Australian Cancer Research Foundation awards $5 million major grant to launch world-leading childhood cancer early detection, prevention and treatment Program 

Reducing childhood cancer deaths and new solutions for previously untreatable cancers 

Children’s Cancer Institute has been awarded a $5 million major grant from Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) to establish a groundbreaking ACRF Childhood Cancer Early Detection, Prevention, and Treatment (ACCEPT) Program aimed at drastically reducing childhood cancer deaths and transforming patient outcomes. 

With cancer remaining the leading cause of disease-related death among Australian children, claiming the lives of three young lives every week, this Sydney-based centre will focus on early detection, prevention, and the development of targeted therapies for previously untreatable cancers. 

Building on the Zero Childhood Cancer Program (ZERO), a national program led by Children’s Cancer Institute and the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, which offers precision-led treatment recommendations to all Australian children with cancer, ACCEPT will focus on better identifying and treating children predisposed to cancer, providing safer and more effective treatments for those already diagnosed, and developing targeted drugs for cancers currently deemed untreatable. 

• Early detection and prevention: Researchers will develop advanced diagnostic tools utilising DNA methylation patterns to detect predisposition syndromes more accurately. They will also investigate suspect predisposition gene variants using lab-grown stem cells, to determine how these variants contribute to cancer and explore potential preventative treatments.  

• Advanced treatments: Researchers will implement two advanced new systems that enable drug-sensitivity testing of cancer cells in the context of their immune microenvironment: ALTEN, which utilises microdissections of tumour biopsies, and RASTRUM™, a 3D bioprinting system that creates tumour-like structures from isolated tumour cells. These models will allow researchers to more effectively test personalised drug combinations, including immunotherapies, and offer potentially life-saving treatment options for the 30% of children who currently lack targetable mutations in their tumour.  

• New therapeutics: Researchers propose an innovative approach that targets mRNA, which encodes the cancer-causing proteins, rather than targeting the proteins themselves. They will use advanced AI tools and RNA data derived from ZERO to identify new targets for drug development. This pioneering work could lead to safer and more effective treatments for childhood and adult cancers, establishing new avenues for drug development in Australia. 

Professor Michelle Haber AM, Executive Director at Children’s Cancer Institute and Chief Investigator, said this groundbreaking research will improve cancer outcomes for so many children and confirm Australia as a leader in paediatric cancer care. 

“The ACCEPT Program will have a transformative impact on childhood cancer research and care in Australia. By advancing early detection, treatment and prevention strategies, children, and their families at high risk of cancer could be identified before the cancer even develops, saving lives through earlier diagnosis and intervention.” 

“Pioneering the development of novel drugs to target previously untreatable mutations will place Australia at the forefront of global cancer drug discovery, enhancing the nation’s capacity to develop innovative therapies for both childhood and adult cancers.” 

Kerry Strydom, CEO at Australian Cancer Research Foundation, said ACRF is committed to funding world-class research to better treat, detect and prevent all types of cancer and improve patient outcomes.  

“Cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for Australian children, with more than 1,000 new cases per year and three children dying every week. This grant will enable researchers to identify cancer risk early, potentially before symptoms appear, allowing for timely and potentially lifesaving interventions. ACRF is proud to support research dedicated to better preventing childhood cancer, improving survival rates, and minimising side effects.” 

“I would also like to acknowledge the funding received by our collaborator, Cancer Institute NSW who will contribute $100,000 per year for five years to help fund researcher salaries to support the program.” 

NSW Chief Cancer Officer, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, said, “Cancer Institute NSW is proud to support this groundbreaking cancer research project through collaborative funding. Our investment will enable a skilled multidisciplinary NSW team to harness the full potential of the cutting-edge technology housed in The ACRF Childhood Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Program.” 

Kerry Strydom said: “We are proud to support Children’s Cancer Institute and this transformative program, which has the potential to significantly reduce childhood cancer deaths and improve the quality of life for affected children both here and around the world.” 

Read more about the new research facility here.