Australian Researchers Launch Pioneering mRNA Vaccine Trial for Children’s Brain Tumors

On February 6, 2026, a team of scientists from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre, in collaboration with the University of South Australia, announced the start of a first‑of‑its‑kind clinical trial that uses personalized messenger‑RNA (mRNA) vaccines to treat malignant brain tumors in children.

The experimental therapy, called PanDEV‑VAX, creates a custom‑designed vaccine for each patient based on the unique genetic “fingerprint” of their tumor. According to the trial’s lead investigator, Professor David Zeigler, the approach “helps the immune system recognize and precisely target cancer cells although minimizing damage to healthy tissue.”

PanDEV‑VAX is aimed at the rare and aggressive forms of pediatric brain cancer, most notably diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). In Australia, DIPG is diagnosed in roughly 20 children each year, and current treatment options are limited.

The trial is being funded with A$2.57 million from the Medical Research Future Fund, a government‑backed program that supports advanced clinical research in Australia.

“This technique represents a major step forward in the fight against the most lethal brain tumors affecting children,” Professor Zeigler said. “By tailoring the vaccine to the tumor’s specific mutations, we aim to achieve a higher therapeutic response with fewer side effects.”

The launch of PanDEV‑VAX underscores a growing global interest in mRNA‑based immunotherapies, an area that gained widespread attention during the COVID‑19 pandemic. If successful, the trial could pave the way for similar personalized vaccine strategies against other hard‑to‑treat cancers.

For more information, see the original announcements from BNA Bahrain, the Saudi Press Agency, and Radio Express FM.