A multi-partner funding initiative valued at more than $146 million has been launched to bolster childhood cancer research currently being undertaken by PCH and Telethon Kids Institute.
A multi-partner funding initiative valued at more than $146 million has been launched to bolster childhood cancer research currently being undertaken by Perth Children’s Hospital and Telethon Kids Institute.
Included in the funding was a $135.5 million contribution by Stan Perron Charitable Foundation to be delivered over 10 years, while The University of Western Australia is expected to donate $9 million.
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation would also make a multi-million dollar contribution, the value of which has not been disclosed, to be delivered over five years with the option for extension.
Additional partners involved in the collaboration include the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Linear Clinical Research and the Cancer Council WA.
Telethon Kids Institute executive director Jonathan Carapetis said the funding would support a 10-year childhood cancer research and treatment plan designed by researchers, clinicians and families with lived experience.
“This is research reimagined. Nothing about this work is business as usual,” he said.
“It has been born out of genuine partnerships with kids and families at the heart of the plan. This funding is a game-changer for childhood cancer research and treatment in Western Australia.
“It will bring together … an interdisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers. It will also attract and retain the brightest minds in this field from around the world and facilitate the purchase of the most advanced equipment needed to ensure game-changing research breakthroughs.”
Child and Adolescent Health Service chief executive Valerie Jovanovic said 1,240 children were diagnosed with cancer every year in Australia.
“Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for Australian children,” she said.
“We have a great opportunity to do more in this space and give our children and young people access to world-leading care and research. This field is moving extremely rapidly with precision medicine, genomics and other science advances.
“The donation will not only benefit children in WA. It will allow our Perth Children’s Hospital clinicians and Telethon Kids researchers to contribute to these advances and lead the field in their areas of expertise.”
According to Perth Children’s Hospital head of Oncology and Haematology Department and co-lead of the Telethon Kids Cancer Centre's brain tumour team, Nick Gottardo, only 50 new medicines have been approved for childhood cancer in the past 70 years, while 60 new medicines for adulthood cancer were approved every year.
“Current treatments for kids cancer cause severe and often life-long side effects including problems with emotions, reproduction, growth, development, hormones, learning, memory problems, heart, lung, digestive system, hearing, vision and most strikingly, can cause secondary cancers,” Professor Gottardo said.
“This amazing donation will give us the chance to build on the world-leading research we are already undertaking and ensure kids in WA can be treated right here in WA.
“It will advance our pre-clinical discovery pipeline to significantly improve outcomes for kids yet to be diagnosed with cancer, to discover more effective and less toxic treatments that will be adopted worldwide and to improve the lives of kids impacted by cancer globally.”
