Fighting childhood cancer is a battle no family should have to face – but it’s a terrifying reality for hundreds of kids every year.
The state government announced $35 million in the 2023/24 budget to launch the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium (VPCC) to help combat childhood cancer.
The VPCC will revolutionise childhood cancer treatments and give more children the chance to grow up happy and healthy – while also helping childhood cancer survivors manage their long-term health.
The government’s investment will be matched by an additional $10 million from the Children’s Cancer Foundation, to form a $45 million investment package to be rolled out over the next five years.
This consortium will develop cancer therapies through research and clinical trial programs for the youngest cancer sufferers, helping to save lives. It will also help survivors manage their long-term health, supporting them to lead long and fulfilling lives.
It will support research in paediatric cancer therapies, pharmacogenomics and radiogenomics, a childhood cancer survivorship program, bioresource research platform, and paediatric cancer physician researcher training.
Minister for Medical Research Mary-Anne Thomas said the the VPCC “will revolutionise research into childhood cancer – leading to earlier diagnosis, better treatments and less heartbreak for families”.
“Victoria is a world leader in medical research – this investment will support some of the best and brightest minds to work together to fight childhood cancer.”
In addition families have access to a new ‘Wombat’ ward at the Royal Children’s Hospital which will help more Victorian kids – including those undergoing cancer treatment – get the care they need in the best facilities.
The ward opened earlier this month and offers 24/7 care across its 30 beds, giving more than 2,700 extra children the care they need every year.
