$1m research fund to increase child cancer survival rates

Childhood brain cancer researchers in NSW will receive an extra $1 million to help run a new immunotherapy trial.

The NSW Government is investing $1 million into an immunotherapy trial. Source: AAP

Childhood brain cancer researchers in NSW have received a $1 million boost that will support a new immunotherapy trial.

The funding, announced on Saturday by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, will help staff at the Zero Childhood Cancer program who are looking for treatments to boost survival rates.

The project is jointly run by the Children's Cancer Institute and the Sydney Children's Hospital Network and offers Australia's first ever personalised medicine program for children with high-risk or relapsed cancer.

Researchers say three children and adolescents die every week as a result of childhood cancer, each representing at least 65 years lost from normal life expectancy.

Mr Hazzard said every death was absolutely devastating for an entire family.

"We want to do all we can to help these children beat brain cancer and live longer," he said in a statement.

"This is one of the most exciting childhood cancer research initiatives in Australia."

The Zero Childhood Cancer program was previously awarded $5.63 million in 2015.