Newsletter

Telling it like it is

We have been thrilled with the positive and productive feedback from last month’s Research Conference. Many have commented on how privileged they felt to witness the warm contribution from Olivia Newton-John in conversations during the morning plenary with me and during dinner with Professor Jonathan Cebon.

Support for clinical trials capacity building

Jo Cockwill, a member of the VCCC Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee (CCAC) presented a poster at the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) International Clinical Trials Conference in Sydney last week.

The poster: Investigator-Initiated Trials Development Panel: a consumer perspective is the result of months of involvement with the VCCC Investigator- Initiated Trial Capacity Building program that aims to build capacity and quality of researchers and is one of the 19 programs that make up the current VCCC Strategic Research Plan. 

Good numbers to have

Eleven trial projects supported, four with secured funding, more than 6,500 potential national and international patients impacted, and over $7.2 million leveraged funding achieved.

Three years ago, the number one unmet need identified in the cancer clinical trials field was capacity in investigator-initiated trials. As a result, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) introduced the Investigator-Initiated Trial Capacity Building Program.

Early diagnosis of patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancers can save lives

This year the VCCC Research and Education Lead Head and Neck Cancer program hosted its first oral and oropharyngeal cancer forum to promote understanding of the crucial impact of early diagnosis and the effectiveness of multidisciplinary care for patients diagnosed with these types of cancer.

5th Victorian Psycho-oncology Conference: advancing comprehensive cancer care

How could you protect your young children from the impacts of your breast cancer diagnosis? What would it be like to be caring for your pre-schooler and learn you have a tumour? What are the additional challenges for patients for whom English is not their first language? How might a clinician support patients in these circumstances?

Master of Cancer Sciences

The VCCC was recognised at the international conference of Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL) held in Bangkok on 27 September 2019.

The Master of Cancer Sciences, a collaborative, post-graduate online degree from the VCCC and the University of Melbourne was awarded an honourable mention in the academic division of the 2019 International E-Learning Awards.

Join the VCCC team 

We are seeking people with a passion for enabling research and its translation.

A number of rare opportunities exist to work in our research development portfolio in the area of collaboration and change-making. The facilitating, stakeholder management aspects of these roles offer opportunity to extend your skillset beyond your core discipline. For example, the available roles may offer scientists who are good communicators the opportunity to extend your influencing skills or those interested in translational research the chance to extend your project management skills. 

Have a say

The Department of Health and Human Services is conducting a series of consultations to help inform the development of the Victorian cancer plan 2020-2024.The development of the plan provides an opportunity for Victorians to have a say on how to improve cancer outcomes.

All those who are interested across the alliance, your patients and networks are encouraged to participate in a consultation workshop. If you are unable to attend in person, online consultation will be available through the Engage Victoria platform between 7 October and 4 November 2019.

Applications now open for 2020

Nurses who took part in the VCCC Nurse-led Research Hub Partnership Post program in 2019 say the program has demystified research and opens the door for more nurses to consider research as a pathway to improve patient care, and to enhance their career capability.

Defining treatment standards for the management of non-metastatic pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is currently the 5th most common cause of cancer death in Australia and is predicted to become the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths globally by 2030.

An early evening forum in December, convened by Professor Peter Gibbs, VCCC Research & Education Lead in GI Cancers will provide an opportunity to review the latest local and international evidence with a view to developing consensus on treatment standards for this disease.