Light and hope

Two great Australian companies have made a significant impact at SAHMRI through the vision and generosity of one man, Nicho Teng.

As Managing Director of Greaton and founder of Haneco Lighting, Nicho has proudly supported SAHMRI since 2018, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to cancer and heart health research.

“When I first discovered SAHMRI, I was so impressed,” said Nicho. “It’s a great hub for health and medical research collaboration, concentrating all that knowledge and expertise in a single location.”

Property development company Greaton has created visionary projects in Adelaide such as transforming the Adelaide General Post Office into a luxurious Marriott Hotel. Its reach also extends across Australia, including the landmark redevelopment of The Ribbon in Darling Harbour, housing IMAX Sydney and the W Sydney hotel.

But what most excites Nicho is Greaton’s commitment to sustainability, with a focus on supporting people, fostering collaborative relationships, developing quality products and reducing environmental impact.

“It’s all about returning benefit to the community and giving back,” said Nicho.

“We like supporting SAHMRI because we can see the results, and it’s translating into social benefit. We’re in a position to act as an example and showcase what SAHMRI does for the community. We’re proud that we can help.”

Nicho founded Haneco Lighting in 2011 in Adelaide to provide cutting-edge LED lighting technology, helping customers embrace sustainable practices with a strong focus on renewable energy.

Haneco’s most recent support of SAHMRI has funded an innovative project using 3D human tissue ‘organoids’, to test for genetic changes and drug sensitivity in stomach cancer patients.

Led by Associate Professor Susan Woods, the trial is a major step towards tailored therapeutics for people whose cancers are often undiagnosed until well advanced, by which time treatment options are typically expended within a year.

Since organoids are derived from a patient’s own tissue, they reflect individual genetic and molecular characteristics. They therefore offer a uniquely personalised approach that can accurately predict how an individual will respond to different treatments.

“Haneco Lighting’s investment has given us a fantastic opportunity to make significant strides towards improving the lives of patients living with this terrible disease,” Susan said.

And for Nicho, there’s a satisfying synergy between Haneco Lighting and SAHMRI.

“We provide the light, and SAHMRI provides the hope,” said Nicho.

“We all have experiences with cancer, it affects everyone. If we can share the value of what SAHMRI creates, if we can help other people see that, it’s a good thing because medical research benefits everyone.”