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 VCCC and MPCCC has developed a joint initiative to provide support and advice to clinicians and health care services treating patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network collaborates on a digital platform for professional discussion, information and support, as the pandemic progresses.
Events and seminars are now being conducted online where possible.
You can also catch up on previous seminars via the Open Learning platform.
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.
The impact of COVID-19 on people with cancer is of huge concern particularly as Victoria faces tougher stage four lockdown restrictions. We are concerned that we will see a further reduction in GP visits and participation in cancer screening with delays in diagnosis causing a surge of new and more serious cases over the next year.
A paper just published in the Lancet discusses the impact of COVID-19 in England. Reporting on the four major cancers; breast, colorectal, oesophageal and lung, the paper shows a substantial increase is expected in the number of avoidable deaths as a result of diagnostic delays. A further paper highlights the negative impacts of delays in cancer referrals and admissions for treatment.
Every year in Victoria, around 300 adolescents and young adults (AYA, 15-25 years) are diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 30 Victorian adolescents and young adults die from cancer each year. Some cancers occur more commonly in children and adolescents (paediatrics), and others more commonly in adults. Adolescents can also develop adult-type cancers, and young adults can develop paediatric-type cancers. For these patients, there is often a disconnect between their place of care and access to clinical trials.
The VCCC Increasing AYA Access to Clinical Trials Program identified the following four key barriers to AYA clinical trial participation, and developed solutions to alleviate these barriers.
Breast cancer patient care requires the expertise of a wide range of specialists. To create better, more effective multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) the VCCC is launching a multidisciplinary medical education series for breast cancer.
Monthly sessions will focus on key issues in breast cancer management, including areas where there is recent change and uncertainty, and where multidisciplinary decision-making is essential for optimal patient care.
Earlier this year, the Australian Government awarded $32 million to MTPConnect for the Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative, through the Medical Research Future Fund.
To deliver the REDI program MTPConnect has partnered with research, training and industry organisations, including the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) to implement an integrated plan driving skills development and workforce training to enhance the medical technologies and pharmaceutical industry.
Dr Kym Jenkins is Chair of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges, immediate past-President of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), Chair of the Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership and Board Director at Mental Health Australia.
In March this year my colleagues Karen Gaunson, Margie Stuchbery, Brett McDermott and I joined together to work out how we, as a group of experienced mental health clinicians, could best contribute during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tips for successful single cell and single nucleus RNA-seq experiments.
Hear from newly appointed Scientific Director of the Single Cell Core at the Laboratory of Harvard Medical School, who will describe how to design a single cell genomics experiment.
All are welcome to a meeting showcasing the latest developments in breast cancer-related research locally, nationally and globally.
Join us to hear from Professor Melissa Southey who will present on breast cancer susceptibility.
A program of online research-based workshops is currently being offered for nurses who work in the cancer field. Increase your skills and build your confidence to undertake nurse-led research. A range of topics will be offered from experience-based co-design to practical skills such as writing for publication and communicating your research. See program and register to attend.
The flexible program is designed to be of interest to PhD students with either a scientific or clinical background, including medical graduates, nursing and allied health specialists.