Cancer Program

Cancers in children are very different from cancers in adults - they develop differently, often spread more rapidly and aggressively, and in most cases they appear to strike at random.

Australian figures estimate that around 600 children a year will be newly diagnosed with cancer. Despite remarkable medical advances over the past four decades, cancer is still the leading cause of death by disease in young people. New and more effective treatments with less debilitating side-effects are urgently required.

The Telethon Kids Cancer Centre has been established to bring together specialist teams of researchers and oncologists required to defeat childhood cancer. In close partnership with the clinicians at Perth Children's Hospital, our researchers are seeking to discover vulnerabilities in paediatric cancers and develop therapies that destroy cancer cells while minimising harm to healthy cells.

The Telethon Kids Cancer Centre is committed to attracting and training the next generation of childhood cancer researchers. If you are interested in studying with us and applying for our scholarships and awards, check out the available projects and opportunities in the Telethon Kids Institute student handbook.