Milestone Achievement For Paediatric Cancer Research

In an exciting step forward for children’s cancer research, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) has awarded a $2 million grant to Children’s Cancer Institute.  The grant will advance the initiation of their Spatial Immune-oncology Research program, aiming to unlock the potential of immunotherapies specifically tailored for childhood cancer.

The ACRF's support highlights the Institute's commitment to pushing the boundaries of cancer research and finding innovative solutions for children faced with cancer. The Spatial Immune-oncology Research program will utilise cutting-edge technologies to unlock the interactions between cancer cells and the immune system.

As a key partner in this program, AGRF will be establishing our state-of-the-art Olink HT and Explore service. The Olink technology platform will play a central role in providing high-throughput, quality analysis of protein biomarkers in cancer cells, including cytokines and chemokines. This advanced analysis will generate invaluable data to provide insights into childhood cancer at the protein level, paving the way for more personalised and effective therapies.

By leveraging the Olink technology, the aim will be to unlock the complexities of immune responses against cancer cells, ultimately driving the development and deployment of new immune-based therapies for children with cancer.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a revolutionary cancer treatment for adults, using the body's natural defence mechanisms to target and eliminate cancer cells. However, the same level of success has not yet translated to childhood cancers. The ACRF grant aims to change this by analysing childhood cancer at the protein level.

Together with Children’s Cancer Institute and other collaborative partners, we look forward to realising the potential of immunotherapies for childhood cancer and cannot wait to see the program unfold.