Where the money goes
The Pirate Ship Foundation’s research grants can be sought by a variety of institutes in Australia researching improved childhood brain tumour treatments and cures.
The Brain Tumour Research Program, which is co-headed by Dr Nick Gottardo and Dr Raelene Endersby, is a collaborative research team focused on improving treatments and outcomes for children with childhood brain cancer. The team is the largest of its kind in Australia, and is comprised of dedicated research scientists, clinical oncologists and neurosurgeons.
A primary focus of the Brain Tumour Research Program is to produce high-quality pre-clinical evidence, which can then be used to form the basis of new clinical trials. Producing pre-clinical evidence takes considerable time and effort, and may involve combining older treatments with newer ones. The Brain Tumour Research Program enjoys a strong working relationship with the Perth Children’s Hospital, where clinical trials for new treatments and therapies are conducted frequently.
Find Out More: https://www.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/chronic-and-severe-diseases/cancer/brain-tumour-research/
Dr Nick Gottardo and Dr Raelene Endersby are the joint Heads of the Brain Tumour Research Program at Telethon Kids Institute. Dr Nick and Dr Raelene were jointly responsible for setting up the Brain Tumour Research Program in 2011. The distinguished researchers are striving for a future where no child will die from childhood brain cancer.
A critical piece of research equipment, funded by our community fundraising, was instrumental in enticing both Nick and Raelene back to Telethon Kids Institute in 2011. Thankfully, they accepted the call to arms and set up the Brain Tumour Research Program.
About Dr Raelene
Dr Raelene was awarded her PhD in 2003, and then completed postdoctoral training at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States (considered to be the world’s leading research institute for childhood brain cancer). As a key member of the hospital’s renowned Neurobiology & Brain Tumour Program, Raelene was able to hone her expertise in cancer genetics and pre-clinical trials. Raelene returned to Australia in 2011 to take up a Fellowship at Telethon Kids Institute, and start the Brain Tumour Research Program with Dr Nick Gottardo.
About Dr Nick
Dr Nick is a Consultant Paediatric Oncologist/Neuro-Oncologist at the Perth Children’s Hospital, and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). He’s also an Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at The University of Western Australia, and a distinguished PhD graduate. Like Dr Raelene, Dr Nick completed his postdoctoral training at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States. Nick has a professional interest in brain tumour model generation, pre-clinical testing and brain cancer cell biology.
