1870 Virtual In Conversation | Translating Science Into Care

Hosted by Sue Hunt, Chief Executive Officer, The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Foundation this virtual event centred on the impact of research at the RCH, and featured presentations from Professor Sarath Ranganathan and Jim Carroll.

We’re truly grateful for the transformative support of Jim Carroll and his family through the Donald Ratcliffe and Phyllis McLeod Trust. Their generosity in supporting vital work at the hospital including the Director of Nursing Research is deeply appreciated, and we’re honoured to have such a strong partnership with them.

We were also grateful to share Professor Sarath Ranganathan’s transformative work and reflections of the impact of RCH research on health outcomes globally. The research currently being undertaken is truly inspiring, and we’re honoured to be able to support such ground-breaking work.

Upcoming research projects at the RCH

Rare Diseases Now

This is an exciting new initiative aiming to deliver genomic diagnoses and precise, personalised care to sick children at the RCH. Drawing on the research and clinical expertise at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, RDNow will establish a pathway for children who remain undiagnosed. Despite the progress in diagnosis of rare diseases, and in genetic and genomic research, many Australian families still do not have access to genomic testing. This initiative, as part of a global alliance will give patients and their families the best chance of receiving a diagnosis and access to the latest clinical trials and treatments.

Campus wide mental health research strategy

Each year the RCH treats thousands of children either at risk of poor mental health or with existing mental health conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions have resulted in more children presenting with mental health related issues, with the emergency department at the hospital seeing a 35 per cent increase in mental health presentations.The overall aim of this strategy is to deliver high quality, comprehensive infant, child and adolescent mental health care supported by education and research to ensure the best outcomes for children and their families.

TOTAL XVII for the newly diagnosed ALL and Lymphoma

The RCH is joining a new frontline study looking into treatment for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoma. This is the most common type of childhood cancer and the leading cause of cancer related death in young people. Using precision medicine and targeted treatments, the study aims to improve the cure rate and quality of life for children with this type of cancer. This new study is being conducted by St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States, in conjunction with selected partners, including the Children’s Cancer Centre at the RCH.

Gen V and the Personize Digital Platform
The Melbourne Children’s Campus is also leading the GenV study. For two years from mid-2021, GenV will see every family having a baby at a birthing hospital in Victoria offered the chance to participate in this study. Families will share information about themselves and the health and development of their newborn. For the first time ever, this will give us a complete picture of the health and wellbeing of a whole generation, to speed-up discoveries and solutions that benefit all children and the adults they will become.