Childhood neuroblastoma treatment enhanced with high blood pressure ‘beta-blockers’ Posted on May 29, 2013February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit An ‘old’ drug which is normally used to treat high blood pressure in adults could bring new hope to children with Neuroblastoma, researchers from the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia have discovered. Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from nerve cells left over from a baby’s development in the womb, predominantly affecting very young children – between 0 and 5 years old. But researchers conducting pre-clinical trials at CCIA (a world-class facility that the ACRF is proud to have funded via a $3.1m grant) have combined standard chemotherapy with beta-blockers to successfully enhance the effectiveness of the chemotherapy – paving the way towards better treatment outcomes, and decreased treatment doses for these young children. Their study has been published in the prestigious British Journal of Cancer. Continue reading “Childhood neuroblastoma treatment enhanced with high blood pressure ‘beta-blockers’”
CCIA Director and cancer scientist recognised for excellence in biomedical science Posted on November 29, 2011February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit The Australian Cancer Research Foundation would like to congratulate Professor Michelle Haber AM, Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, on her recent award at the NSW Science and Engineering Awards. Professor Haber was recognised for excellence in biomedical science, having dedicated her career to drug discovery and biomedical therapeutics for children with cancer. That same night, at a separate ceremony at Taronga Zoo, Professor Haber was also acknowledged as one of four NSW finalists for the 2012 Australian of the Year Award, lending further weight to her incredible commitment to ground-breaking cancer research in Australia. Continue reading “CCIA Director and cancer scientist recognised for excellence in biomedical science”
ACRF's $3.1 million launch Posted on August 6, 2010February 25, 2018 by Carly du Toit A $3.1 million ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer opens on Thursday August 19. The new facility at the Children’s Cancer Research Institute Australia – part of the recently opened Lowy Cancer Research Centre at University of New South Wales – houses the only drug screening robot in Australia. It’s innovative technology can do a year’s research in just one day and the Centre marks a new era in the development of personalised medicine. On average three children in Australia die every week from cancer. The ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer aims to change this. UNSW Chancellor, David Gonski, ACRF Chairman, Tom Dery, Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia Executive Director, Professor Michelle Haber and CCIA Chairman, Bob Muscat will speak at the launch. Click Here for ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer Media Release.
