Research winners good news for kids with cancer

Hudson Institute’s Centre for Cancer Research is a major winner in the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) 2024 Paediatric Brain Cancer Research grants.

Our researchers will share $2 million in funding with their Monash University colleagues to work towards improving outcomes for children with high-grade gliomas, including DIPG by developing new therapies which target specific genetic mutations.

Professor Ron Firestein (CIB), Dr Pouya Faridi (CIC) and Associate Professor Jason Cain (CID) will work alongside CIA Prof Lee Wong (Monash University) on the project titled Advancing Differentiation Therapy and Immunotherapy for Paediatric High-Grade Gliomas Through Targeted Epigenome Regulation.

ANZCHOG cancer research boost

They were also part of the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) team awarded $14 million for the CoACT-Brain Cancer project (Consortium for Australian Children’s Trials in Brain Cancer).

Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Mark Butler MP, said this funding will ensure children with brain cancer can access the world’s most promising clinical trials.

“It is a testament to all the families that have been impacted by DIPG and their relentless advocacy,” Mr Butler said. “We need bold and innovative research approaches to find treatments and a cure for DIPG and childhood brain cancer.”

“Australia has some of the best researchers in the world in this field and this funding from the Australian Government will mean children and their families will have improved access to the latest clinical trials.”

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. More precise, safer treatments for children with cancer are needed to improve survival and reduce adverse treatment impact.

Hudson Institute is a world leader in the field, building capacity and sustainability for paediatric cancer research by cultivating local, national and international partnerships, supporting educational events and training the childhood cancer leaders of tomorrow.