Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Alliance

The newsletter of the
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Issue 28 - December 2019

Executive Director's Message

Wise investment for best outcomes

As we approach the end of 2019 it is exciting to reflect on current achievements. We are very much looking forward to 2020 as we continue to forge new approaches to cancer treatment, while doing our best to make them available to all Victorians. The Victorian State Government’s investment of $35.8 million over four years to fund the VCCC’s 2016-2020 program has delivered outcomes in clinical trials development, workforce capacity, high impact cancer research programs and new ways of...

READ MORE

Consumer and community engagement is everyone's business

VCCC Consumer Engagement Toolkit shared

Plain language and a collaborative approach won the day at the VCCC Consumer Engagement Forum this month. Trust, mutual respect and finding the right person for the job were highlighted as attributes of good consumer engagement.

READ MORE

Breast Cancer 2020: the Cutting Edge

Registrations open for major scientific meeting and public forum

The VCCC Research & Education Lead, Breast Cancer program is hosting its first major conference and public forum 20 & 21 February 2020. Please join us to discover what is new, challenging and controversial in the neoadjuvant management of patients with breast cancer.

READ MORE

Using clinical registries to inform trial design

Collective expertise develops smart approaches to clinical trials

Approaches to clinical trials are changing with the trend towards personalised medicine, as the discovery of new biomarkers and genetic mutations for smaller populations create a difficult environment for designing clinical trials.

READ MORE

Children's Cancer Foundation Chair

Lead the way towards better treatments and cures for childhood cancers

An exceptional opportunity exists to work in partnership with world-leading organisations to drive research, teaching and training, and clinical care delivery. The Children's Cancer Foundation Chair is a new leadership position made possible by generous funding from the Children’s Cancer Foundation in collaboration with key Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) partners: The University of Melbourne, The Royal Children’s Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI).

READ MORE

Study Coordinator interns graduate

Building clinical trials workforce

One of the initiatives we are most proud of is a program where we recruit people with an undergraduate science degree or a science-related PhD and immerse them in a supported program that produces ready-to-go Clinical Trials Assistants and Study Coordinators. We can report that it is already making a positive impact on the clinical trials workforce in Victoria. Meet some of the latest graduates.

READ MORE

Survivorship Conference 2020

3rd Victorian Cancer Survivorship Conference 12-13 March 2020

Early in 2020 we are looking forward to a compelling line-up of speakers, exploring a broad range of issues at the 3rd Victorian Cancer Survivorship Conference, A 2020 Vision – Building on learnings… partnering for success. The meeting is suitable for clinicians, researchers, primary and allied health professionals, consumers and carers. Secure your place now and this event will fill quickly in the new year.

READ MORE

Diving into data

Compelling evidence results in improvements to data access

In 2013, the McKeon report highlighted that health services research is critical to understand, assist and evaluate research translation to improve the effectiveness of the Australian healthcare system. International experience showed that a systematic, academic program of outcomes-focused health services research can assist in getting the latest advances to cancer patients.The evidence was compelling but there was a major barrier in the way.

READ MORE

Upcoming Events

17 FEBRUARY 2020, CONSUMER WORKSHOP FOR RESEARCHERS

INVOLVING PEOPLE IN RESEARCH, FACILITATED BY ANNE McKENZIE
AT OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE

BOOK NOW

19 FEBRUARY 2020, CONSUMER WORKSHOP FOR RESEARCHERS

INVOLVING PEOPLE IN RESEARCH, FACILITATED BY ANNE McKENZIE
AT UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, ARTS WEST - NORTH WING

BOOK NOW

20 FEBRUARY 2020, PUBLIC LECTURE

IMPROVING BREAST CANCER OUTCOMES: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

BOOK NOW

21 FEBRUARY 2020, BREAST CANCER 2020: THE CUTTING EDGE

WHAT IS NEW, CHALLENGING AND CONTROVERSIAL IN THE NEOADJUVANT MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER

BOOK NOW

12-13 MARCH 2020, 3RD VICTORIAN CANCER SURVIVORSHIP CONFERENCE

A 2020 VISION - BUILDING ON LEARNING... PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS

BOOK NOW

FIRST HALF YEAR PROGRAM, NURSE-LED RESEARCH HUB

RESEARCH-FOCUSED, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR NURSES

BOOK NOW

Education & Training

Master of Cancer Sciences scholarships awarded

Twenty students awarded VCCC scholarships

The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre has awarded 20 scholarships for students to undertake the Master of Cancer Sciences postgraduate study program in 2020. The scholarships are valued up to $ 6,480 each. Congratulations to all the scholarship winners and thank you to the students we spoke with who shared their aspirations for next year.

READ MORE

Nurse-led Hub Research Workshops 2020

Come along to research-based professional development workshops in 2020

An outstanding program of research-based professional development workshops is offered for nurses in early 2020. Increase your skills and build your confidence to be involved in research. A range of topics is offered from research methods to writing for publication and experience-based co-design. Check out the program. Registrations are already open... or opening shortly.

READ MORE

Spotlight on...

Grant season is coming

We have the expertise to assist you

Are you writing a grant proposal? Do you need statistical design, problem solving or general advice? The VCCC provides biostatistical support for researchers and investigators involved in investigator-initiated trials. Gain access to:

Grant writing and statistical considerations
Statistical design
Statistical advice and problem solving

Contact VCCC Biostatistician Anneke Grobler anneke.grobler@mcri.edu.au

Eradicate Cancer 25-27 March 2020

Next frontiers in immunotherapy

This important scientific meeting will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in March 2020. Poster abstract submissions are open until 24 January 2020. Join 30 international and national speakers along with consumers. The meeting has a goal to assemble the necessary ingredients to create a meaningful immunotherapeutic platform to attack cancer and step down the path to potentially cure it.

READ MORE

Australian Register of Clinical Registries

Helping to inform care delivery at the patient, clinician, local, national and international levels

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has developed the Australian Register of Clinical Registries to facilitate collaboration and awareness of registry activity among key stakeholders. Once a clinical registry is registered via the online form, Commission staff may be in touch with the clinical registry to confirm the information provided.

READ MORE

VCCC November snapshot