Healthy, happy kids and teens

We support research into the prevention, treatment and management of some of the most burdensome diseases and conditions of childhood and the teenage years, so that our next generation has the brightest possible future ahead.

Childhood Cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of disease burden in childhood. Despite improvements in the treatment of some types of childhood cancer in recent decades, there is still much to be done to give children with cancer the best possible chance to both survive, and thrive.

Establishing the South Australian Paediatric Cancer Immunotherapy Centre

Immunotherapy treatment for cancer takes a patient’s own immune cells, and teaches them to attack and kill cancer cells. We are funding research which establishes the South Australian Paediatric Cancer Immunotherapy Centre, by bringing together three groups of experts in a new collaboration to develop, test and validate CAR-T for childhood brain cancer. These pre-clinical trials will help pave the way for clinical trials and a clinical delivery program in South Australia.

Genomic predictors of brain cancer survival

Paediatric brain cancers are amongst the hardest cancers to treat. Conventional treatment can result in survivors experiencing significant and debilitating long-term complications. Professor Jordan Hansford is undertaking genomic analyses on brain tumour samples to better understand the mechanisms of childhood brain cancer, and factors associated with survival, so that we can predict the behaviour of tumours and determine the best way to treat them.

Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, where the body stops producing insulin, often develops in childhood or adolescence. Careful management of blood sugar levels is required through balancing carbohydrate intake, exercise, and insulin injections. Research has continually advanced the way children and families manage type 1 diabetes, and is even helping us to better understand the causes of this incurable, lifelong condition.

Shedding light on the onset of type 1 diabetes in children

Young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) don’t often present with classical symptoms until the condition has progressed to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), resulting in hospitalisation. This can be very traumatic for children and their families. Research conducted by Dr Megan Penno used continuous glucose monitoring to better understand the changes that occur in glucose patterns before the clinical onset of T1D in young children at risk of developing the disease, so that children can be diagnosed earlier, reducing the risk of DKA.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders have been on the rise since the turn of the century, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this rise has been most pronounced in children and young people. Prevention, treatment and management programs are urgently needed to reduce the burden these disorders place on children and young people, their families and the healthcare system.

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases such as gastroenteritis, influenza and COVID-19 are common in babies, children and adolescents, and are a significant cause of hospital visits. Underdeveloped immune systems coupled with close physical contact in children and adolescents means that diseases can easily spread, making it critical to find more effective ways to prevent these diseases and limit their spread.

Long-term effects of respiratory infections in kids and teens

We know a lot about the acute effects of COVID-19 and the flu, but the long-term effects are less understood, especially in children and adolescents. Dr Mark McMillan, a WCH Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, will explore the long-term effects of COVID and the flu in South Australian children, and how it may be impacting on their quality of life, school attendance and educational outcomes.

Innovative research encouraging vaccinations

Vaccination against influenza is particularly important in children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions, as they are more likely to get very sick and even ospitalized as a result of the illness. Research funded by the WCH Foundation, and published in a high-ranking journal, found that SMS reminders sent directly to parents helped improve the rate of flu vaccination in children and adolescents at high risk of severe flu.

Respiratory Diseases

For many children, the simple task of breathing can be a challenge, and one that can lead to lengthy hospital stays. From asthma to cystic fibrosis, respiratory disease in childhood can place a significant burden on children and their families. Research plays an important role in helping children with respiratory diseases to breathe easy and lead a healthy and happy life.

An artificially intelligent app for asthma management

South Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. Even more concerning is that more South Australian children end up in hospital due to asthma than any other part of Australia. Associate Professor Kristin Carson-Chahhoud and her team hope to change this by developing and testing an artificially intelligent app to help kids better manage their asthma.

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