What the Behavioural Sciences Unit does

Until a cure for all childhood cancers has been found, it is our mandate to improve hospital initiatives to better support patients and their families from diagnosis to survivorship and bereavement.  

To this end, the Behavioural Sciences Unit (BSU) was established in 2001 to conduct research studies that cover all psycho-social and behavioural aspects of paediatric cancer. The Unit is part of, and supported by, the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital. 

The Behavioural Sciences Unit is proudly supported by the following granting bodies:
Kids With Cancer Foundation

Cancer Council New South Wales
(with the support of the Estate of the Late Harry McPaul)

Cancer Australia

Cancer Institute NSW 

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Kids Cancer Alliance 

The Kids Cancer Project

Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation

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Australian and New Zealand Children's Haemotology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)

The Behavioural Sciences Unit is proudly supported by Kids with Cancer Foundation Australia.

Ursula-Sansom Daly wins Top 5 under 40 award!

PictureThe winners of the 2017 Top 5 under 40 from left to right: Dr Sophie Calabretto, Dr Denton Callander, Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly, Dr Tom Raimondo and Dr Gemma Sharp.
Dr Ursula received a Top 5 Under 40 Award (ABC/UNSW) in 2017, for her research on adjusting to life after cancer as a young person!
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Read more here. 

'Scare Cancer' 2015 Halloween Fundraiser for the Kids with Cancer Foundation

The BSU team held their second annual 'Scare Cancer' fundraiser in support of the Kids with Cancer Foundation Halloween themed campaign. 100% of donations and money raised on the day goes directly to sick kids and their families.

Read more about the Kids with Cancer Foundation here.

Dr Sansom-Daly is interviewed on our Recapture Life study

Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly was interviewed by Dr Bradley J. Zebrack (the University of Michigan) at the 2015 IPOS conference in August, regarding the provision of supportive care services to meet the unique needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer. 

Click on the image to the left to follow a link to the video.

Our long term follow-up study features on the radio

Prof Claire Wakefield and Prof Richard Cohn were each interviewed on the radio recently, regarding the BSU's long term follow-up study. The two interviews followed on from this weeks Clinical Oncology Society of Australia's 41st Annual Scientific Meeting, held in Melbourne, where Prof Cohn presented early findings from the study.

'Scare Cancer' 2014 Halloween Fundraiser for the Kids with Cancer Foundation

The BSU team held a fundraiser to support the Kids with Cancer Foundation 'Scare Cancer' Halloween themed campaign. 100% of the money raised at the fundraiser went directly to sick kids and their families.

The Kids with Cancer Foundation supports families of children 12 years and under in financial difficulties due to their child being treated for cancer. The foundation also supports doctors, nurses, social workers and support groups involved in caring for these children and various research projects in the field. Click here to read more about the Kids with Cancer Foundation.

Prof Claire Wakefield and Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly win two prestigious awards at the Cancer Institute Premier's award night

Please see the below links to read more about the annual Premier's Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research
Left to right: Ursula Sansom-Daly, Professor Michelle Haber and Prof Claire Wakefield

Our Grandparent study features in the Daily Telegraph

The article draws on the story of brave Emily Teplicanec, diagnosed at just 4 years old, and her family. Please click here to go to the full article, or on the image (left) to read the article full size. For more information see also the links below.

Prof Claire Wakefield meets the Duchess of Cambridge during the Royal tour of Australia

Prof Claire Wakefield and the BSU are featured in an article in the Daily Mail UK after attending an invitation-only welcome reception with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as part of their Royal tour down under. Please see the links below for more information.