Marian Lieschke trained as an Oncology Nurse at the Royal Marsden. After moving to Australia, she worked extensively as a clinical oncology research nurse becoming the manager of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Oncology Clinical Trials Unit in 2004. She was appointed as the manager of the Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit (PCCTU) in 2016, bringing multiple units together as a single unit to serve the precinct, a unit that now employs over 100 staff.
"We are now one of the largest clinical trial units in Australia and, as of last week, had 210 drug intervention trials open for participation - and many more trials where accrual is complete, but on which patients still receive care."
The Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, PCCTU, has been my working life for nearly five years since the merger of the cancer services of Peter Mac, Royal Melbourne and Royal Women's in 2016. We are now one of the largest clinical trial units in Australia and, as of last week, had 210 drug intervention trials open for participation, and many more trials where accrual is complete, but on which patients still receive care.
I would like to emphasise that every staff member in my unit – female and male – has contributed to the unit in unique ways. It might even be heresy to acknowledge that we have actively sought to increase the number of men in our unit and today they number over 16 per cent of my staff.
However, in recognition of International Women’s Day, I would like to celebrate some of the amazing women in the PCCTU who have forged game-changing roles, helping the PCCTU to face the challenges for clinical trials into the future.
Dr Eman Nafea has driven a program of clinical trial education and training that not only provides my staff with the skills they need, but that has been utilised by many units around Victoria, as far away as Warrnambool and Bendigo. Eman leads the education program for the VCCC SKILLED cancer clinical trials internship program, now in its third year.
Helen Steven is the first Clinical Nurse Consultant for early phase clinical trial patients. She has brought her years of research nursing together with expert clinical knowledge to develop risk-based assessments of complex trials that increase patient safety across our entire portfolio. She is a walking resource for our staff and for any clinician caring for patients on clinical trials.
Donna Slatterie joined us after a career in small business. Together with Anna Olshina, my amazing Peter Mac business partner, she has moved our financial reconciliation processes into the 21st century. When financial transparency is core to our business practices, the importance of Donna’s work cannot be overstated.
Kylie Shackleton, the quality manager and deputy to the unit, has led our quality improvement processes whilst also taking day-to-day responsibility for staff. The rapid nature of change in trials has needed to be met with flexibility and adaptability, but also with a clear eye on maintaining regulatory quality at all times. Kylie has engaged members from all levels in the PCCTU in devising the quality programs of the PCCTU in her belief that quality is everyone’s responsibility.
These women, and many other PCCTU staff members, have shown innovation and tirelessness in their goal to improve clinical trials for our patients. They are worthy of our gratitude and celebration.
Marian was recently appointed Co-Chair of the VCCC Strategic Program Steering Group - Program 4 Clinical Trial Innovation.
