Thanks to the Good Friday Appeal, the Children’s Cancer Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital is reinforcing its position as a national and international leader in paediatric cancer research — enabling more children to access innovative, cutting-edge treatment options.

This support powers the Paediatric Oncology Grant for Research Excellence and Trials Support (PROGRESS) platform, which accelerates clinical research that directly improves outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer. By sustaining and expanding investment in research, the Centre can continue delivering discoveries that translate into real-world care for young patients and their families.

The PROGRESS platform brings together leading expertise from across the Melbourne Children’s Campus, including Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The University of Melbourne, alongside the hospital. This coordinated and integrated approach enables faster, more connected and higher-impact research – supporting innovative models of care while accelerating access to groundbreaking treatment options.

This collaboration has already significantly expanded the clinical trials portfolio. It has enabled the development of Australia’s first paediatric teletrials model, allowing children to participate in research and receive elements of their care closer to home. Hospital-led trials –  including those led by psycho-oncology teams – are also broadening access to supportive care interventions and emerging therapies.

As a result, nearly every newly diagnosed child treated at the Children’s Cancer Centre now benefits from clinical research. Participation in clinical trials can provide earlier access to cutting-edge medications and supportive care approaches that may otherwise be unavailable, helping families feel confident they are receiving the most advanced care possible.

Continued investment from the Good Friday Appeal will build on this momentum by expanding trial access, accelerating discoveries and strengthening collaborative research. This vital support helps improve patient outcomes, ensures critical care innovations reach children sooner, and gives more young patients the best possible chance for a healthier future.

By advancing research and expanding access to innovative treatments, this program supports children facing cancer not only to survive their illness, but to ultimately thrive.