Establishing Australia’s National Paediatric Trial Network
The Kids Advanced Therapeutics (KAT) program has been the driving force behind the establishment of Australia’s first national network of paediatric advanced therapy clinical trial centres, the Australian National Paediatric Trial Centres (ANPTC).
Building on its leadership in delivering Australia’s first paediatric gene therapy trial and advanced therapeutic workforce education, KAT has unified leading trial units across the country into a coordinated, collaborative network.
This national model enables shared expertise, knowledge sharing and improved access to complex therapies for children with rare diseases who have limited or no treatment options.
The recent KAT Symposium further strengthened this collective effort, bringing centres together to address the current challenges and future opportunities in advanced therapeutics.
Through KAT’s leadership, Australia is now positioned to deliver advanced therapy trials more efficiently, equitably, and nationally, ensuring children receive the most innovative care regardless of where they live.
Launching Australia's first commercial-scale viral vector manufacturing facility
Backed by a $134.5 million investment from the NSW Government, the launch of the Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility at Westmead marked a major leap forward in Australian capabilities in the development of transformative gene and cell therapies.
Located in the heart of the Westmead Health Precinct, the facility showcases the commitment to unlocking the future of medicine, accelerating access to life-changing therapies, and positioning Australia as a global leader in advanced therapeutics.
Collaborating to bring novel treatments to those who need them most
Kids Research showcased the power of collaboration at the 2025 Kids Advanced Therapeutics Symposium, bringing together healthcare providers, researchers, industry leaders, community partners and families.
From fatal childhood cancers to debilitating neurological disorders, the rapidly emerging field of advanced therapeutics is transforming how we treat devasting complex and rare diseases in children and young people.
This symposium showcased the power of collaboration, fostering lively discussions around the biggest challenges and opportunities in advanced therapeutics...
Australia’s first Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre opened
The Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre (MCCCC) is Australia’s first dedicated cancer centre for children, marking a new era of collaboration between clinicians and scientists to transform health care for children with cancer and their families. It builds on a 40‑year partnership between the Children’s Cancer Institute, the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network including the Kids Cancer Centre, and UNSW Sydney.
Designed to fully integrate research with clinical care, the MCCCC brings together state‑of‑the‑art facilities, advanced technology, and the capacity to support 900 specialised child cancer professionals. Together, they work toward a shared goal: delivering the best possible outcomes for children facing cancer.
Reducing social hardship in children with cerebral palsy
A new pilot trial is showing promise in reducing social hardship for children with cerebral palsy and the nearly 450,000 Australian children living with disabilities. The Equitable Pathways and Integrated Care in Cerebral Palsy (EPIC‑CP) trial was a global‑first social prescribing intervention co‑designed with people with cerebral palsy to better address unmet social needs.
The trial tested whether social prescribing could help families access essential support. Social prescribing was done in two ways; either a Community Linker, a professional that assists caregivers to connect appropriate services to address unmet needs, or a resource pack.
Early results show structured social prescribing improves families’ confidence in navigating services and reduces unmet social needs that impact children’s health and wellbeing. Families supported by a Community Linker reported 95% engagement, 94% satisfaction, and stronger service navigation, compared with 72% satisfaction for families using a resource pack alone.
Launching the newborn screening program in the Solomon Islands
Co-led with Taking Paediatrics Abroad, Kids Research helped launched a research pilot screening program for congenital hypothyroidism in the Solomon Islands.
Congenital hypothyroidism, if left untreated in the first month of life, can cause permanent and severe impacts on brain development and growth. While the treatment is inexpensive and readily available in the Solomon Islands, there is no newborn screening interventions for early detection like there is in Australia.
The newly launched pilot program will enable newborns in the Solomon Islands to receive timely diagnosis and treatment, helping ensure they have the best chance at healthy development.
This collaboration brings together doctors, midwives, laboratory staff, nurses, and volunteers from SCHN, TPA, the National Referral Hospital, and community antenatal and postnatal clinics. The program also received significant support from Taking Paediatrics Abroad and Revvity.
