Col Reynolds Fellowships

Funding the Future of Childhood Cancer Research

Founded in 1993, The Kids' Cancer Project has invested over $60 million into childhood cancer research since its inception. To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the charity and to ensure ground-breaking medical research into childhood cancer continues, The Kids' Cancer Project has established the Col Reynolds Fellowships. Named for founder Col Reynolds OAM, the aim of the Fellowships is to future proof childhood cancer research by encouraging new researchers and retaining talented scientists in the field of childhood cancer research.

From 2023 to 2030, The Kids' Cancer Project have earmarked 25 Fellowships and PhD scholarship top ups. The first round of the Col Reynolds Fellowships in 2023 will consist of:

3 Early Career Scientists @ $170,000 each p.a. for three years
3 Mid-Career Researchers @ $206,000 each p.a. for three years
2 Clinical Fellowships - Medical @ $92,000 each p.a. for three years
2 Clinical Fellowships - Allied Health & Nurses @ $68,000 each p.a. for three years
4 PhD Scholarships @ $10,000 each p.a. for four years

Applications for PhD top up scholarships do not require an EOI. Applications for PhD students will open on 20 April 2023.

Less than 5% of government funding goes to support early-career researchers and only 3.5% of mid-career researchers (6 to 15 years post-PhD) will continue a career in research. This leads to many of the best and brightest young researchers leaving the research community, negatively impacting the pipeline of future early to mid-career cancer researchers in Australia.

The Col Reynolds Fellowships seek to encourage talented young researchers by supporting PhD students, early and mid-career researchers and young clinicians.

Prevention is key in improving serious health outcomes in child survivors. Focused funding towards Australia’s best and brightest scientists from career outset to its pinnacle is crucial in expanding our knowledge across all childhood cancers if we are to ensure 100% healthy survival of Aussie kids.

The Kids' Cancer Project Research Pillars

Discover

Hypothesis driven, innovative basic (T0-discovery) research that will improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of childhood cancer and identify novel, safe and effective new treatment strategies and technologies that will have the potential to translate to patient benefit in the clinic.

The strategic priority is to support innovative discovery research that will improve the understanding of underlying mechanism of disease and identify novel, safe and effective new treatments.

Translate

High-quality clinical research (T1-T4) programs and processes that are informed by discovery research, will directly translate to a patient benefit and facilitate equal access to clinical care resulting in a positive impact on survival rates and quality of life for all children with cancer.

The strategic priority is to Support clinical research programs/ processes that will directly translate to a patient benefit and facilitate access to care.

Support

Supporting children with cancer and their families through research programs and strategies that reduce the long-term toxic effects of cancer treatment and provide suitable supportive care for the patients living with and beyond cancer resulting in a significant improvement in integration back into society, survival and Quality of Life.

The strategic priority is to support children (and their families) living with and beyond cancer through investment in research programs that will:

reduce the long-term toxic effects of cancer treatment.
improve integration back into society, survival and long-term Quality of Life.

Enter your details to receive the EOI (open mid-March 2023)

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About the Fellowships

Starting in 2023, the inaugural Col Reynolds Fellowships will be an investment of over $7.9 million into future proofing childhood cancer research by encouraging new researchers and retaining talented scientists in the field of childhood cancer research.

PhD Top-up Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student to undertake childhood cancer research that aligns with priority areas and the strategy of The Kids’ Cancer Project. Applications for top up scholarships do not require an EOI. Applications will open on 20 April 2023.
Clinical Research Fellowships will attract and retain the brightest and most promising clinical researchers who have a demonstrated passion for improving the outcome for children with cancer. Funding will provide an opportunity for qualified medical and allied health clinicians and research nurses to develop research capabilities and increase research capacity in areas relevant to childhood cancer.
Career Development Fellowships will support the career advancement of early and mid-career childhood cancer researchers through the development of research and leadership skills while encouraging team-based research and collaborations. The funding will support innovative and/or novel approaches to childhood cancer research that will achieve significant outcomes and demonstrate valuable findings for kid’s facing childhood cancer.

Investment in the Col Reynolds Fellowships aims to future proof childhood cancer research by investing in the next generation of researchers and retaining the brilliantly talented scientists already making great strides in the field of childhood cancer research. The vision of this investment is to ensure every child with cancer survives to leave a long and healthy life free from any side-effects.