The Robert Connor Dawes FoundationRegistered

RCD's mission is to drive global paediatric brain cancer research advancements and support young patients while they are on their brain cancer journey. The financial result for 2024 was a deficit, arising from the significant investment of $2.1M made in funding world leading research projects, through grants made to fund beneficiaries. Excluding the impact of expenditure to fund beneficiaries, the foundation made a surplus of $966k. In addition to funding two PhD students, two postdoctoral fellows, a molecular oncologist and supporting two paediatric brain tumour cancer biobanks, we invested in a new team to design, develop and trial a mRNA vaccine against paediatric brain cancer. Involving multiple Australian and US partners, this large initiative uses cutting edge technology to advance immunotherapy for kids with brain cancer. We have enabled 297 children (including 55 Australian patients) to participate in clinical trials through our continued cofunding of four international and one national trial and supported 9 researchers to attend 5 international and 4 national conferences with our travel grants. Through our industry memberships with likeminded charities, we lobbied the NDIS to reinstate approvals for brain cancer patients to receive support and have advocated for a dedicated brain cancer care coordinator program as part of the Australian Cancer Nursing Navigation Program. Moreover, we delivered 317 music therapy inhome sessions to 28 children, adolescents and young adults with brain cancer in this period supporting them on their cancer journey.