Turning the tide on kids’ brain cancer

Dr Raelene Endersby, Co-Head, Brain Tumour Research at Telethon Kids Institute is investigating an exciting new immunotherapy for children with brain cancer that has potential to lead to new clinical trials in the near future.

The laboratory at the West Australian centre that Raelene runs in partnership with Dr Nick Gottardo recently received a grant from The Kids’ Cancer Project for an exciting scientific collaboration with a number of groups around Australia and the United States.

Behind the science | Kids’ cancer research dynamic duo

The study looks into immunotherapy, as opposed to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, to teach the body’s immune system to recognise and destroy brain cancer cells.

With brain cancer ranking as the number one killer of young Australians by disease, Dr Endersby says funding for this work is critical because children diagnosed urgently need new treatments. 

“This funding, and any additional research funding we can obtain, means that we can get our research achieved faster, and in turn we can advance these new treatments to the clinic more rapidly to help children with brain cancer,” she says. 

This year, the annual fundraiser will be held on Friday 14 May. But the young and young at heart are encouraged to dress up any day throughout Brain Cancer Awareness Month in May, to raise awareness and funds.

With a twinkle in her eye, Dr Endersby shares how she and her team will be getting involved. 

“Shiver me timbers, me and my fellow scallywags will definitely be increasing awareness by getting our pirate gear on, but at the same time we’ll get all hands on deck in the lab to keep our research going,” she says.

On a more serious note, Dr Endersby explains why Pirate Day is so important to her and the team at Telethon Kids Institute.