal and state government and private funds, would bring international recognition to the work being conducted in Adelaide.
"The centre's work ties in with South Australia's strategic commitment to high-level research and the translation of advances in knowledge and technology into better prevention and treatment," Mr Hill said.
"We are committed to building even more health and medical research capacity and excellence in South Australia."
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who provided the initial funding for the centre when he was health minister in the Howard government, said the new centre had the potential to do great work in the fight against cancer.
"There are other centres in this country that are larger and better resourced. There are other centres around the world that are larger and better resources," Mr Abbott said.
"But I am confident that this centre can make a contribution beyond its numbers and beyond its funding because of the spirit and commitment of the health staff that work here."
