More than 80% of children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are successfully treated today – an achievement deemed by Dr Michael Osborn as “one of the true success stories of modern medicine”.
Professor David Curtis has focused his research on searching for new ways to treat early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ETP-ALL) which he describes as “a nasty type of leukaemia”.
The ability to use haploidentical donors, or half matched donors, is the most important recent development in stem cell transplantation, says world leader in transplant research, Professor David Curtis.
Professor Wendy Erber and her research team in Western Australia are developing a monitoring tool they hope will identify MPN patients who will go on to develop leukaemia.
The greatest unmet need in CML is the ability to predict outcomes at the time of diagnosis according to Dr Naranie Shanmuganathan, a consultant haematologist at Royal Adelaide Hospital and SA Pathology.
A clinical trial, due to open in mid-2022, will give young people access to two promising new ALL drugs.
