The Andrews Government has made a pre-election commitment to fund pediatric cancer research in a bid to transform treatments for some of Victoria’s sickest children.
The state government announced on Sunday that it would contribute $35 million to the project if it is re-elected next month.
The Children’s Cancer Foundation will contribute $10 million.
The $45 million investment over five years is Stage 2 funding for research activities, clinical trials and workforce development within the Victorian Pediatric Cancer Consortium.
Victoria’s Minister for Medical Research Jaala Pulford reflected on the loss of her own daughter to cancer as she announced the funding commitment on Sunday.
Sinead Pulford died three months after receiving her diagnosis just after the 2014 Victorian state election.
She was 13 years old.
Mrs Pulford was moved to tears as she spoke about the plan.
She said she knew what it was like for a parent to be told by a doctor that their child had cancer, which she described as “the worst moment imaginable”.
“Three days ago my daughter should have turned 21. And we lit some candles,” she said.
“I truly believe this plan will result in more birthday candles being lit and fewer memorial candles.”
Ms Pulford said a cancer diagnosis was a frightening prospect at any age and “this is doubly true” for parents.
“And although my beautiful Sinead had a catastrophic diagnosis and her care was mostly palliative, for 75% of children diagnosed with cancer, they will survive,” he said.
“But the treatments are toxic and there are often lifelong consequences.”
Victoria has one of the highest incidences of childhood cancer in the world, with around 300 diagnoses each year.
And the number of diagnoses is expected to increase in the coming years.
Ms Pulford said only 12 drugs had been approved worldwide for childhood cancer in the past 40 years, compared with 500 approved for adults.
“We have to do better for our children,” he said.
Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said the funding would be spread over the next four years if Labor is re-elected on November 26.
The $45 million will be spent on clinical trials, discovery research survivorship programs, enhanced biobank resources, pediatric cancer physician and research training and fellowships.
Stage 1 funding was secured by the Children’s Cancer Foundation through the federal government’s Medical Research Futures Fund.
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