| | | | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Funding sustains health research through challenging times |
Victoria’s position as a national leader in health and biomedical research was certainly highlighted in the recent NHMRC Investigator Grants. With 62 of the 105 Victorian grants awarded going to outstanding researchers within VCCC Alliance member organisations, there is good reason to feel optimistic and proud of the work and innovation happening here and the multi-faceted benefits this offers to the community, our state and the country. Notably the number of Emerging Leadership grants will ensure early and early/mid-career researchers will be among the celebrated cohort of high-calibre researchers who are... | | |
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| | Collaborative lung cancer trial An NHMRC-funded investigator-initiated trial has commenced in Victoria with around 100 patients recruited from across VCCC Alliance member hospitals. The study is evaluating novel assays to detect circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) before and after lung cancer surgery.
Currently, there are no sensitive or specific blood-based biomarkers in clinical use for lung cancer so the study aims to develop and validate molecular predictive and prognostic markers to improve outcomes for patients with the disease. | | |
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| | New Australian brain cancer collaboration The Australian Brain Cancer Research Alliance (ABCARA) is a new alliance of brain cancer researchers and clinician scientists with an interest in adult brain cancer research. The alliance is seeking to develop a national research collaboration to accelerate developments in brain cancer research and patient outcomes. A first step is to understand the scope of research and use of technology among peers nationwide. A full day symposium will precede the COGNO Annual Scientific Meeting later this month to discuss challenges and opportunities for building a collaborative adult brain cancer network. | | |
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| | Shifting Gears: Rethinking Survivorship How can our health systems adapt to better meet the needs of the growing community of people living with and beyond cancer? What are the recent advances in cancer survivorship research and care? What are the changes to practice and new models of care resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic? These questions will be considered at the 4th Victorian Cancer Survivorship Conference, Shifting Gears: Rethinking Survivorship to be presented by the VCCC Alliance and the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC) on 24-25 March 2022 in Melbourne. |
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| | If not for the patient, then who? Research Australia is a national alliance representing the entire health and medical research pipeline from the laboratory through to the patient. In the September issue of their publication, INSPIRE, researchers nationwide shared examples of how involving consumers enriches research. Two projects from the VCCC Alliance are featured in INSPIRE as examples of consumer partnership and consumer-led initiative. |
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| | New VCCC Alliance Head of Quality and Strategic Initiatives Strategic, system level thinking and an inclusive mindset are some of the qualities that our new Head of Quality and Strategic Initiatives will bring to the table when she starts in November.
Lisa Somerville GAICD, formerly Director Allied Health and Chief Allied Health Officer at Alfred Health and Adjunct Associate Professor at Latrobe University, is a strong addition to the VCCC Alliance Senior Leadership team. |
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| | VCCC Alliance Research and Education Lead Gynae-Oncology Expressions of interest are sought for a research and education leader in gynae-oncology. We are looking for an enthusiastic and driven specialist in the field from within a VCCC Alliance member organisation to join our expert Distributed Leadership group.
Help us to champion the systematisation of collaboration across the alliance and the broader cancer sector and to integrate cancer research, education and clinical care in the continuous improvement of patient outcomes. |
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| | Unseen financial impact of cancer treatment Almost 150,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year. While the medical impact of the disease is well documented, the financial pain is perhaps less well understood.
Three people, including Professor Jon Emery, VCCC Alliance Research & Education Lead, Primary Care Integration and Academic Lead – who commented from a primary care researcher perspective – recently provided their unique personal view on the issue to newsGP about how to address the hidden ‘toxic’ costs of cancer treatment. |
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18 OCT | Monday Lunch Livestream The Environmental Impact of Healthcare. Clinical and educational perspectives.
Book now › |
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19 OCT | VCCC Alliance Head and Neck Cancer Ethics Seminar series Seminar three: The ethics of progress in head and neck cancer.
Book now |
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21 OCT | Research with People from Diverse Populations Hosted by VCCC Alliance Nurse-led Research Hub. Critical considerations when conducting research with people from diverse populations Book now › |
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22 OCT | Nurse-led Research Hub Online Workshops Research-based workshops for nurses.
Book now |
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11 NOV | VCCC Alliance Clinical Research Online Workshop Learn the steps involved in developing a systematic review.
Book now |
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16 NOV | Communications Styles Workshop Explore a range of communication methods to influence others.
Book now |
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17 NOV | VCCC Alliance Colorectal Cancer Research Showcase Convened by Prof Peter Gibbs, Research & Education Lead GI Cancer Book now › |
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22 NOV | Monday Lunch Livestream Clinical pathways for management of infections in cancer with Professor Karin Thursky.
Book now › |
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| | Boom in cancer education to meet workforce need With the rising incidence of cancer across the globe, there is a projected shortage of skilled practitioners in the oncology workforce. The Master of Cancer Sciences, Australia’s first cancer-specific, multidisciplinary, and wholly online program, was designed to meet this growing need. In addition to the Masters program, new short courses that provide access to leading oncological experts have just come online through the University of Melbourne. The first subjects in the Melbourne Microcerts Emerging Topics in Oncology series are Clinical Trial Protocol Design and Drug Commercialisation Fundamentals. They are designed to provide skill-based credentialled learning, completed in six weeks. You can finish one before 2022! |
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| | E-Learning recognised internationally In November 2020, experts from the VCCC Alliance launched a new online education program for clinical staff to practice and refine their patient communications skills.
The education program - Effective Communication in End of Life Care virtual reality training module has received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 International E-Learning Awards from the International E-Learning Association.
This is the second E-Learning recognition for VCCC Alliance education, with the Master of Cancer Sciences receiving an Honorable Mention in 2019. |
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6th Vic Cancer Survivorship Research Forum 2021 The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC) together with Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) will host this free online forum on Thursday 21 October, 2-3:30pm. It is an opportunity to hear about the excellent work that is underway by interstate experts and fellow Victorians working in cancer survivorship. Featuring presentations from: Dr Fiona Crawford- Williams (Queensland University of Technology) - The development of Australian research priorities in cancer survivorship A/Prof Maria McCarthy (The Royal Children's Hospital) - EMergE: An Ehealth Model of Care for Paediatric Patients and Families at the End-of-Treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Dr Nikki McCaffrey (Deakin University) - Economics of Cancer Care across the Continuum in Victoria (ECCC) A recording will be made available to all those who register for the event but are unable to attend on the day. |
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The ‘QualDeath’ Project A new project is improving how we assess the quality of death and dying. Hospitals are required to be able to demonstrate quality end of life care. Currently however, there is no standardised framework in place for evaluating the quality of death and dying for advanced cancer patients in acute hospitals.
A new collaborative project led by the Centre for Palliative Care will develop a systematic appraisal process, called QualDeath, to help address this gap. |
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2021 MOGA Immuno-oncology Symposium Cancer immunotherapy continues to dominate contemporary medical oncology research and increase in standard clinical practice. Monitoring and responding to developments in immunotherapy is now an essential requirement for all oncology specialists.
The program is designed as real-time education for Australian medical oncology professionals focussing on the emerging developments in immunotherapy and how they are transforming clinical practice in 2021. The educational sessions will include a keynote address by Prof Padmanee Sharma with a series of cancer stream specific sessions.
The 2021 MOGA Immuno-oncology Symposium will be held online on Friday 5 November. Australian medical oncology trainees, young clinicians and consultants are invited to register at no cost. |
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| | 14 Education and training events |
| | | 1255 Education and training event attendees |
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| KEY | | Leadership and collaboration | | Clinical trials development | | Consumers |
| | Education and training | | Research development |
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