Challenge
Measuring how much leukaemia remains after a child’s initial chemotherapy is one of the best ways to understand how well treatment is working and whether more or less chemotherapy may be needed. Current tests can identify children who may benefit from more intensive treatment, but new genetic technologies may allow doctors to measure very small amounts of remaining leukaemia more accurately and with less invasive testing.
Focus
Dr George Mason’s project will investigate advanced genetic testing methods, including liquid biopsies and whole-genome sequencing, to determine which combination is most effective at detecting tiny amounts of leukaemia. The aim is to improve how doctors monitor children during treatment and identify those who may benefit from closer monitoring for early signs of relapse.
Impact
This research could help doctors tailor chemotherapy more precisely, reducing unnecessary treatment for children who need less intensive therapy while ensuring those at higher risk receive the treatment they need. The findings could inform childhood leukaemia testing and monitoring pathways across Australia, supporting the development of a reliable blood-based approach to monitoring children during treatment. The research could also inform national clinical guidelines, future clinical trials, and monitoring approaches for other childhood cancers.
Researcher
Dr George Mason is a clinical and laboratory haematologist. He trained at Royal North Shore and Westmead Hospitals in Sydney, and was the inaugural Cameron Family Leukemia fellow in 2025. He has interests in the application of genomic technologies to haematological care, with a research interest in prognostic inference. He is a member of the ALLG ALL Scientific Working Party, eviQ Leukemia Reference Committee and ISTH Scientific Standardisation Committee on Omics in Haemostasis and Thrombosis, and teaches with the Sydney Medical School.
