Victorian government funds paediatric cancer research

24 May 2023

By Rob Clancy, staff writer

Paeduatruc cancer researchers Professor Ron Firestein and Dr Jason Cain — *L-R: Professor Ron Firestein, Dr Jason Cain*

The future of children with cancer is brighter today, with the announcement of significant funding from the Victorian government for paediatric cancer research.

As a proud co-leader in the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium (VPCC), Hudson Institute of Medical Research welcomes the commitment of $35 million, which will boost our efforts to find new treatments and cures, as well as improving quality of life for children who survive cancer.

Life-changing paediatric cancer research

Cancer remains the leading disease-related cause of death among Australian children and despite many years of research, survival rates from some cancers have hardly improved.

Working with our partners, the Children’s Cancer Foundation, which itself has committed $10 million to the VPCC, Hudson Institute scientists are proud to be at the forefront of this research.

Professor Elizabeth Hartland, Director and CEO of Hudson Institute — *Professor Elizabeth Hartland*

Director and CEO of Hudson Institute, Professor Elizabeth Hartland, said this funding will allow our researchers to spend more time in the lab and less in search of the finance they need to carry out their vital work.

“Our scientists and clinicians are doing incredible, life-changing work, but too much of their time is spent outside the lab in the search for new sources of funding, so support like this provides the certainty they need to keep striving for the next research breakthrough.” Prof Hartland said.

“We are working toward new, personalised treatments for the nearly 1,000 Australian children – almost half of them under five – who are diagnosed with cancer every year.”