Accelerating and streamlining the discovery of new drugs to treat children with cancer
This project aims to identify molecular drivers of childhoods cancers, potentially leading to new treatments targeting specific genes by combining big data, computational biology methodologies and novel experimental approaches in the laboratory,
Every year, approximately 700 to 1000 children in Australia are diagnosed with various forms of cancer. Unfortunately, for a significant portion—around one-third—of these children, the initial treatment fails to completely eradicate the disease, leading to its recurrence.
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This project introduces a novel pipeline that takes insights from biological discoveries (such as target identification and validation) and advances them through the drug discovery process.
This pipeline is tailored for paediatric cancer treatment and holds promise for broader disease indications as well. A key link exists between this project and the THerapeutic INnovations for Kids (THINK) drug discovery program, which facilitates the swift transition of new discoveries into translational research efforts. Notably, a potential target (METTL1) has been identified for rhabdomyosarcoma, and this discovery has been forwarded to the THINK program for further evaluation.
This initiative stands as the sole program of its kind in Australia. Its approach is poised to generate numerous new discoveries that will positively impact many patients, extending beyond the confines of this initial project. The momentum initiated by this project is carried forward through the Luminesce Alliance Enabling Platforms Program 2023-2027, specifically in the Functional Genomics and Precision Therapy Platforms. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the discovery and development of new drugs tailored to treat paediatric cancer patients with the most challenging prognoses.
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Lead Investigator
- Associate Professor Paul Ekert
Group Leader, Translational Tumour Biology, Children’s Cancer Institute
Research Team
- Dr Antoine de Weck, Group Leader, Computational Drug Discovery Biology, THerapeutic INnovations for Kids (THINK), Children’s Cancer Institute
- Dr Ian Street , Director, Therapeutic Innovations, THerapeutic INnovations for Kids (THINK), Children’s Cancer Institute
- Associate Professor Greg Arndt, Head of Drug Discovery, THerapeutic INnovations for Kids (THINK), Children’s Cancer Institute
- Associate Professor Paul Ekert