Paediatric Precision Oncology Program – ZERO SEA

Written By Ninghao Ho
About Ho Foundation

Strategic Overview of ZERO Paediatric Precision Oncology Program – Southeast Asia Hub (ZERO SEA)

A large population of children in Southeast Asia do not at present have equitable access to precision oncology, a treatment approach that is improving the survival of children with cancer. This initiative aims to build on the strengths of the Zero Childhood Cancer Program in Australia and extend its reach into Southeast Asia, with Singapore as the regional hub.

We are building a strategic collaboration between the Zero Childhood Cancer Program at the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) in Sydney, Australia, and the Children’s Blood and Cancer Centre at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) in Singapore for this purpose.

By combining CCI’s globally leading precision oncology capabilities with KKH’s established paediatric oncology expertise and Singapore’s position as a gateway to Southeast Asia, this initiative extends ZERO into new populations and regions, bringing life-changing precision oncology to children who currently lack access to advanced diagnostics and targeted therapies.

This collaboration was initiated by Ninghao Ho through the Ho Foundation, working with Professor Les White AM, to bring together CCI and KKH in building a scalable, cross-border platform for long-term impact.

Program Vision

To bring precision oncology to children in Southeast Asia, leveraging the Zero Childhood Cancer Program (ZERO) in Australia and establishing Singapore as the regional hub, laying the foundations for a globally connected model of paediatric precision oncology.

Strategic Objectives

  1. Changing lives:
    Transform outcomes for children with cancer in Singapore and across Southeast Asia through precision oncology, genomic research and regional collaboration.

  2. Regional leadership:
    Scale ZERO internationally through a hub-and-spoke model, with Singapore serving as the regional centre supporting Southeast Asia.

  3. Scientific discovery:
    Accelerate paediatric cancer genomics research through a two-way exchange of genomic data, clinical insight and translational research, building one of the most valuable and diverse paediatric cancer datasets globally.

Pillars

  1. Pillar 1 - Clinical excellence:
    Extension of ZERO into Singapore through collaboration between CCI and CBCC, establishing a “ZERO-partner” paediatric precision oncology hub at KKH, supported by a joint MTB and shared clinical protocols.

  2. Pillar 2 - Genomic infrastructure:
    Creation of an Asia Pacific paediatric cancer genomic platform, integrating datasets from Australia, Singapore and Southeast Asia, combining Western and Asian cohorts to enable globally relevant discovery.

  3. Pillar 3 – Research & innovation:
    Development of a CCI-CBCC collaborative research platform for genomic discovery, therapeutic development and clinical translation, leveraging complementary strengths across both institutions.

Partners

Core Partners

  • Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI)

  • KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH)

  • Ho Foundation

Ho Foundation role

  • Program initiator and founding sponsor.

  • Strategic catalyst for the CCI-KKH collaboration.

  • Funding support for early program development.

  • Advocacy for Singapore as a regional paediatric precision oncology hub.

Strategic Value

For CCI

  • Positions ZERO as a leader in the global network, with Singapore as a key step in its international growth.

  • Enables access to diverse and currently underrepresented Asian genomic datasets.

  • Strengthens translational research and global clinical impact through cross-border collaboration.

For KKH

  • Establishes Singapore as a regional centre of excellence for paediatric precision oncology and the first ZERO hub in Asia.

  • Accelerates capability building through partnership with a globally leading program.

  • Positions KKH as a referral, knowledge and research hub for Southeast Asia.

Shared value

  • Combines complementary strengths to accelerate both clinical outcomes and scientific discovery.

  • Creates a scalable international model for expanding precision oncology globally.

  • Establishes a blueprint for future global collaborations built on the ZERO platform.

Program Roadmap

Stage 1 - Capability building

  1. KKH leadership study visit to CCI.

  2. CCI leadership study visit to KKH.

  3. Development of implementation roadmap and partnership framework.

  4. Structured CBCC training placements at CCI.

Stage 2 - Implementation

  1. Visiting professorship(s).

  2. Establishment of CCI-CBCC clinical collaboration.

  3. Launch of a pilot precision oncology program for selected paediatric cancer patients in Singapore.

Stage 3 - Regional hub

Singapore to serve as a regional referral and knowledge hub, providing genomic analysis, molecular tumour board consultation and training for paediatric oncology centres across Southeast Asia.

  1. Expand program to all paediatric cancer patients in Singapore.

  2. Extend program to Southeast Asia partners.

  3. Establish broader Asia Pacific paediatric cancer genomic platform and research network with Singapore as the coordination hub.

Ninghao Ho