Research Boost To Fight Childhood Cancer
Fighting childhood cancer is a battle no family should have to face – but it’s the sad reality for an estimated 750 children a year in Australia, aged 0 to 14 - that’s why a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will invest $35 million towards fighting cancer in kids.
Sadly, almost half of childhood cancer cases are under five – by investing in cancer research and treatment we can support better outcomes for childhood cancer sufferers and their families.
The plan continues the cooperation of the best and brightest minds from leading children’s hospitals, research institutes and universities, working together to fight childhood cancer as the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium (VPCC).
This comprehensive investment will develop cancer therapies through research and clinical trial programs for the youngest cancer sufferers, helping to save lives. It will also help survivors manage their long-term health, supporting them to lead long and fulfilling lives.
The investment from Labor is expected to be met with a $10 million commitment from the Children’s Cancer Foundation.
The combined $45 million package of funding will support:
$10 million for research into the next generation of cancer therapies, including the use of sophisticated artificial intelligence approaches
$10 million for safer therapies specifically for children with cancer, focused on pharmacogenomics and radiogenomics
$6 million for programs to support childhood cancer survivors move ahead with their lives, including research into the impact of cancer treatment on growth and development and major risk factors for secondary cancers
$5 million for the Melbourne Bioresource Platform to streamline patient sample collection and processing
$4 million to train paediatric cancer physician researchers, building their clinical research skills and providing pathways for physicians in clinical, epidemiological, translational or laboratory-based research
$3.5 million for paediatric clinical trials, including more trials for newly diagnosed and relapsed cases of childhood cancer
$2.5 million for innovation grants for to paediatric cancer researchers to bolster their understanding of paediatric cancer biology
$4 million for management, coordination and governance, boosting resources to monitor the progress and risks of funded projects
The most common types of cancer affecting children in Australia are leukaemias, which account for around one third of all cases, followed by tumours of the central nervous system responsible for 25 per cent of all diagnoses and lymphomas, accounting for a further 10 per cent.
We are proud of our record in investing in medical research. Since 2014, we’ve invested more than $1.3 billion in medical research, including $400 million for the AIID, and brought Moderna’s first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility outside North America to Melbourne.
In July, we launched the Health and Medical Research Strategy: 2022-2032, outlining a vision for Victoria to continue its status as a global leader in medical research by supporting more breakthroughs, driving economic growth, creating jobs and saving lives.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“No one, least of all a child, should have to face a challenge as big as cancer – but this is a sad reality for many Victorian families.”
“Victoria has some of the best and brightest minds working together to fight childhood cancer. We’ll continue to invest in medical research and treatments to support cancer patients young and old.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford
“My family has experienced the profound, deep sadness of losing a child to cancer – it’s something I never want any other family to go through.”
“We are working with families and our world class medical researchers to take on children’s cancer. This plan will make a real difference - leading to earlier diagnosis, better treatments and less heartbreak.”