As the sun sets on #Global Sarcoma Awareness Month, we take this moment to recognise the hope that research brings to the fight against this formidable cancer.
Today, we are delighted to announce funding, and the subsequent commencement of the Sarcoma Accelerator Programme through the Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne.
Under the expert supervision of Professor Ron Firestein and Associate Professor Jason Cain, this initiative will create a comprehensive collection of tumour samples from sarcoma patients.
By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), these samples will be studied in intricate detail. The Programme will provide a comprehensive collection of tumour samples from sarcoma patients and grown as avatar/cell-line models. These models will be studied in detail using cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). This approach aims to discover new, more effective treatment options tailored to each patient’s specific type of sarcoma. By understanding the unique characteristics of each tumour, we can develop targeted therapies that are more likely to be effective.
The cell line models will be comprehensively profiled in three dimensions (genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic) to provide both gene-specific and pathway-level analyses of sarcoma cancer models. The models and associated data developed through this initiative will form an invaluable resource, helping researchers identify and utilise appropriate sarcoma models for investigational research.
Significantly, data will be shared with the research community via our portal (vicpcc.org.au/dashboard). This publicly available database, already used in over 50 countries, will aid sarcoma research on a global scale.
This pioneering effort aims to discover new, more effective treatment options tailored to each patient’s specific type of sarcoma.
The Sarcoma Accelerator Programme will provide hope by focusing on personalised treatments for children with sarcoma.
We extend our deepest gratitude to thanks to the profound generosity of the Hofer Muir Philanthropic Organisation, and our individual donors whose tireless support of sarcoma in Australia support who the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation (CRBF) to have funded the first phase of the Sarcoma Accelerator Programme at the @Hudson Institute of Medical Research.
Prof Firestein and A/Prof Cain expect this new program to be a game-changer in the fight against childhood sarcoma.
Cutting-edge sarcoma research
“We will create a comprehensive collection of tumour samples from sarcoma patients and use cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to study these samples in detail,” Prof Firestein said. “This will help us discover new treatment options that are more effective and tailored to each patient's specific type of sarcoma.”
Colin Brading, A/Chair of the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation, remarked, “We are profoundly committed to advancing sarcoma research in Australia. The innovative research spearheaded by A/Prof Jason Cain is anticipated to pave the way for new, more effective treatments. The Hudson Institute, is a recognised global leader in paediatric cancer research, and as such, is the ideal partner for this crucial collaboration.
The potential of discovering answers to the complex questions that currently elude our brightest scientific minds has the potential to be a transformative breakthrough in the fight against childhood sarcomas. Such advancements could bring much-needed hope to
countless families affected by this devastating disease, fundamentally altering the landscape of paediatric sarcomas.
Collaborative sarcoma research providing hope
“By understanding the unique characteristics of each tumour, we can develop targeted therapies that are more likely to be effective. This approach has the potential to improve survival rates and quality of life for young patients living with sarcoma.” (A/Prof Cain)
As part of our collaboration with the Zero Childhood Cancer Program, samples will be collected from children’s hospitals across Australia and internationally as well. Sarcoma samples will be analysed using an innovative molecular pipeline developed at the
Hudson Institute of Medical Research, that streamlines the identification of cancer precision medicines.
This program will leverage advanced technologies and international collaborations to create a valuable resource for sarcoma research. The data and tumour models we develop will be shared with the global research community to accelerate the discovery of new treatments. Our goal is to bring hope to families affected by sarcoma and improve the outcomes for children with this challenging disease.
Hudson Institute’s sarcoma program includes both clinical and discovery research projects utilising a broad range of patient tissue, in vitro and in vivo preclinical models, and techniques.