Childhood cancer

Luca Hall-Boggia a cancer survivor smiling at Hudson Institute. Picture Courtesy Jason Edwards /Herald Sun

Childhood cancer

Each year almost 1,000 Australian children are diagnosed with childhood cancer and 5,600 are undergoing treatment.

For every ten children diagnosed, two will not survive; and those who do suffer long-term (sometimes life-long) health issues because current therapies can affect children’s growing bodies. More precise, safer treatments for children with cancer are needed to improve survival and reduce adverse treatment impact.

Hudson Institute is a world leader in the field, building capacity and sustainability for paediatric cancer research by cultivating local, national and international partnerships, supporting educational events and training the childhood cancer leaders of tomorrow.

In Australia, more than 1,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year.

Cancer kills three children every week in Australia – more than any other disease.

Almost half of all children diagnosed with cancer in Australia are aged 0-4 years old.

Despite significant overall improvements in survival rates over the past 50 years, cancer remains the leading disease-related cause of death among Australian children.”
– Professor Ron Firestein

Our childhood cancer programs

Some childhood cancers have either no treatment available, or what is available hasn’t improved for more than forty years. These rare, low-survival, difficult-to-treat childhood cancers are among the specialities of Hudson Institute researchers.

View video | Childhood Cancer Model Atlas (CCMA)

Next Generation Precision Medicine program

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) sarcoma program

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) program

Immunotherapy program

Advanced Informatics program

Support for families and children with cancer

Our scientists cannot provide medical advice.
If you would like to find out more information about childhood cancer, please visit

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Image in top header: Luca Boggia-Hall, rare brain tumor survivor, playing in a park and laughing. Picture Courtesy Jason Edwards/Herald Sun