Research to fight cancer, optimise immunisation for infants and reduce breathing problems in surgery have been awarded almost $3 million in funding.
Five projects led by researchers at The University of Western Australia's Medical School and The Kids Institute Australia received funding from the State Government and Channel 7 Telethon Trust to support innovation and better health outcomes for children across WA.
The projects are:
- Dr Sebastien Malinge received funds to accelerate the development of immunotherapies for children with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Dr Malinge will use world-first models of childhood AML to better understand how leukaemia interacts with a young immune system to develop safer and more effective treatments.
- Associate Professor Joost Lesterhuis was awarded funds to develop safe and effective immunotherapy for children with sarcoma. Associate Professor Lesterhuis aims to create next-generation targeted immunotherapies designed specifically for paediatric sarcomas that not only attack cancer cells but also help the immune system continue fighting the disease.
- Professor Peter Richmond received funds to optimise maternal pertussis immunisation for infants. The trial will investigate whether a different vaccine approach during pregnancy can provide babies with stronger protection against whooping cough and other serious infections during their most vulnerable first months of life.
- Dr Omar Elaskalani was awarded funds to develop a gentler immunotherapy that helps children's immune cells fight cancer longer without burning out. Pioneering a new immunotherapy approach could help children's cancer-fighting immune cells remain effective for longer while reducing treatment-related exhaustion.
- Professor Britta von Ungern-Sternberg received funds for a multicentre, international randomised controlled trial to investigate whether changes in airway management during surgery can reduce breathing complications.
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