UNSW Sydney joins partners in a landmark collaboration, uniting research and clinical care for children and young people with cancer.
In an Australian first, children and young people with cancer, and their families, will benefit from world-leading, comprehensive research-led clinical care in one fully integrated, purpose-built facility.
The Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre (MCCCC) unites leading researchers, clinicians and educators from Children's Cancer Institute, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network and UNSW Sydney - ushering in a new era of bedside-to-bench-to-bedside treatment.
The Centre was completed as part of the $658 million Sydney Children's Hospital Stage One and Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre project, and was officially opened today by federal Health Minister Mark Butler, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Michael Holland and Dr Andrew Forrest.
Both the NSW and federal governments have financially supported the construction of the Centre with substantial philanthropic contributions from Children's Cancer Institute, Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, UNSW and the Minderoo Foundation .
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the MCCCC would help accelerate the development of new treatments for young patients.
"The MCCCC aims to dramatically improve the lives of children and families facing cancer. By bringing research and care together, we can turn discoveries into better treatments faster and improve outcomes for patients in Australia and around the world."
Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler said: "For the first time in Australia's history, we have a purpose-built, fully integrated cancer centre for children and young people, solely focused on improving their healthcare outcomes.
"This world-class facility stands to revolutionise the model of care for children with cancer, and all Australians should feel very proud."
Integrated care and research under the one roof
The Centre spans Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick and the adjacent UNSW Health Translation Hub, where researchers, clinicians and educators work collaboratively to accelerate treatment discoveries from labs to nearby hospital beds of cancer patients.
The MCCCC includes:
- state-of-the-art research laboratories
- modern, family-centred oncology inpatient units
- a new day oncology treatment space
- dedicated education, training and research facilities
- shared spaces designed to foster staff connection and collaboration.
Families will benefit from light-filled, private inpatient bedrooms equipped with an ensuite and carer bed, more play and recreational spaces, a kitchen to prepare meals, an outdoor terrace and a laundry.
This initiative builds on a 40-plus year partnership between Children's Cancer Institute and SCHN's Kids Cancer Centre.
The partnership has delivered several successful ventures, including the national precision medicine program Zero Childhood Cancer (ZERO), which supports more than 1000 young Australians each year in children's hospitals across the country.
Dr Michael Holland, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, said: "The opening of Australia's first children's comprehensive cancer centre is a landmark moment for children and young people with cancer, and for the families who support them.
"It shows what's possible when governments, researchers, clinicians and philanthropists work together to deliver better healthcare outcomes."
Professor Louis Chesler, Executive Director of Children's Cancer Institute and Co-Director of MCCCC, said: "In the MCCCC, we're taking what we've learnt through successful teamwork programs like ZERO and multiplying it by ten.
"Here, close collaboration between scientists and doctors will accelerate research discovery and translate into clinical impact quickly and efficiently, ultimately leading to better outcomes for children with cancer.
"We intend for the Centre to become a world leader in its field. As it shares expertise, data and research with other leading cancer institutions, children and young people worldwide will benefit from its discoveries and innovations."
Kids Cancer Centre Director at Sydney Children's Hospital Network and Co-Director of MCCCC, Dr Richard Mitchell, said: "The best outcomes for children with cancer come from care that looks at the whole journey, from diagnosis and treatment through to surveillance and survivorship.
"By integrating clinical care and research through the MCCCC, we can improve access to new and emerging therapies for Australian patients, as well as provide the highest standard of care for every child and their family."
Founder, Minderoo Foundation, Dr Andrew Forrest, said: "Cancer, particularly childhood cancer, is an insidious thief. Our goal has always been to stop that thief in its tracks and make childhood cancer non-fatal.
"I'm proud to say the world-leading facilities now accessible for families at the Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre will give our doctors and scientists the tools and spaces they need to achieve that goal in one place.
"While the MCCCC enables a vital link between research and clinical care to drive and expedite collaboration, it more importantly serves as a beacon of hope for children with cancer and their families. It will be a place that develops and shares medical and scientific breakthroughs globally while giving its patients the very best treatment and aftercare possible."
Minderoo Foundation co-founder Nicola Forrest said: "There is no more precious gift than a child's life, and nothing more powerful than hope in the face of illness.
"The Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre will offer that hope to families at their most vulnerable, while giving children diagnosed with cancer the very best chance at life. Nothing could be more important.
"Minderoo Foundation is deeply proud to have helped bring this extraordinary facility to life, and to support the world‑class clinicians and researchers who dedicate themselves every day to saving young lives."
