Posted On: August 30, 2019
This year The Kids’ Cancer Project celebrate their community’s significant achievement of contributing nearly $50 million to childhood cancer research over the past 15 years.
Childhood cancer remains the deadliest disease for children in Australia, but thanks to the independent national charity and their incredible tribe of donors, fundraisers and advocates that could soon change as Owen Finegan, CEO explained.
"Since 2004, The Kids’ Cancer Project has been able to commit $49.35 million in support of bold scientific studies,” said Finegan.
“I’m incredibly proud that over the past five years alone, our commitment has generated more than $35 million in additional research grants seeded by our direct funding,” he said.
His statement was delivered as the organisation formally confirmed the latest round of grant recipients.
"We proudly announce support of 30 medical research programs across 19 research institutions around Australia in the 2019/2020 financial year,” Finegan said.
Finegan said the projects total more than $9.9 million in multi-year funding that will support 36 scientists.
Seven of the programs funded by the charity in FY2020 are clinical trials to help children with many different types of cancer.
“In our latest round of grant awards, we’ll be supporting five of the most brilliant researchers and clinicians in our country as they work tirelessly to improve outcomes for all children with cancer,” said Finegan.
First-class five
Grant recipient: Associate Professor Irina Vetter
Study: Developing treatments for vincristine-induced neuropathy
Institute: The University of Queensland
Funding: $255,978 July 2019 to June 2021
Grant recipient: Dr Diane Hanna
Study: Overcoming therapeutic resistance in high risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia using novel BH3 mimetic combinations
Institute: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
Funding: $100,000 July 2019 to June 2020
Grant recipient: Dr Cassy Spiller
Study: Development of a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic assay for adolescent testicular cancer
Institute: The University of Queensland
Funding: $50,000 July 2019 to June 2021
Grant recipient: Associate Professor David Ziegler
Study: Epigenetic targeted therapy in DIPG
Institute: Kids Cancer Centre
Funding: $251,428 July 2019 to June 2021
Grant recipient: Associate Professor Geraldine O’Neill
Study: 3D printers and mini-brains
Institute: The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
Funding: $119,821 July 2019 to June 2020