Three Victorian Researchers Awarded $1.3M to Fight Childhood Cancer
Three researchers from Victoria, Australia, have been awarded Children's Cancer CoLab Future Leaders Fellowships totaling over $1.3 million to develop targeted therapies for childhood cancers.
The recipients are Dr. Claire Sun, Dr. Zoe Day, and Dr. Stacie Wang. The funding is supported by the Victorian Government and the Children’s Cancer Foundation.
Funding Details
The fellowships are distributed as follows:
- Dr. Claire Sun (Hudson Institute of Medical Research): $619,926 over three years (July 2026 to June 2029) for a mid-career researcher fellowship.
- Dr. Zoe Day (WEHI): $440,277.
- Dr. Stacie Wang (Royal Children's Hospital and WEHI): $267,950.
Research Focus Areas
Dr. Claire Sun — AI and Epigenetics for Brain Tumors
Dr. Sun is using artificial intelligence and epigenetics to study childhood brain tumors. Her project involves three components:
- Mapping the epigenome across major childhood brain cancers
- Using CRISPR gene-editing to identify epigenetic regulators
- Building AI models to predict patient response to therapies
The research aims to create a clinical decision-support tool called CCMA-EPIC. The work was co-designed with the Hudson Institute's Patient and Family Advisory Committee.
Dr. Zoe Day — CAR T-Cell Therapy for DIPG
Dr. Day is researching CAR T-cell combination immunotherapies for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a type of childhood brain cancer with a median survival of under one year. The approach involves reprogramming a child's immune cells to attack cancer cells.
Dr. Stacie Wang — Improving CAR T-Cell Response
Dr. Wang is studying factors that affect children's response to CAR T-cell therapy. She is working to establish Victoria's first clinical trial of CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric brain cancer, targeting the EphA3 protein.
Background and Context
More than 1,000 children and adolescents in Australia are diagnosed with cancer annually. According to published figures, over 100 cancer drugs have been approved for adults, compared to just 19 approved for children.
New treatments are improving survival rates, but up to 80% of survivors face ongoing health challenges.
The Children's Cancer CoLab is an independent non-profit organization that funds research and advocacy for children and adolescents with cancer. The Victorian Government has invested $35 million in the CoLab, with an additional $10 million provided by the Children’s Cancer Foundation. The Victorian Government has reported investing over $1.1 billion in medical research overall.
Statements
Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll stated that the CoLab Future Leaders Program provides funding to children's cancer researchers.
Professor Grant McArthur, Children’s Cancer CoLab Board Director and Scientific Advisor, stated that the fellows will advance therapies for childhood cancers, including aggressive brain tumors, and noted that children have historically received therapies designed for adults.
Margaret Fitzherbert, CEO of Children's Cancer Foundation, stated that donors seek therapies designed specifically for children.