The Freemasons Oncology Fellowship was awarded to researchers Dr Sarah Young, a senior lecturer in pathology and an immunologist, and oncologist Dr Chris Jackson at the Otago Masonic Charitable Trust's annual presentation ceremony, which was attended by more than 100 people.
The researchers' study is on the use of immunotherapy, in which healthy cells are removed from the patient, multiplied in the laboratory and then reintroduced to fight invading cancer cells.
The pair hope by the end of this year they will have enough data to set up a clinical trial.
Dr Jackson said it was hoped the therapy could be useful initially as a complement to chemotherapy and radiotherapy rather than a replacement for those treatments.
It is expected the funding from the fellowship, of at least $45,000 a year, will pay for the work of a PhD student.
The researchers were also presented with a $12,400 electronic cell counter, to improve the accuracy and speed of counting infected cells under a microscope.
Two lodge members, Peter Bailey, of Roxburgh, and Les Brenssell, of Alexandra, were thanked for their role as the driving force behind the new fellowship.
The fellowship allocation this year was part of more than $350,000 in 2011 funding for Otago projects from the Freemasons.
This included $160,000 for three paediatric fellowships taken up by students on each of the University of Otago's medical school campuses, Tamsin Roberts (Wellington), Rebekah Luo (Dunedin) and Jody Porter (Christchurch).
Other Masonic awards were $63,000 to 12 community groups, $47,000 for a variety of awards to students and more than $25,000 given to Dunedin opera singer Anna Lees recently.
