HUNTER researcher Dr Matt Dun will step into the spotlight of the small screen to talk about his race for a cure for DIPG this week.
On Tuesday night's episode of Insight on SBS, Dr Dun will share his story, his message and his mission to find a cure for the aggressive brain cancer that claimed the life of his own little girl, Josephine.
Dr Dun, of the University of Newcastle and HMRI, said the television appearance was all in the name of public advocacy for the deadly Diffuse Instinsic Pontine Glioma - DIPG.
"I am trying to keep the momentum going, share our story, encourage further research and further funding," he told the Newcastle Herald.
"We need to get clinical trials going in Australia as quickly as we can for the kids fighting DIPG now, and those that are going to be diagnosed tomorrow."
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Dr Dun said there needed to be more focus on the cancer that took more children than any other disease.
"I think we would get a bit more momentum in terms of the priority of research, and funding for it, if more people understood that," he said.
Dr Dun will be joined by other doctors and academics who have chased or achieved medical breakthroughs on the program.
Professor Paul Young, who is working on a COVID-19 vaccine, and burns specialist Professor Fiona Wood - who engineered "spray on skin" - will also appear on the "Race for a Cure" episode of Insight.
"It was a bit humbling," Dr Dun said. "They are some of the greatest clinical researchers Australia has ever produced. These guys are incredible and they have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Their work has led to the saving of many lives and improving quality of life."
Dr Dun said he hoped his appearance on the program might attract some "brilliant minds" to take up the challenge of finding a cure, or better treatments, for DIPG.
"It is nice that we are starting to build some momentum and that we are getting DIPG into the public sphere," he said. "We have to keep it going.
"We have to change outcomes today, not tomorrow."
Dr Dun said it was vital that work and research into DIPG continued to look at long term solutions and treatments.
"But there are kids that are fighting DIPG that need everybody's help right now," he said.
"That was abundantly apparent for us throughout our journey.
"Nothing came in time for Josie. But if we can keep the momentum going, keep people talking about it and researching it and funding it so that we can change the outcomes, that's all I care about it."
Dr Dun will appear on SBS's Insight at 8.30pm on Tuesday, June 23.
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