Health Minister Mark Butler puts $20 million into curbing childhood brain cancer,

The Albanese government is pushing for a breakthrough in the treatment of childhood brain cancers after committing $20m over seven years to a field that has seen a range of advances after years of stalled progress.

Health Minister Mark Butler.

The Albanese government is pushing for a breakthrough in the treatment of childhood brain cancers after committing $20m over seven years to a field that has seen a range of advances after years of stalled progress.

Funding will be provided through the Medical Research Future Fund for clinical trials and research under the oversight of federal Health Minister Mark Butler.

The strategy will be ­focused on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a pediatric brain cancer that forms in the brain stem. It is usually diagnosed before a child turns seven. The median life ­expectancy of those who develop it is nine months.

There are no approved treatments for DIPG. The experimental medication ONC201, however, has seen promising ­results in preventing the growth of DIPG tumours.

Under the future fund push, ONC201 will be available to the families of children with DIPG.

“Research is a key weapon in our unrelenting fight against DIPG and childhood brain cancer,” Mr Butler said. 

“More clinical trials are vital – and Australian children, adolescents and young adults with DIPG and other childhood brain cancers will benefit directly through being involved in a trial.”

Eve with her parents Tamer Daher and Angie Daher. Eve is one of the longest survivors of DIPG.

It comes in the wake of a campaign by Sydney mother Angie Daher, whose daughter Eve has DIPG. The family has spent $110,000 and put considerable ­effort into importing the medication from the US following Eve’s 2021 diagnosis.

Eve and Angie Daher travelled to Parliament House last year to campaign for better access to the medication, which is developed by US pharmaceutical company Chimerix.

“I know Eve Daher’s family faced an uphill battle to get ONC201,” Mr Butler said. “This access to ONC201 is a great result for Eve and potentially other young Australians affected by DIPG.”

The Therapeutic Goods Administration will also regulate the import of ONC201 through its Special Access Program for unapproved medicines.

The strategy will also include the formation of a national ­childhood brain cancer clinical trial consortium, which will further Australia’s international push in addressing pediatric brain cancers by connecting researchers with their overseas counterparts