VCCC Annual Report 2019-20
The VCCC Annual Report 2019-20 highlights the breadth, diversity, and significance of the alliance's work, the potential for future growth, and the impact on the Victorian community.
The VCCC has partnered with Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer consortium on a joint initiative to support clinicians and health care services treating patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery phase.
The Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network (VCCN) provides a variety of resources and opportunities to get involved, learn and contribute.
There are two ways to get involved:
Subscribe to receive the VCCN newsletter with latest news, developments and changes to cancer care in Victoria, online events and seminars.
Become a VCCN Member: Health care workers can become a member of the VCCN and participate in online conversations and knowledge sharing via the VCCN Slack workspace. Members must agree to the terms and conditions to join.
Peter Mac is Australia’s only integrated cancer research, treatment and education centre, with multidisciplinary teams that provide care informed by precision in fundamental, translational and clinical research.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) provides high-quality cancer treatment programs, translational research, and surgical and medical expertise, as well as other key support services such as clinical care and emergency medicine.
Australia’s first ranked research university and medical school, the university provides academic and research expertise to the alliance.
The Women’s provides specialist cancer services for women with breast and gynecological cancer and conducts research into the treatment and care of women with cancer, as well as the specific impacts of gender on cancer.
WEHI is one of Australia’s leading biomedical research organisations, with a strong national and international reputation for performing highly influential basic and translational research.
The Children’s Cancer Centre is the only provider of complex children’s cancer care and stem cell transplantation in Victoria and is a leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer.
Western Health is the largest provider of treatment for colorectal cancer and a leader in the treatment of upper gastro-intestinal cancers with programs in breast, lung, genitourinary, gynaecology and haematological cancer.
Western Health has on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities and has a strong palliative care service.
A leader in palliative care practice and complex cancer surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne also provides oncology and haematology services, on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities, in addition the hospital houses the Victorian-wide psycho-oncology service.
The hospital shares its campus with St Vincent's Institute, which has fundamental and clinical researchers working on mechanisms of cancer and diseases of cancer survivorship.
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre at Austin Health provides world-leading specialist treatment and holistic care including clinical trials both independently and in partnership with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) – a leader in the development of experimental and breakthrough cancer treatments only metres from where patients are cared for.
The MCRI is a leader in understanding the underlying mechanisms and treatment of paediatric cancer and is home to the Children’s Cancer Tissue bank; a world class resource for researchers studying rare solid tumours and leukemia.
Peter Mac is Australia’s only integrated cancer research, treatment and education centre, with multidisciplinary teams that provide care informed by precision in fundamental, translational and clinical research.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) provides high-quality cancer treatment programs, translational research, and surgical and medical expertise, as well as other key support services such as clinical care and emergency medicine.
Australia’s first ranked research university and medical school, the university provides academic and research expertise to the alliance.
The Women’s provides specialist cancer services for women with breast and gynecological cancer and conducts research into the treatment and care of women with cancer, as well as the specific impacts of gender on cancer.
WEHI is one of Australia’s leading biomedical research organisations, with a strong national and international reputation for performing highly influential basic and translational research.
The Children’s Cancer Centre is the only provider of complex children’s cancer care and stem cell transplantation in Victoria and is a leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer.
Western Health is the largest provider of treatment for colorectal cancer and a leader in the treatment of upper gastro-intestinal cancers with programs in breast, lung, genitourinary, gynaecology and haematological cancer.
Western Health has on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities and has a strong palliative care service.
A leader in palliative care practice and complex cancer surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne also provides oncology and haematology services, on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities, in addition the hospital houses the Victorian-wide psycho-oncology service.
The hospital shares its campus with St Vincent's Institute, which has fundamental and clinical researchers working on mechanisms of cancer and diseases of cancer survivorship.
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre at Austin Health provides world-leading specialist treatment and holistic care including clinical trials both independently and in partnership with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) – a leader in the development of experimental and breakthrough cancer treatments only metres from where patients are cared for.
The MCRI is a leader in understanding the underlying mechanisms and treatment of paediatric cancer and is home to the Children’s Cancer Tissue bank; a world class resource for researchers studying rare solid tumours and leukemia.
Together all of our actions matter
It was a privilege to participate in activities and awareness-raising for World Cancer Day last week. This year’s theme, Together all of our actions matter, is a message particularly relevant for our alliance and these times and circumstances. It suggests a shared vision and requires empathy and a passion to change the trajectory of health for humanity. Ultimately, it encourages us to stand in solidarity, despite our differences.
In news out last week, the American Society of Clinical Oncology has recognised Molecular Profiling Driving Progress in Gastrointestinal Cancers as the Advance of the Year in Clinical Cancer Advances.
The latest ASCO report on annual progress against cancer also catalogs a year’s worth of significant research advances, highlights areas of research opportunities, and reinforces the importance of federal funding for cancer research.
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre alliance recently hosted a multidisciplinary workshop moderated by Professor Maarten IJzerman, (VCCC and the University of Melbourne) and Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre), bringing together experts from cancer research, clinical oncology, health services research and industry to review the health economic consequences of the use of liquid biopsies and their potential for routine implementation in cancer management.
Learn moreFree, online course launches
The VCCC has just launced a new, four-week, part-time massive open online course (MOOC), Cancer and the Older Person for cancer health care professionals, as well as family members and carers of older people with a cancer diagnosis.
The VCCC Precision Oncology Program has implemented a groundbreaking approach whereby genomic testing is based on clinical decision-making rather than the strict eligibility criteria required for research studies or clinical trials. Since March 2019 this approach has enabled VCCC alliance hospital partners to provide some patients access to genomic testing they would not otherwise have had.
Learn moreEffective communication can make all the difference. Sometimes it is the simplest things – the right word of reassurance at the right time, or having your partner actively included in a care conversation can be highly effective ways to build and enhance the doctor-patient therapeutic relationship. Many clinicians do this incredibly well but there is always room for improvement.
Experts from the VCCC have designed a new online education program for clinical staff to practice and refine their patient communication skills.
Integrating germline genetics into cancer care
Hear from an international expert from Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, who will explore the revolutionary application of germline testing to determine hereditary cancer.
How playing with LeGO can help understand the spread of breast cancer
Breast tumours are composed of many genetically diverse cancer cells, with some having the ability to metastasise and potentially cause breast cancer-related death. To identify and profile the relevant cancer cells responsible for secondary cancers, the revolutionary new technology LeGO (LEntivirus Gene Ontology) offers an exciting leading-edge prospect for metastatic progression and treatment response.
Key roles of Hoxa1 in HSCs and myelodysplastic syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is a malignant blood cell disease that predominantly results in bone marrow failure, where patients die from complications relating to low blood cell counts. It is a heterogeneous disease and approximately thirty percent of patients progress to acute myeloid leukaemia. Aside from stem cell transplants, which most patients are ineligible for due to their older age, there is no cure.
Supported by new funding from the Victorian Government, over the next 3.5 years the VCCC alliance will continue its groundbreaking work developing and implementing innovative, system-changing programs aimed to improve outcomes for patients with cancer.
We are offering an exciting new opportunity to join our close-knit and cross-functional team as Manager, Health Equity. Aligned with program funding, this is a full-time opportunity through to mid-2024.
Supported by new funding from the Victorian Government, over the next 3.5 years the VCCC alliance will continue its groundbreaking work developing and implementing innovative, system-changing programs aimed to improve outcomes for patients with cancer.
We are offering an exciting new opportunity to join our close-knit and cross-functional team as Program Manager, Clinical Trials Innovation. Aligned with program funding, this is a full-time opportunity through to mid-2024.
Many patients, carers, clinicians and researchers registered for this year's VCCC World Cancer Day webinar: Six weeks with my biopsy - a story of cancer and genomics.
Patients and carers with an interest in genomics and precision oncology may like some further resources. Additionally, some people with experience of cancer may wish to join a proposed consumer reference group to work together with clinicians and researchers; assisting to understand patient experience in relation to genomic medicine.