Uncovering safer childhood cancer treatments

We’re supporting Victoria’s medical researchers to develop childhood cancer treatments that are less painful and invasive than ones currently available.

Two cancer research teams will share $2 million in funding under the Children’s Cancer CoLab’s Safer Therapies Program. The researchers are undertaking projects to reduce the toxins in treatments including:

• chemotherapy
• radiation
• surgery.

Recipients include:

• Associate Professor Rachel Conyers, who is leading a research team out of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The Royal Children’s Hospital. The project is exploring ways to ease the side effects of chemotherapy and cancer medications for children.
• Professor Mark Dawson from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He is developing 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 young people in Australia are diagnosed with cancer and must undergo invasive, painful treatments. Many cancer treatments are not designed for children’s developing bodies and lead to adverse effects and long-term health issues.

The Safer Therapies Program is designed to improve the safety and effectiveness of children’s cancer therapies. It aims to uncover new drug treatments that are personalised to each patient and less invasive, improving the quality of life for young cancer patients.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It's 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. We have invested $35 million to establish the Children’s Cancer CoLab. This is alongside $10 million from the Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Learn more about the Safer Therapies Program on the Children's Cancer CoLab website.