As a major centre of childhood cancer research Hudson Institute was proud to play host to the Federal Minister for Aged Care and Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, for the announcement of the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium (VPCC).
The Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has awarded $9.6 million over three years for this new collaboration of Victorian hospitals and research institutes.
Every year, nearly 1,000 Australian children are diagnosed with cancer, making cancer the leading cause of death from disease among the younger age group.
Minister Hunt said praised the role of Australian researchers to date and looked forward to more knowledge being uncovered: “We now know that cancer in kids is very different to adult cancer. We urgently need to put children at the heart of these discoveries to improve the lives of our youngest population with cancer, ensuring they can live their lives to the fullest.”
The VPCC will be co-led by Hudson’s own Professor Ron Firestein and Professor David Eisenstat, Head of the Children’s Cancer Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Neuro-Oncology Group Leader at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
This consortium draws together researchers and clinicians across Melbourne’s Monash and Parkville medical precincts, including The Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Children’s Hospital, working together with researchers at Hudson Institute, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, WEHI, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Monash University and University of Melbourne.
Prof Firestein said the VPCC draws together a unique range of research expertise and clinical capabilities: “VPCC will focus on discovery research projects in next-generation precision medicine oncology, tumour immunotherapy and epigenomics. This will be complemented by clinical programs aimed at improving patient survival and minimising late effects and adverse reactions to therapies.”
The research will focus on finding new therapies for cancers with the greatest unmet medical need, including brain, bone and soft tissue cancers which have low survival rates. It will also investigate ways to minimise or prevent severe long-term side effects in children who receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Researchers will use a range of cutting-edge technologies and approaches including genomics, drug screening, disease modelling, biobanking, and artificial intelligence driven precision medicine, to find new targets and predict which patients will best respond to therapies. A state-wide registry of child cancer survivors will be expanded to follow up and transition children to adult services.
Director and CEO of Hudson Institute Professor Elizabeth Hartland said: “This initiative will build capacity and sustainability for paediatric cancer research in Victoria by cultivating local, national and international partnerships, supporting educational events and training the childhood cancer leaders of tomorrow.”
Health Minister’s Media Release | Top Victorian researchers join together to fight childhood cancer | Health Portfolio Ministers
