Investigators: Nick Gottardo
Project description
Paediatric neuro-oncology has undergone an exciting and dramatic transformation during the past decade, led by advances in molecular profiling. It has become clear that brain tumour classification using traditional histopathological diagnostic methods is only telling half the story: further analysis by highly sensitive DNA methylation profiling and gene panel analysis has revealed each tumour entity is actually composed of several distinct sub-types, each with different disease characteristics and importantly survival outcomes.
Our international colleagues have been utilizing the additional information provided by molecular profiling data, including improved tumour classification resulting in a more accurate picture of the likely clinical outcomes and identification of new therapeutic targets, to assist treatment decisions. In Australia and New Zealand, we do not have access to molecular profiling for paediatric brain cancers and continue to rely primarily on histological classification.
The AIM-BRAIN project aims to ensure that every child in Australia and New Zealand has the opportunity to rapidly access the best and most accurate diagnostic information about their brain tumour to inform their treatment pathways and optimise their chance of survival. It will also build capacity within Australasia to future-proof our ability to participate in research (including clinical trials) that stratify patients by molecular profiling.
Collaborators
- Dr. Jordan R. Hansford (Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne)
- Elizabeth Algar (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, VIC)
- Jason Cain (Hudson Institute of Medical Research, VIC)
- Dong Anh Khuong Quang (Royal Children’s Hospital, VIC)
- David Ziegler (Children’s Cancer Institute, NSW)
- Christine White
Partners
- Robert Connor Dawes Foundation