History
Lighthouse Laboratories was established in February 2003. It was set up because the founding director, Graeme Tucker, was passionate about pursuing neuroblastoma research at the bench level, which was non existent in Western Australia at the time, nor was there the will within existing bodies.
This is not to say that the facility was created solely for one individual; the entity was established as a platform for all, i.e. to engage in other research themes and to create opportunities for additional research associates.
Lighthouse, with sincerity, also wanted to abstain from using animals in experimentation. In doing so, Lighthouse was giving the public and the researcher ‘choice’ with regard to the type of research they wish to support or participate in. This choice and constitutional commitment was not in existence, at a national level, before Lighthouse Labs came along. Thus, our activities at the time of establishment were complimenting rather than duplicating activities of other established entities.
To get things going daily, work by Graeme was voluntary and funds needed for expenses were donated by Graeme; the source of this money was through additional work (forty hours work per week outside normal business hours). To date, Graeme has donated tens of thousands of hard earned dollars and more than 10,000 hours of voluntary work for Lighthouse.
Motive is the driving force of this passion and effort. Many would undoubtedly suspect that such a motive is underpinned by personal experience. They would be right. Graeme’s family has been touched by neuroblastoma and fortunately that family member survived. Relapse is always a fear and the family feels for all those touched by cancer, past present or future.