Professor Stewart Trost
(Queensland University of Technology Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation)
Over 60% of childhood brain cancers are located in the lower region of the brain known as the ‘posterior fossa’. Sadly, surviving posterior fossa tumours often comes at the cost of decreased physical functioning and significant neurocognitive impairment.
Research has shown that children with other types of cancer who participate in therapeutic exercise programs show significant improvements in muscular strength, cognitive function and cardiorespiratory fitness. But there has been no research into the impact for children with posterior fossa tumours.
The research
Prof Stewart Trost will lead randomised controlled trial to investigate whether a 12-week therapeutic exercise program improves cardiorespiratory fitness, functional strength, cognitive function and quality of life in patients with posterior fossa brain tumours.
The project will involve researchers and clinicians, including experts in paediatric exercise science and neuro-oncology at Queensland Children’s Hospital, plus the paediatric exercise testing laboratory at the Centre for Children’s Health Research.
The potential outcomes
It is expected this research will translate into ways to reduce the risk for chronic, disabling conditions such as obesity, cardiometabolic disorders and poor psychosocial functioning in childhood brain cancer survivors.
The research team
Prof Stewart Trost
Queensland University of Technology – School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Scientific Investigator
Dr Timothy Hassall
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Oncologist, CCBC Program Director, Clinical Investigator
Dr Emmah Baque
Queensland University of Technology/Griffith University, Co-Investigator
Dr Carolina Sandler
Kirby Institute UNSW Sydney, Co-Investigator
Dr Denise Brookes
Queensland University of Technology, Research Assistant
Dr Caroline Terranova
Queensland University of Technology, Research Project Officer
Brooke Kohler
Queensland University of Technology, PhD Student.
