Helping kids and their families have a better life – free from the heartache of cancers and other childhood conditions – has been a lifetime’s focus for Associate Professor Quenten Schwarz.
As a world expert in neuron development and Head of Neurovascular Research at the Centre for Cancer Biology, a research centre within the University of SA and SA Pathology, A/Prof Schwarz seeks to understand the cell and molecular processes driving these conditions, to then use that knowledge to find better treatments.
His work spans a range of childhood conditions – including cancers such as neuroblastoma, glioblastoma and medulloblastoma, and neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia and autism.
And while he tries to keep the hardline as a researcher and academic, as a dad himself, he knows how important his research is to creating ‘everyday’ moments for families.
The story of Edwina, now 10 but who battled neuroblastoma as a two-year-old, is one where he does allow a little emotion to creep in.
“She’s an inspiration to a lot of people. It’s very touching, it brings a tear to your eye,” he said.
“I know my family is always so emotional about her story. My daughter cut her hair and donated that for neuroblastoma research. Having Edwina and her mum attend the fundraiser event for this meant so much.”
Edwina’s story, and others like hers, gives A/Prof Schwarz purpose to find better treatments for neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers that have less damaging side effects.
“The disease itself is not treated well,” he said.
“A typical path of disease treatment is multiple rounds of chemotherapy, teamed with surgical resection and immunotherapy in addition to other highly invasive techniques. It’s happening at a time when their brains are forming, and their bodies are growing.
“If you are diagnosed with neuroblastoma, about 50% of kids with high-risk disease unfortunately succumb to it.
“We need better ways of treating it, better ways of diagnosing it. And underpinning that, we need more fundamental research into why it arises in the first place.”
The Hospital Research Foundation Group has been proud to fund A/Prof Schwarz’s research into neuroblastoma, which has since led to a national MRFF grant to progress this crucial work through ‘stem cell modelling’.
“We hope that this new information will allow us to identify the best therapies for each tumour type, as well as more accurately predict the patient outcomes,” A/Prof Schwarz said.
By fundraising or donating to The Longest Table, you’re directly supporting research like A/Prof Schwarz’s that aims to find better treatments for childhood cancers – allowing for more everyday moments for our loved ones. Thank you!
