Hudson Lab Secures Three Grants to Battle Childhood Cancers
By Rob Clancy, staff writer. Reviewed by Dr Pouya Faridi
In a significant advancement for pediatric cancer research, Dr Pouya Faridi—the head of the Translational Antigen Discovery Laboratory and Childhood Cancer Immunotherapy Program Lead—announced that his lab has been awarded three grants from Tour de Cure Australia.
This funding is set to propel the development of precision immunotherapies aimed at combating childhood cancers.
Childhood cancer facts
- Each year almost 1,000 Australian children are diagnosed with childhood cancer and 5,600 are undergoing treatment.
- For every ten children diagnosed, two will not survive; and those who do suffer long-term (sometimes life-long) health issues because current therapies can affect children’s growing bodies.
- The development of more targeted and less toxic treatments for children with cancer is crucial to improve survival rates and reduce long-term treatment-related side effects.
Dr Faridi expressed his excitement about the groundbreaking support, noting that the grants will enable his team to pioneer new approaches in targeting aggressive pediatric cancers. “I’m excited to share that our lab has been awarded three grants from Tour de Cure Australia to advance our fight against childhood cancers!” he said.
The funding will support several innovative projects, including:
- PhD Support Scholarships: Awarded to PhD candidates Tima Shamekhi and Grace Huang, these scholarships will facilitate research into novel immunotherapy targets for Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) and Ewing Sarcoma.
- Pioneering Research Grant: This grant will fund the development of a T Cell Receptor Therapy (TCR-T) specifically designed to tackle Ewing Sarcoma.
These initiatives highlight the laboratory’s steadfast commitment to precision immunotherapies that promise renewed hope for young patients and their families. The collaborative nature of the research was also emphasised, with significant contributions from partners at the Monash Health Translation Precinct. Key collaborations include:
- The Hudson Institute of Medical Research, with Associate Professor Jason Cain and Professor Ron Firestein.
- Clinical Sciences at Monash Health Monash University, led by Associate Professor Joshua Ooi.
- Monash Children’s Hospital, represented by Associate Professor Peter Downie.
Dr Faridi extended his heartfelt gratitude to Anita Halket-Watts and Robert De Rose for their unwavering support of the research efforts. He also thanked Tour de Cure for empowering their groundbreaking work, reinforcing the message that collective efforts and shared expertise are vital in pushing the boundaries of pediatric cancer care.
For further details on these exciting projects, visit the following links:
Tour de Cure grants
Tour de Cure has awarded a prestigious Pioneering Project Grant of AUD 100,000 to Dr Pouya Faridi and two Postgraduate Research Grants of AUD 10,000 each to his lab members, Fatemeh (Tima) Shamekhi and Grace Huang. These grants support their innovative projects focused on developing precision immunotherapies for childhood cancers.
Tour de Cure began with a powerful dream – to cure cancer by funding groundbreaking research. Since its inception in 2007, the charity has raised more than $130 million.
Tour de Cure’s mission is to accelerate scientific advancements and breakthroughs, bringing us closer to a future where cancer is no longer life-threatening.
Collaborators | Monash Health, Monash University, Monash Children’s Hospital
This research was supported by | Tour de Cure Australia
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