Another milestone for ZERO

The life-changing efforts of the dedicated ZERO Team have been honoured at this year’s NSW Premier's Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research, being named the 2024 winner of the Cancer Control Innovation Award.

Internationally acclaimed, the Zero Childhood Cancer Program (ZERO) jointly managed by Children’s Cancer Institute and the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, has achieved tremendous results in its targeted approach to treating childhood cancers with the ultimate goal of one day irradicating childhood cancer altogether.

Announced at a special event held at the NSW Parliament House late last week, the Cancer Control Innovation Award ‘honours an individual or team who has made significant contribution to improving cancer prevention, treatment and/or care and overall experience or outcomes for the people in NSW through a novel and original innovative project or model of care implemented at any stage of the cancer control spectrum’.

Certainly all those involved in the groundbreaking ZERO program not only meet but exceed those criteria, their extraordinary work using precision medicine to treat each participating child’s cancer individually and targeting treatment programs to the specific child and their specific cancer. This approach of personalised treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique genetic profile, continues to yield impressive results and the ongoing research is helping to refine and improve treatments and outcomes.

While the goal of reducing childhood cancers to zero remains the ultimate target, each milestone along the way is a step in the right direction. Being recognised with the Cancer Control Innovation Award is just such a milestone and provides an added incentive to all of those involved in the world-renowned work.

“Our congratulations to all of the members of the ZERO Team on winning this prestigious award and for the well deserved recognition of the vital work that they do,” said Jeff Mannering, Chairman of the Audi Foundation and Director of Audi Australia.

“Their tireless efforts literally change lives and provide hope for those facing the toughest health challenges at a time when they should be enjoying their young lives.”

“Audi Foundation is very proud to partner with the Children’s Cancer Institute and helping to support its groundbreaking Zero Childhood Cancer Program.”

Last year ZERO reached an extraordinary milestone, with the 1000th children enrolled in the program. The ongoing expansion of ZERO now means that ‘all children diagnosed with cancer in Australia have access to precision medicine’ with all paediatric oncology units across Australia, as well as 19 national and international research partners now involved in the program.

With as many as 1000 children and young Australians diagnosed each year, the work continues at a frenetic pace, but where 40 years ago the survival rate was measured in single figures, the survival rate now sits at over 80 percent.

Congratulations to all of the ZERO Team for winning this award and for the recognition they so richly deserve.