An important day for childhood brain cancer research!
Monday 12 February 2024
As the national Cancer Cooperative Trial Group (CCTG) for childhood and adolescent cancers, ANZCHOG welcomes last week’s announcement from Health Minister Mark Butler MP, committing up to $20 million for clinical trials and work to find treatments for brain cancers in Australian children. There is no doubting that this commitment will have an impact on finding better outcomes for children with brain cancer, now and into the future.
We congratulate our friend and colleague, Matt Dun, and the brave parents who have stood up and told their story. You have been heard and you have made a difference. It was a privilege to stand beside you late last year at Parliament House as we collectively presented the urgent need for funding clinical trials and research into childhood brain cancer.
Clinical trials have made a huge impact on overall survival rates for childhood cancer but brain cancer is still the no. 1 disease killer of young people. We, alongside a whole community of professionals, families, philanthropists and charities are determined to change this. ANZCHOG currently has 10 high impact clinical trials focussed on a variety of paediatric brain tumours, including DIPG, waiting to be funded. We are forever grateful to all of our funding partners, who not only support clinical trials financially, but walk alongside us to advocate, collaborate, hear and represent those for whom the trials are ultimately designed.
Our work over the last few decades with international partners and members at every Australian children’s cancer centre to develop and conduct ground-breaking clinical trials has successfully delivered the latest and most effective treatments to our country’s children. We are looking forward to being a part of this newly announced initiative and accelerating the activation of promising brain cancer trials in our region.
Click here for the full government announcement.
ANZCHOG is a non-profit organisation committed to ensuring Australian and New Zealand children receive world-class cancer care. We are the peak professional body for paediatric oncologists and health professionals who care for children with cancer, spearheading national initiatives to enhance clinical care through communication, research, networking and education. We are also the national cooperative clinical trials group for childhood cancer, actively working with trial consortia around the globe to ensure Australian and New Zealand children have the opportunity to access the latest promising cancer treatments.
