Latest news from Children's Cancer CoLab
CoLab Connect
Latest News from Children’s Cancer CoLab
Edition #6, 29 September 2025
CEO's Message
What an incredible month it has been for Children's Cancer CoLab! As we celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I am thrilled to share an overview of our exciting updates, with further details included in this newsletter.
$6.6 million funding news
We were delighted to have the Hon. Danny Pearson, Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, announce $2.6 million in funding for two research projects as part of our Safer Therapies Impact Program. We also opened applications for researchers and clinicians to access $4 million in our 2025-2026 funding round. If you missed one of our four information sessions to learn about our funding opportunities, you can catch up by watching the online session on YouTube.
Learning, leadership and transitions
Our recent Board Strategy Day was filled with thought-provoking discussions and boundary-pushing ideas, with a focus on ensuring ongoing success well beyond our current horizon. We were honoured to have Michael Hund, CEO of EB Research Partnership, present his organisation's venture philanthropy and impact model. We also bid farewell to Board member the Hon. Jaala Pulford and warmly welcomed Bernadette McDonald to our Board.
Connecting with the CoLab community
Finally, my biggest highlight this month was meeting so many CoLab community members at our recent Meetup event. With over 80 people in attendance, I connected with researchers, clinicians, advocates, patients, and families integral to our mission. Thank you for your continued support. I continue to believe that through greater collaboration, we can make a difference in childhood and adolescent cancer research and care.
Dr Udani Reets
Chief Executive Officer
Make your voice count
Do you want to have your say in which childhood cancer research projects receive funding? By joining our Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC), you can help to ensure that research always keeps patients at the centre. Ready to make a real difference for young cancer patients? Complete our PFAC application form today. Training and support are provided.
Connecting with the CoLab community
We were thrilled by the incredible turnout at our first CoLab Connect Meetup earlier this month. Over 80 people from our CoLab community came together in support of childhood and adolescent cancer research and collaboration. Thanks to our event sponsor, RSM Australia, for making this event possible. Watch the recap video on LinkedIn.
Photos courtesy of Mark Cranitch.
Board leadership transitions
We extend heartfelt gratitude to the Hon. Jaala Pulford, who has stepped down from the Children's Cancer CoLab Board after years of dedicated service championing paediatric cancer research in Victoria, leaving a remarkable legacy of vision, advocacy, and collaboration that will benefit children and families for years to come.
We warmly welcome Bernadette McDonald to our Board. As former CEO of The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, current Board member of Children's Cancer Foundation, and Founder of CleaverMcDonald, Bernadette brings strategic guidance and a commitment to improving outcomes for childhood cancer.
$2.6m awarded to safer therapies research
Impact Program News
Funding applications now open
On 8 September, we opened our 2025-2026 funding round for childhood cancer clinicians and researchers to access $4 million in funding to support their childhood and adolescent cancer research. Applications close 17 October 2025 for funding within our Impact Programs covering:
- Next-Generation Therapies ($1.5 million available)
- Safer Therapies ($1 million available)
- Future Leaders ($1.5 million available)
- Children’s Cancer CoLab and Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision Clinician-Researcher Fellowship (up to $250k available)
Applicants will be notified of initial review outcomes by late November 2025. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit their full applications from mid-January 2026. View our funding information session video for more details.
Impact Program grants are possible thanks to our major partners.
Family Advisor Spotlight
Connect with Nader Eloshaiker
Nader’s daughter was diagnosed with B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was 11 years old and received a bone marrow transplant as part of her treatment. Now in remission at 15, she inspires Nader’s work with our Patient and Family Advisory Committee and other research organisations to improve childhood cancer treatments.
Scientific Advisory Committee Spotlight
Connect with Prof Dr Martha Grootenhuis
Prof Dr Martha Grootenhuis is a leading expert in paediatric psycho-oncology with over three decades of experience. She has held professorships at the University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University and currently leads the Psycho-Oncology Research Program at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands.
Our commitment to scientific rigour ensures we support projects that deliver real-world, transformative impact.
CoLab Catch Ups
WEHI visit
CoLab’s CEO and four Board members visited WEHI last month to learn about its research in children’s brain and blood cancers. They met with Prof Misty Jenkins, Prof Andrew Roberts, and Dr Stacey Wang to learn about the paediatric oncology research undertaken at WEHI. They also toured the Centre for Dynamic Imaging and the National Drug Discovery Centre and were impressed by these world-leading research platforms and capabilities.
Million Dollar Lunch
CoLab representatives attended the Children’s Cancer Foundation’s Million Dollar Lunch last month, along with distinguished guests, including the Hon. Danny Pearson. A particularly moving moment was hearing our Patient and Family Advisory Committee member, Sheila Patel, share her daughter Maya's story of neuroblastoma, highlighting the ongoing challenges families face.
Connect with Children's Cancer CoLab
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Supported by the Victorian Government and Children’s Cancer Foundation
