Canberra, February 3, 2026 — The Europe Today: A world-first clinical trial testing personalised cancer vaccines for children with advanced or treatment-resistant brain tumours is set to begin, supported by an A$2.578 million investment from the Australian Government, according to media reports.
The study, known as the PaedNEO-VAX trial, is co-led by The University of Queensland (UQ) and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), in partnership with mRNA medicines company Providence Therapeutics. The trial will provide individually tailored vaccines to children and adolescents with aggressive brain cancers.
The trial will be rolled out over the coming months at eight paediatric hospitals across Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Clinical lead Professor Jordan Hansford, from SAHMRI and the University of Adelaide, said the study is open to paediatric patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant high-grade tumours, including medulloblastoma, ependymoma, high-grade glioma and newly diagnosed diffuse midline glioma.
Professor Hansford encouraged families to discuss participation with their child’s oncologist, noting that around half of screened patients are expected to be eligible. He described the trial as a highly personalised and innovative approach to treating some of the most challenging childhood brain cancers, with significant potential to improve outcomes.
Phase I of the trial will focus on identifying the safest and most effective vaccine dose, while Phase II will assess treatment effectiveness, including its impact on cancer progression, overall survival, and quality of life for children and their families.
Brain tumours remain the leading cause of disease-related death among Australian children.
Scientific lead Professor Brandon Wainwright AM, from UQ’s Frazer Institute, said personalised mRNA cancer vaccines have already shown encouraging results in adults with rare and difficult-to-treat cancers, such as pancreatic cancer and melanoma. He noted that years of laboratory research have now made it possible to extend this promising approach to children with aggressive and treatment-resistant tumours.
Under the trial, researchers will use genome sequencing and advanced data analysis to identify unique cancer markers in each child’s tumour and select tumour-specific vaccine targets. Customised vaccines will then be manufactured in Queensland by Southern RNA and distributed to trial sites. Each personalised vaccine is expected to be ready within approximately 10 weeks of a patient enrolling in the study.
The Australia and New Zealand Children’s Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) is sponsoring and managing the trial. Funding has been provided through the Medical Research Future Fund, with mRNA platform technology and additional investment supplied by Providence Therapeutics.
Providence Therapeutics founder and Chief Executive Officer Brad Sorenson said the partnership with Australian researchers reflects a shared commitment to tackling life-threatening childhood cancers. He emphasized that for parents and families, having access to more treatment options can make a critical difference.
Families and patient advocates have also been closely involved in designing the trial, ensuring the research aligns with the real-world needs and priorities of those affected.
