MELBOURNE, July 18, 2016 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden addresses workers and staffs of the Boeing Aerostructures Australia plant in Melbourne, Australia, July 18, 2016. Joe Biden visited Melbourne as part of a three-day tour of Australia and New Zealand. (Xinhua/Bai Xue)
MELBOURNE, July 18 (Xinhua) -- United States Vice-President Joe Biden has praised the efforts of Australian cancer researchers during his three-day visit to Melbourne over the weekend.
Biden met with researchers at the official opening of Victoria's Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) the state's new 760 million U.S. dollar facility and lauded their "profound" contributions to the U.S-Australia collaboration on cancer research.
"On behalf of the United States of America, on behalf of every cancer patient in the United States of America, thank you for this, I mean this sincerely," Biden said in comments published by the Australian media on Monday.
"You are making cancer research a team sport. You have poured your heart and a lot of your money but your heart into building this facility. It's a testament to your tenacity as well as your dedication in the fight against cancer."
The vice-president works closely with several global cancer research projects after his 46-year-old son, Beau, died of brain cancer in May last year.
Biden said the collaboration between the U.S. and Australia meant the world was on the "cusp of so many potential breakthroughs."
"(We're) using supercomputing power to find answers that we don't have right now," he said in comments published by News Corp on Monday.
"We're going to be able to share patient histories and proteogenomics and clinical phenotypes, the data of various proteins and genetic characteristics, of almost 60,000 patients in Australia and the United States, with full privacy protections."
On Sunday afternoon, Biden attended an Australian Football League (AFL) match at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Biden was presented with a customized Carlton Blues guernsey, and was seen later enjoying the game with Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, and two of the AFL's American imports, Mason Cox and Matt Korcheck.
Biden will fly to Sydney today to meet Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull before flying out to New Zealand later this week.
