ZERO stands for Precision Medicine for Every Child with Cancer (ZERO2). It is a national childhood cancer research and precision-medicine program involving the Children’s Cancer Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospital and the Kids Cancer Centre.
At its heart, ZERO aims to understand what makes each child’s cancer unique. By studying the genetic and molecular characteristics of a child’s cancer, researchers and clinicians can look for treatment options that may be better suited to that individual child.
Every childhood cancer is different. ZERO uses advanced genomic sequencing, data science and artificial intelligence to analyse detailed information from a child’s tumour and identify genetic changes that may be driving the cancer. This information can help doctors better understand the disease and explore potential treatments tailored to the individual child.
The program generates and analyses enormous amounts of genomic data. The Children’s Cancer Institute has developed advanced cloud-based platforms, including ZERO Cloud and ZeroDash, to securely manage this information and help researchers and clinicians analyse complex genomic data more efficiently.
By bringing together research, genomics, technology and clinical care, ZERO is helping to advance precision medicine for children with cancer and improve our understanding of childhood cancer for future generations.
For the Lachlan Leung Foundation, ZERO has a particularly special meaning. Lachlan participated in the ZERO2 program during his own cancer journey. His contribution to this research is part of his lasting legacy and our commitment to supporting research that may help future children facing childhood cancer