ANZCHOG

ANZCHOG was well represented at the recent 10th Anniversary ACCELERATE Conference, with our Chair, Professor Nick Gottardo, CEO, Robyn Strong, and Board Member Lucy Jones joining global leaders in paediatric oncology drug development (pictured below with newly appointed ACCELERATE Chair and patient advocate, Nicole Scobie) Prof Gottardo delivered a well-received presentation, “If you build it, they will come”, sharing the Australasian experience in clinical trials. He highlighted how the convergence of funding, research, and collaboration has expanded trial access and strengthened paediatric oncology research across Australia and New Zealand. This milestone conference also provided an opportunity to reflect on progress made, ongoing challenges, and the priorities for ACCELERATE over the next five years. Discussions explored: 📖 Lessons learned and best practices in paediatric oncology drug development ❌ Barriers that continue to hinder progress 💡 The evolving structure of ACCELERATE (including new members such as our own board member and CEO of Neuroblastoma Australia, Lucy Jones) joining the General Assembly 🤝 The importance of collaboration between academia, industry, regulators, and patient advocates Reflecting on a decade of progress, ACCELERATE remains a key platform for discussion, knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration across the global paediatric oncology community. ANZCHOG continues to be excited to be part of this incredible network, working alongside global partners to drive innovation and improve outcomes for children with cancer. #childhoodcancer #cancerresearch #betteroutcomes #accelerateconference

ANZCHOG is hiring!! 📣 We are on the lookout for two amazing individuals to join our team! 📌 National Study Coordinator (full time): help drive the success of life-changing clinical trials for children with cancer across Australia and New Zealand https://lnkd.in/gtaQDKNZ 📌 Communications & Marketing Coordinator (part time): play a key role in amplifying our impact, engaging our audiences and raising awareness of the sector and our work https://lnkd.in/gnVkcfmF Both roles are part of our small, passionate team, with flexible working options and salary packaging available. If you’re looking to connect your passion with a purpose, we’d love to hear from you! 🤩 #hiring #clinicaltrials #childrenscancer #joinourteam

🌍💛 International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day - today! 💛🌍 February 15 is #internationalchildhoodcancerday and we’d like to shout out the incredible efforts of all the researchers, clinicians, staff, funders, supporters and advocates from the childhood cancer community who are giving it all to improve outcomes for children and young adults with cancer Thank you! Your dedication makes it possible for us to bring the latest, most promising treatments to young patients in Australia and New Zealand 💛💛💛 And today feels like the perfect time to share some exciting news—three Australian sites have now opened for our VICTORY trial! 👏👏👏 VICTORY is an innovative international study investigating a new combination therapy for children with recurrent or progressive low-grade gliomas (LGG), the most common central nervous system tumour in young people. With the support of our global partners, The Hospital for Sick Children/OZMOSIS, ANZCHOG is leading VICTORY in Australia and NZ. In recent weeks, the following sites have been activated: 👉Perth Children’s Hospital 👉Monash Children’s Hospital 👉John Hunter Children’s Hospital By bringing together expertise from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, this trial aims to explore promising treatments that could reduce the long-term side effects of traditional therapies, helping children not only survive but thrive 🎉 National Principal Investigator, Jordan Hansford, is pretty happy to have reached this milestone: "We are very excited to have opened the investigational study VICTORY. Australian investigators have developed the novel study with our Canadian partners. We will combine a standard-of-care medicine for low-grade glioma, vinblastine, with a new and novel targeted agent, TOVORAFENIB. This medicine was recently approved for relapsed and refractory disease and is only available in Australia for relapsed disease through this clinical trial. We are very hopeful that kids with progressive disease will have a new and novel therapy that will result in improved outcomes for all Australian kids who need treatment." We’re inspired every day by the dedication of our childhood cancer community and remain committed to working together to drive progress. Every breakthrough, every trial and every collaboration brings us closer to a future where all children with cancer have access to the best possible care and outcomes. Thank you 🙏 Together we ARE making a difference 💕 #ICCD2025 #childhoodcancer #cancerresearch #clinicaltrials

Right back at you The Kids' Cancer Project! Happy 10 year anniversary to us!! 🎉 This partnership has been crucial in expanding our capacity and capabilities, increasing trial opportunities and ultimately improving outcomes for children with cancer. It's enabled us to: 👉 Increase access to cutting-edge trials across Australia and New Zealand 🌏 👉Respond quickly to new trial opportunities 🏃♂️ 👉Support critical infrastructure like biobanking and data analysis 🧬 👉Extend trials to our NZ neighbours 🥝 As our CEO Robyn Strong puts it, "The flexibility of The Kids' Cancer Project's funding has ensured trials can be conducted in the areas of greatest need." Thank you, The Kids' Cancer Project, for believing in the power of science to change lives. Here's to the next decade (at least!) of our strong partnership and the life-changing discoveries it will bring 💕 #childhoodcancerresearch #ANZCHOG #thekidscancerproject #10yearsstrong

Big news for childhood brain cancer research!! 🔬 🧠 👏 The Australian Government has just announced $14 million funding for CoACT - Brain Cancer, a ground-breaking national initiative led by ANZCHOG to transform the way we tackle childhood brain cancer. The essence of this initiative is all in the name: CoACT- Brain Cancer (The Consortium for Australian Children’s Trials in Brain Cancer) will establish an alliance of specialists, researchers, hospitals and families working together to accelerate breakthroughs in treatment. Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children, and for too long, progress has been too slow. CoACT will change that. With this new funding, we will: ✅ Expand clinical trials so more Australian children have access to life-saving treatments. ✅ Fast-track research discoveries from the lab to the clinic. ✅ Use cutting-edge science like genetic profiling, immunotherapy, and personalised medicine. ✅ Improve survivorship by focusing on long-term health and quality of life. ✅ Increase access to treatment for all children, including those in rural and remote areas, through tele-trials and digital innovations. This funding marks a game-changing moment for childhood brain cancer research in Australia. Thank you to the ANZCHOG team, patients and families, investigators and our partner organisations, all of whom advocated and worked together to make this grant application successful. We look forward to leading this initiative and collaborating with our partners to change the landscape of childhood brain cancer treatment and outcomes 🥰 👉 Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gVruCdNf #childhoodcancer #cancerresearch #coactforbetteroutcomes #clinicaltrials

On this #WorldCancerDay, we have some great news to share! Six leading philanthropic organisations have joined forces to form the TarGeT Collaborative to fund an innovative, international clinical trial for children and young adults diagnosed with high-grade gliomas 🧠 The TarGeT trial leverages precision medicine to deliver treatments tailored to each patient’s unique tumour genetics, offering hope for improved outcomes, in a field where current treatments often fall short. This trial is an international phase 2 umbrella study developed through the CONNECT (COllaborative Network for NEuro-oncology Clinical Trials) Consortium. Together with the Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation, Children's Cancer Foundation (Australia), My Room Children’s Cancer Charity, The Kids' Cancer Project, the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle, and The Cure Starts Now Cancer Foundation this funding initiative commits $1,925,000 over seven years for this cutting-edge trial 👏 👏 👏 ANZCHOG Chair, Professor Nick Gottardo, says it best "Cooperative efforts, like the recently established TarGeT Collaborative, provide an opportunity for diverse, committed organisations to leverage resources and expertise to allow Australia and New Zealand to rapidly take part in cutting edge treatments for children who urgently need them." This really is great news! Find out more about the TarGeT trial and Collaborative here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g6rFqZFR #BrainCancerAwareness #TarGeTTrial #PrecisionMedicine #CollaborationForACure

👏 Excited to announce a funding boost as we pedal towards better outcomes for children with relapsed Ewing sarcoma! 🤩 🚴   A huge shout out to Tour de Cure Australia for recently committing $200k towards the rEECur clinical trial. This funding will support the trial to continue, advancing our understanding of which chemotherapy drug combination provides the most successful treatment for Australian children and adolescents with this rare and aggressive cancer. The rEECur trial is part of a global collaboration with The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham and is the first of its kind in the world 🌏 🙌   Thank you Tour de Cure!   Why this is important: 👉 Relapsed Ewing sarcoma has a low survival rate 😔 👉rEECur's unique design helps us find the most effective treatments, faster 👉This research is paving the way for new standards of care and could help with other rare cancers too 👌 The rEECur trial's adaptive design allows the evaluation of multiple treatments and has already recruited 610 patients internationally. The continuation of this trial will ensure Australian patients have access to the latest therapies. rEECur has been supported by the Medical Research Future Fund Accelerated Research Investment - Teen Cancer, Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA), Canteen Australia, and The Kids' Cancer Project (TKCP).

Hello 2025! We're back! And there is no better way to start our year than finding this beautiful message of gratitude from our very good friends at Super Max and Bryce. Thank you for the shout out team - it's lovely and much appreciated but 'adopting' you was a no brainer for us. You are doing AMAZING work that really makes a difference to children's lives 💕 👏 🥰 And to our readers - if you want to kick the year off with a heart full of love, hope, happiness and comfort, please take a look at the work of the inspiring team at Super Max & Bryce. They are doing incredible work, bringing a little slice of light and reassurance during an otherwise gloomy time. Check out their story, and how you can support them, right here: https://lnkd.in/g5BZpTqw 🐢 🐢🐢 Here's to a big year for ANZCHOG and the children's cancer community. We are full of energy, determination and inspiration as we work towards better outcomes for kids and adolescents with cancer. Keep an eye out here, and on our website, for our stories and updates across the year. Let's go!! 💫 https://lnkd.in/gsSdgVJc

From all of us at ANZCHOG, we wish you all the best for today. And always 💕 (please note from Tuesday, December 24 - Friday, January 3rd inclusive, we are providing coverage for urgent trial issues only. During this time, please email nationaltrialscentre@anzchog.org or call the office on 03 8572 2682) See you in 2025 - we have big, important goals to reach! 🎉 #childhoodcancer #clinicaltrials #bettertogether #cancerresearch

Excited for the first two Australian participants to be enrolled in Arm A of Optimise. Looking forward to opening the remaining sites, recruiting more participants and seeing Canadian sites activated. Watch this space! 🌏 #childhoodcancer #cancerresearch #clinicaltrials #paxalisib