Research Advisory Committee

An expert panel dedicated to thorough peer review process

Identifying the projects that will pursue new ideas to make a real difference sooner

Our expert Research Advisory Committee (RAC) independently review and rate all grant submissions. Their recommendations are handed to The Kids’ Cancer Project Board who ultimately determine the studies funded. The rules of the peer review process prohibit RAC members endorsing their own projects.

Dr Timothy P Cripe

Dr Timothy P Cripe

MD, PhD

Dr Cripe is a paediatric expert at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. His clinical interests include gene and viral therapies for solid tumours in children, including brain tumours, neuroblastoma, and bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Dr Cripe’s research focuses on developing and testing new, targeted therapies for paediatric solid tumours and translating those findings into clinical studies.

Professor Murray Norris

Professor Murray Norris

AM BSc ANU, MAppSc NSWIT, PhD UNSW

Professor Norris was one of the first three scientists to staff the Children’s Cancer Institute when its research laboratories opened in 1984. He is Head of the Molecular Diagnostics Program and was appointed Deputy Director of Children’s Cancer Institute in 2000. He is also inaugural Director of the UNSW Centre for Childhood Cancer Research.

Dr Brenda Weigel

Dr Brenda Weigel

MD, MSc

Dr Weigel is Director of the Division of Pediatric Haematology/Oncology at Masonic Cancer Centre, University of Minnesota (U of M). She is a professor cross-appointed at U of M’s Cancer Centre and the Department of Pediatrics, and the recipient of the Lehman/Children’s Cancer Research Fund Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer. She is also Chair of Developmental Therapeutics for the Children’s Oncology Group.

Professor Jonathan G Izant

Professor Jonathan G Izant

PhD

Professor Izant has extensive international experience in biomedical research, business and non-profit leadership at Yale School of Medicine, Garvan Institute, QUT, Johnson & Johnson and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has helped create biotech, bioinformatics and business development companies, was a member of the NHMRC Human Gene Advisory Panel and has served on numerous government and private research funding committees.

Associate Professor Andrew Moore

Associate Professor Andrew Moore

MBBS, FRACP, PhD

Associate Professor Moore is Senior Staff Specialist, Paediatric Oncology at Queensland Children’s Hospital where he is also Director, Clinical and Biomedical Research. He specialises in childhood leukaemia, with special interest in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Associate Professor Moore is and an academic title holder with The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Medicine and is Director of the Queensland Children's Tumour Bank.

Dr Justine Stehn

Dr Justine Stehn

PhD

Dr Stehn is the Integrative Oncology and Supportive Care Research Manager at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Comprehensive Cancer hospital. She has over 25 years’ experience in the academic and industry health sectors working on translational and clinical research programs in both childhood and adult cancers. Her expertise is in the building of research programs that support the implementation of new treatment strategies that improve both the quality and quantity of life of people with cancer.

Associate Professor David Ziegler

Associate Professor David Ziegler

MBBS UNSW, MD/PhD UNSW, Dip Paed, FRACP (Chair)

Associate Professor Ziegler is a senior Staff Specialist in the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. He is a paediatric oncologist with expertise in neuro-oncology and early phase clinical trials. He has concurrent appointments as Group Leader at the Children’s Cancer Institute, and conjoint Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales.

Dr Jordana McLoone

Dr Jordana McLoone

Dr McLoone is a senior research fellow within the Behavioural Sciences Unit, Australia's largest paediatric psycho-oncology research group, which straddles the School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney and the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital. Beyond her extensive research into the psychosocial impact of childhood cancer, she also sits on two ANZCHOG committees as well as the COSA Financial Toxicity Working Group, is involved in international childhood cancer initiatives in Papua New Guinea and Oceania, teaches both undergraduate and higher degree research students and has a special interest in artificial intelligence and innovations in telehealth.