The Victorian Government is backing world-class medical researchers in Victoria to develop new safer, less invasive childhood cancer treatments - not only enabling critical medical discoveries but creating opportunities for biotech companies and investors to engage in breakthrough therapies and commercialisation pathways.
Under the first rounds of the Children’s Cancer CoLab’s Safer Therapies Program, two Victorian research teams will share $2.6 million in funding to improve children’s cancer treatments.
Recipients include Associate Professor Rachel Conyers, who is leading a Murdoch Children’s Research Institute program exploring ways to reduce the toxic side effects and improve outcomes for children after undergoing cancer treatments.
Professor Mark Dawson from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is also receiving funding under the program to lead a research project to develop a new type of cell therapy to improve the safety of bone marrow transplants in childhood cancer patients.
Every year, more than 1,000 children and adolescents in Australia are diagnosed with cancer and must undergo invasive, painful treatments including chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Many cancer treatments are not designed for children’s developing bodies and lead to adverse effects and long-term health issues.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – an apt time to celebrate the work of the Children’s Cancer CoLab, which brings together the best and brightest minds to undertake cutting-edge research to tackle childhood cancer.
Through its Next-Generation Therapies Program, the Children’s Cancer CoLab’s recently awarded $2.1 million to two Victorian researchers to develop new treatments for children’s cancers that are the hardest to treat, including brain, bone and soft tissue cancers.
The Victorian Government invested $35 million to establish the Children’s Cancer CoLab, alongside $10 million from the Children’s Cancer Foundation. The Children’s Cancer CoLab brings together the best and brightest minds to undertake cutting-edge research to tackle childhood cancer.
Victoria is leading the way when it comes to cancer research, with the new $152 million Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre recently opening at the Alfred Hospital.
The Victorian Government’s investment of more than $1 billion in health and medical research over the past decade continues to that support incredible breakthroughs in treatment and care, while strengthening Victoria as a strategic destination for biotech and medtech investment and collaboration.
Health technologies and medical research are identified as top priority areas in the Economic Growth Statement.
Learn about Melbourne’s thriving medical research industry and explore opportunities for investment, innovation and collaboration
