Posted On: November 20, 2019
As the calendar year comes to a close, The Kids’ Cancer Project proudly announces commitment to an additional six medical research programs to help children with many different types of cancer.
This latest funding announcement represents a significant achievement of the community’s unwavering support as the charity confirms that more than $50 million has been committed to scientific studies since 2004.
Childhood cancer remains the deadliest disease for children in Australia, but thanks to the independent national charity and its incredible tribe of donors, partners, fundraisers and advocates that could soon change as Owen Finegan, CEO explains.
“In the past 15 years, The Kids’ Cancer Project has been able to invest $50.53 million in support of bold scientific studies,” says 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 says.
His statement was delivered as the organisation finalises the latest round of grant recipients, which include four studies co-funded by Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme.
"We proudly announce support of 35 medical research programs across 22 research institutions around Australia in the 2019/2020 financial year,” Finegan says.
Finegan says the projects total more than $10 million in multi-year funding that will support over 47 scientists.
Nine 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 six of the most brilliant researchers and clinicians in our country as they work tirelessly to improve outcomes for all children with cancer,” says Finegan.
First-class five
Earlier in the year, The Kids’ Cancer Project announced successful funding grants to the following five scientific researchers.
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