Ride Like Crazy Brain Tumour Research Equipment

New brain tumour research laboratory equipment unveiled at the University of Adelaide.

Picture: Matt Turner Source: The Advertiser

Jody Koerner hopes the funds from an annual bike ride named after her husband, Mick, will help prevent brain cancer deaths. STOPPING the spread of cancer to the brain will be a major focus for Adelaide University researchers.

Researchers at the new Dean Bowman Brain Tumour Research Laboratory, funded by Santos will investigate how tumour cells get into the brain.

"Once cancer is in the brain it's very had to treat," the university's chair or neurosurgical research Professor Bob Vink said.

"You are going to die within about six months.

"If it's so hard to treat that's not going to be our focus, we are going to focus on stopping those cells getting into the brain," he said.

Much of the equipment in the lab will be funded by the Ride Like Crazy annual cycling event.

The ride was named after STAR Group police officer Senior Sergeant Mick "Crazy" Koerner, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in September, 2008 and passed away in November, 2009.

Mr Koerner's wife, Jody, said she hoped the research would help to prevent further brain cancer deaths in the years to come.

"It's hard to foresee what can be done about this, but we've got to try," Mrs Koerner said.

"Mick would be really proud, it's a fantastic thing for SA to have.

"It's a case of something good coming out of something terrible."