A University of Newcastle researcher is targeting the genetic origins of Australia's leading cause of brain cancer deaths in children.
Dr Ryan Duchatel will receive $675,000 in Cancer Institute NSW funds to examine big questions about diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
He is among 18 early and mid-career researchers from metro and regional NSW to receive $11 million through a Minns government program to support cancer research projects.
The fellowships go to researchers whose projects show potential to significantly improve cancer outcomes.
Dr Duchatel is part of a research team led by prominent professor Matt Dun, of University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute.
The team is seeking better treatments for DIPG.
Dr Duchatel's research aimed to "understand how tumours grow and evolve during a child's development".
"Kids are often diagnosed between six or seven or 10 and 12, which suggests there's a developmental component to the disorder."
DIPG tumours are often very advanced and aggressive.
"Most kids don't survive 12 months," Dr Duchatel said.
"Were working on making more sophisticated research models that are more child-focused, rather than models that have previously been applied to adults. We'll then aim to design new therapies."
He said DIPG grows in the brain stem, which was "a crucial organ in the body".
"It controls movement, swallowing, hearing and eyesight," he said.
Children are often diagnosed after symptoms emerge that involve loss of coordination, issues with motor control and problems with their eyes.
"By the time we know a tumour is there and start to treat it, it's already very advanced," Dr Duchatel said.
"My project aims to identify key points during development where we might want to intervene earlier with these tumours."
He said this involved examining "maternal environmental influences to identify early intervention points for potential treatment".
"Part of the project is looking at how maternal lifestyle and nutrition factors can influence tumour development," Dr Duchatel said.
This could develop an understanding of when the tumours grow, so screening could occur.
Pinpointing better biomarkers for the disease is another aim.
"The tumours are controlled by very defined genetic factors," Dr Duchatel said.
The research aimed to discover where these genetic factors emerge and their "interplay during development".
"Theyre all crucial things well look to identify over the next three years," Dr Duchatel said.
NSW Minister for Medical Research David Harris said the research programs were "bridging the gap between lab discoveries and real-world patient care".
Mr Harris said they had "the potential to transform the lives of people diagnosed with cancer in the future".
Cancer Institute NSW chief executive Tracey O'Brien said "many leaders in medicine began their careers with the support of fellowships".
Professor O'Brien said they help researchers to "drive breakthroughs".
"Cancer affects too many of us, with one in two people in NSW diagnosed in their lifetime," she said.
She said significant progress had been made in "understanding and treating the disease".
Nonetheless, the fellowships were "critical to advancing cancer prevention, improving treatments and saving lives".
