VCCC Annual Report 2018-19
This year's triumph has been bringing to life the innovative, game-changing programs that make up the VCCC Strategic Research Plan 2017-20.
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) is a powerful alliance of 10 leading research, academic and clinical institutions working together to accelerate and amplify leading-edge cancer research, knowledge and expertise to benefit the Victorian community.
VCCC programs support and enable the alliance members to work strategically and collaboratively together, integrating cancer research, clinical trials and education, to enable and accelerate the translation of scientific evidence into patient and community benefit.
With the support of the Victorian Government, the VCCC seeks to reinforce Victoria’s position at the forefront of research-led, consumer-informed, cancer prevention, detection, treatment and patient care.
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.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 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.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 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.
It is heartening to see momentum around childhood cancers with the Australian Government confirming a dedicated day annually to raise awareness of the impact of childhood brain cancer.
The inaugural Childhood Brain Cancer Awareness Day on 26 September highlighted the challenges of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) which is one of the most aggressive cancers to affect children, with no known curative therapies.
Amid the wit (and occasional slander!) of the debate, the arguments presented revealed the complexity of the topic – this was further demonstrated by the difficulty both teams had staying on their side of the debate!
Learn moreWorking with Cancer Trials Australia (CTA), the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) has appointed two dedicated project officers to implement SiteDocs, an electronic document management platform, as well as facilitate training and support.
Sixteen clinical trial sites in Melbourne and regional Victoria are involved in the implementation which will enable our collective impact and produce greater efficiencies.
At the recent VCCC 5th Psycho-oncology Conference, Professor Foster spoke on advancing comprehensive cancer care and what we have learnt from patients so far. Here she provides her thoughts and ideas of improving practices to better involve patients in research.
Learn moreOn 4 December, the VCCC will host its first Consumer Engagement Forum to share experiences and introduce a range of resources to help implement meaningful engagement.
Learn moreIn this new collaborative initiative, nurses who applied for VCCC support had to involve at least two alliance clinical partner organisations whilst focusing on improving the quality and safety of care for people affected by cancer.
Learn moreUnderstanding the dormant danger of melanoma metastasis - collaboration across VCCC partners to explore a fundamental question in melanoma immunology.
The presentation will acknowledge National Skin Cancer Action Week with a review of melanoma research in the VCCC alliance and the role of Melanoma Research Victoria.
A practical and interactive workshop introducing the steps involved from progressing a clinical research idea to execution. Learn the basics for designing a research project.
The VCCC is hosting an interactive workshop Writing a conference abstract, for nurses who work in the cancer field. All nurses who have or are considering submitting an abstract for a conference are invited to this afternoon workshop coordinated by the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Nurse-led Research Hub.
We require a number of casual teaching assistants to support a tutorial group of up to 25 online graduate students. These roles will be part of a professional and dynamic team supporting the new Master of Cancer Sciences program.
Do you have a Masters or PhD qualification in medicine, nursing, allied health or the sciences? Do you have a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching? We are looking for passionate educators to take overall responsibility for the design, implementation and delivery of the Cancer Diagnostics and the Research Thesis Capstone subjects within the new Master of Cancer Sciences program.
A flair for online editing and your cancer biology know-how provides unique opportunity
We are seeking an Honours level graduate with a degree in cancer biology, clinical science, health sciences or medicine who is also creative, with expertise in online editing software. The role will be part of a professional and dynamic team supporting the new Master of Cancer Sciences program.