Telethon Kids Institute

Tomorrow we officially rebrand to The Kids Research Institute Australia 🎊 When we look back at our earlier publications, we see the foundations of the Institute being laid—the early challenges, initial milestones, and the vision that started it all. While our look has changed, it’s clear that one thing has remained – our vision of happy, healthy kids. Today, we celebrate our journey becoming one of Australia’s largest medical research institutes - and tomorrow we will unveil our new brand as The Kids. We can’t wait to share it! You can read more about our new brand here: https://lnkd.in/gs-iCK5H

Do you want to protect your loved ones and create a brighter future for happy, healthy kids? Our Free Wills Week is coming up from 2-9 September. Don’t miss this special opportunity to write your will for FREE (usually $160) with our trusted partner Safewill. Create yours online in just 20 minutes - writing a Will has never been easier! Plus, if you choose to leave a gift to Telethon Kids Institute, you can ensure a lasting impact on the lives of children. Your generosity will leave a legacy that enables our researchers to discover new-life changing breakthroughs, find preventions and cure childhood conditions and illnesses To register your interest, contact Kirren Fullagar, Telethon Kids Institute Gifts in Wills Officer, at kirren.fullagar@telethonkids.org.au and she’ll be in touch to guide you through the process. #TelethonKidsInstite #FreeWillsWeek #IncludeACharityWeek #MakeADifference #Safewill

Children living with rare diseases were especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new paper led by Telethon Kids Institute researchers and published in the Elsevier journal Rare asks what could authorities have done to better protect them, and what needs to change in order to be more prepared for the next pandemic?   “The importance of pandemic preparedness for children with rare diseases cannot be understated. This study informs future policy and procedure preparation for future pandemic events and other disasters to optimise healthcare of children with rare diseases.” – lead author Dr Jess Keeley, Telethon Kids Institute Child Disability team.   Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/g6m5kpue Curtin University | Child and Adolescent Health Service | King Edward Memorial Hospital

We are proud to announce that two Telethon Kids Institute researchers Professor Jenny Downs and Associate Professor Lea-Ann Kirkham - have been selected to join the prestigious Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) as Associate Members in their mentorship program. Professor Jenny Downs is dedicated to improving the lives of children with intellectual disabilities and rare disorders through groundbreaking research in epidemiology, measurement science and intervention. She will be mentored by Laureate Professor Ingrid Scheffer AO FRS FAA FAHMS, a leader in paediatric neurology. Associate Professor Lea-Ann Kirkham is a globally recognised infectious disease microbiologist, renowned for her pioneering work in vaccine development and innovative treatment strategies for childhood ear infections. She will be mentored by Professor Bronwyn Kingwell FAHMS, a distinguished researcher in the field of cardiovascular health. These two exceptional researchers are among eight rising stars chosen across Australia from a highly competitive national pool of applicants and we are incredibly proud. Congratulations both!

Telethon Kids Institute’s cancer research, precision health and infectious disease modelling have been showcased to President of the The Australian Academy of Science Professor Chennupati Jagadish, AC during his visit to the Institute. Professor Jagadish met with Telethon Kids Institute Executive Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM, Honorary Emeritus Fellow Professor Jenefer Blackwell, and senior researchers, including the Head, Telethon Kids Institute Cancer Centre Associate Professor Joost Lesterhuis, Head, Precision Health and Computational Biology Dr Timo Lassmann, and the Professor Fiona Stanley Chair in Child Health Research Professor Melissa Penny. During the visit, he also sat down with Institute science leaders to further explore how our collaborative efforts can contribute to scientific excellence in Australia.

Professor Nick Gottardo recently spoke with Andy Park on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio National about the incredible $135.5M donation from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, supporting the Telethon Kids Institute Cancer Centre and Perth Children’s Hospital. This #funding will supercharge the existing work that's already underway, and fuel exciting new initiatives, including more clinical trials, closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with cancer, improving long-term health for childhood cancer survivors, and enabling collaborative laboratory research. This donation is truly transformative, setting the stage for significant advancements in childhood cancer research and treatment. Listen to the interview: https://lnkd.in/gHqjp6GF Child and Adolescent Health Service

Congratulations to Dr Pamela Laird, who was named joint winner of the Early Career Researcher of the Year at the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards, alongside The University of Western Australia’s Dr Neil Robinson. The category recognises outstanding scientists who have demonstrated excellence in a field of science, scientific research or technological advancement. Dr Laird’s work is focused on reducing the chronic respiratory disease burden in Aboriginal children and has provided world-first data on the prevalence of the life-shortening ‘orphan disease’ of bronchiectasis and its precursor, chronic wet cough. Working closely with Aboriginal medical services and communities, she has contributed to national guidelines and created accessible resources that, with her research, have already helped save more than 1000 little lungs. We’d like to extend our congratulations to Professor Fiona Wood AO, who was inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame in recognition of her groundbreaking and globally acclaimed contributions to burns research and treatment. We also proudly acknowledge our Telethon Kids Institute finalists Professor Aleksandra Filipovska, Miss Jaida Penny, Ms Stephanie Enkel and Ms Tamara Veselinović and our Broome Festival of STEM team. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ggCwJpmG #Walyan | Child and Adolescent Health Service | Perth Children's Hospital Foundation

In one of WA’s biggest philanthropic donations ever, we are thrilled to announce that the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation has gifted $135.5 million to the Telethon Kids Institute Cancer Centre and Perth Children’s Hospital. This game-changing investment will transform childhood cancer research, building on the world-leading clinical and laboratory work the teams are already undertaking. We were delighted to welcome Health Minister Amber Jade Sanderson and Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson to Telethon Kids Institute on Saturday to make the announcement, alongside Elizabeth Perron and Professor Nick Gottardo. The Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (PCHF) will also make a multi-million-dollar contribution over five years with an option to extend further, and The University of Western Australia will add $9 million to help realise the vision of improving the lives of kids impacted by cancer in WA and across the globe. The funding will provide cutting-edge treatment and research for children with cancer in WA. It will enable us to offer more clinical trials, work to close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with cancer and improve long-term health and wellbeing in childhood cancer patients. A huge thank you to our partners for their generous support and to our incredible team of researchers, who are already working to ensure all kids with cancer survive and thrive. Learn more about this exciting donation: https://lnkd.in/gzzWGrmb Child and Adolescent Health Service

What happens when you mix six brilliant researchers, a bucket of slime, and a whole lot of curiosity? You get a STEM-tastic experience like no other in the #Kimberley. Over two days, the Broome Civic Centre buzzed with excitement as kids and their families dived headfirst into hands-on science experiments—many inspired by the groundbreaking research happening right here at #TelethonKidsInstitute. A big shoutout to our amazing partners— IGO Ltd, CFC Group Foundation and Inspiring Western Australia—along with the Australian Government for making this event possible as part of #NationalScienceWeek. And here’s some more exciting news - the Broome Festival of STEM is in the running for a Premier’s Science Award! You can help the team win the People’s Choice Award by casting your vote here: https://lnkd.in/gk9_ZNqn But hurry—voting closes at midday tomorrow (Friday, August 16, 2024)

Are you a student looking for an Honours, Master's, or PhD opportunity starting in 2025? Join our Healthy Skin team at Telethon Kids Institute and contribute to the SNAP-PY trial in Boorloo (Perth). The SNAP (Staphylococcus aureus Network Adaptive Platform) Trial is a global leader in bloodstream infection research, spanning 11 countries and 100+ sites. This international trial aims to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the impact of Staphylococcus aureus infections, particularly for Aboriginal children who are disproportionately affected.   If you want to meet the team in person, you can attend the Prospective Students Night on 2 September at Perth Children’s Hospital. Applications close on 10 September and you can read more about the opportunity here: https://lnkd.in/gdvbMvbX #HealthResearch | #AboriginalStudents | #SNAPTrial | #ClinicalTrials | #CareerOpportunity