Kids are not small adults, Identifying age-dependent drug targets in paediatric oncology

Investigators: Omar Elaskalani, Zahra Abbas, Merridee Wouters, Jenny Truong, Iley Johnson, Hannah Smolders, Jorren Kuster, Hilary Hii, Kunjal Panchal, Grace Chua, Sebastien Malinge, Laurence Cheung, Rishi Kotecha, Terrance Johns, Timo Lassmann, Raelene Endersby, Joost Lesterhuis

Project description

Cancers in children are very different to cancers in adults. However, most therapeutic strategies are designed explicitly for adult cancers, and then used in children if proven safe. This approach has resulted in a gap between available therapeutic options for children compared to adults. Moreover, children wait longer to receive novel therapies. In this project, we use state-of-the art single cell omics and novel preclinical models to investigate the unique mechanisms of immune evasion of paediatric cancers and uncover paediatric-specific therapeutic targets

Funders:

• The Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation
• Western Australian Child Research Fund
• Stan Perron Foundation
• Cancer Council Western Australia
• Channel 7 Telethon Trust