About Us
Our Vision and Goals
Our vision is to enhance the care of children and adolescents with cancer, through the clinical development of new therapies, tests and interventions to improve outcomes for children with the most aggressive cancers.
KOALA collaborates with international experts to facilitate the delivery of cutting edge medical treatment at hospitals around Australia and New Zealand.
Our People
Professor David Ziegler Director
Prof Ziegler is a paediatric oncologist at the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. He treats children with all types of cancer and sub-specialises in childhood brain cancers, including malignant gliomas, DIPG and medulloblastomas. Prof Ziegler is the Group Leader of Brain Tumour Program at Children’s Cancer Institute, head of Neuro-Oncology and clinical trials at the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital.
Prof Ziegler’s primary research interest is novel targeted therapies for the most aggressive childhood cancers, with a goal of rapid translation from laboratory to clinic.
He has been instrumental in establishing KOALA to promote bench to bedside medicine, early phase paediatric oncology trials and precision medicine in Australia and New Zealand
Laura Mitchell National Clinical Trials Manager
Laura joined KOALA as the National Coordinating Centre Manager in 2022. In this role, Laura works collaboratively with key stakeholders to advance the research being undertaken by the KOALA National Coordinating Centre.
Laura brings extensive experience in Australasian clinical and psychosocial research, having previously coordinated large Australian and New Zealand cardiology and respiratory studies. She brings a passion for improving the lives of children, young people, and their families when faced with a childhood cancer diagnosis.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)(Honours, Class I) from the University of Sydney. Laura worked clinically as a paediatric occupational therapist at Sydney Children’s Hospital, and as a community mental health clinician.
Lily Wong Clinical Research Associate
Lily has over 18 years of experience in clinical research, quality management and regulatory affairs in the pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech sectors. Lily holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) (First Class Honours), Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) and a Master of Public Health.
Lily joined KOALA in 2018 and is passionate about improving health outcomes for children with cancer. Lily is currently the International Study Coordinator for LEVI’S CATCH, OPTIMISE, GALLANT and INFORM2 NivEnt studies.
Sarah Butcher Senior Clinical Trials Associate
Sarah originates from Cambridge, UK where she completed a BSc Biomedical Science (first class honours) and started her early career in biopharmaceutical Research and Development across a range of therapeutic areas.
After moving to Australia and spending time working in quality and operations within the corporate sector, Sarah’s passion for science and medicine saw her make the move to clinical trials in 2020, where she was delighted to return to the field of healthcare.
Initially working within the site research team at Sydney Children’s Hospital as a Clinical Trials Assistant and then a Clinical Research Coordinator, Sarah has experience in both leukaemia clinical trials, as well as the PRISM personalised medicine program. This experience from a site perspective was invaluable when joining the KOALA team in 2022.
Sarah feels immensely proud to be working in the field of paediatric cancer research and is driven by the desire to improve the lives of children with cancer.
Joanne Chuah Clinical Research Associate
Joanne is a Clinical Trials Officer at KOALA. She is responsible for the project management of multiple international and national trials for paediatric neuroblastoma and brain tumours. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the trial activities from research concept development to end of trial. She has contributed to the success of trials being conducted in accordance with the protocol, standard operating procedures, good clinical practice and other applicable regulations.
Joanne is currently the National Study Coordinator for the SIOPEN and DART studies.
Emma Robinson Clinical Research Associate
Emma started at KOALA in May, 2023. She comes from a background of research administration, having previously worked as a Research and Awards Officer.
Emma has a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biomedical Science and enjoys working in a role that allows her to combine her science background with her administrative and organisational skills. She has a keen interest in the promotion of disease awareness and research funding, having lived with Crohn’s disease for over 20 years. Emma is a national study coordinator on the ZERO2 trial.
Outside of work Emma enjoys swing dancing, vintage fashion, and aerial lyra.