Discover the latest progress in cancer research, education and clinical care delivered by the VCCC Alliance.Subscribe now
This week the VCCC Alliance convened a special Roundtable of stakeholders keen to improve the quality and quantity of health service data about culturally and linguistically diverse people in our community.
One of the hot topics at the VCCC Alliance Research Conference was the role of air pollution in cancer and the biological responses that trigger it. Our Program Communications Manager, Michelle Henderson, spoke to international guest speaker Professor Charles Swanton from the Francis Crick Institute about his groundbreaking research.
Individual and team leadership have been recognised in the VCCC Alliance inaugural Leading for Impact Awards acknowledging exceptional leadership in improving outcomes for those affected by cancer.
Following a hotly contested nomination process, the awards were presented at the VCCC Alliance Research Conference dinner. Three categories were recognised: Outstanding Leadership by Example, Outstanding Team Leader and Outstanding Changemaker.
Looking beyond the breakthroughs
The world of cancer research is always evolving, and the benefits of having an outlook beyond your discipline or tumour stream are huge. That’s what makes our 2023 Research Conference: Beyond the Breakthroughs stand out.
With a wide-reaching two-day program, it is specifically designed to foster new collaborations, forge new connections and provide opportunities to mingle with other emerging and established leaders, innovators and changemakers in cancer.
Throughout this year, the VCCC Alliance has been working to refresh its strategy and prepare to build a new business case as we continue our efforts to overcome cancer together.
As an alliance organisation built on principles of collaboration for impact, consultation with our stakeholders has been critical to this process. Throughout July and August 2023, we consulted with 10 Alliance members and four regional cancer centres with collaborative agreements in place.
The Children's Cancer Foundation has partnered with the VCCC Alliance to offer scholarships and administrative support funding to the Nurse-Led Research Hub, through a new Paediatric Scholarship and Support Program.
Research into immunotherapy, pain treatments and preventing ovarian cancer has earned three outstanding PhD students from across the VCCC Alliance a Picchi Award for Excellence in Cancer Research.
Australia’s only comprehensive cancer research conference
Our 2023 Research Conference: Beyond the Breakthroughs is fast approaching, and I encourage you to register now at the early bird rate for what will be an incredibly special two days.
What makes this conference so exciting is that it is Australia’s only cancer conference that is truly comprehensive and builds together all the components of cancer control, from discovery science through to clinical trials, translational research, AI in health, population health and equity.
Clinical trials medicine is good medicine.
But how can we ensure that clinical trials are accessible to as many Victorians as possible while remaining economically viable at scale?
The answer may lie in a novel and emerging clinical trial methodology: Registry-based Clinical Trials (Reg-CTs).
It's easy to stay within the silo of a tumour stream or specialised area of research or care. For researchers, this risks not having sufficient understanding of all the aspects of cancer control and how they come together. The VCCC Alliance Research conference coming up in September presents a rare opportunity to gain new perspectives.
As we welcome Professor Sanchia Aranda AM as the third Chair of the VCCC Alliance, we asked her a few questions about why she took the role, and what she is most excited about.
An opportunity to change lifelong healthcare for First Nations people
This NAIDOC week I am very pleased to join our Senior Executive and the Independent Directors of the VCCC Alliance to publicly support the ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming national referendum to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
We believe that recognising self-determination and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament will catalyse broader change that will contribute to improved cancer treatment, care, and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Independent Directors and Senior Executive of the VCCC Alliance support a ‘Yes’ vote in Australia’s upcoming national referendum to alter the Constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
The Board of the VCCC Alliance is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Sanchia Aranda AM, as Chair of the Board.
Professor Grant McArthur has been appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia (General Division) in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of distinguished service to medicine as a clinician scientist through melanoma and cancer research, and through leadership roles.
Education empowering an exceptional workforce
Over the past decade, there has been an unprecedented increase in our knowledge and understanding of cancer, from its biologic basis and causative factors to new interventions and treatments, to the function and interactivity of the health system itself.
It’s essential that our workforce is empowered and equipped with this knowledge to continue achieving world-leading outcomes for Victorians with cancer, and that vision is the genesis of the newly launched VCCC Alliance Centre for Cancer Education.
Professor Mei Krishnasamy is a prominent senior cancer nurse leader, holding major leadership positions within and around the VCCC Alliance. Here's her candid take on nurses' potential (spoiler alert: it's huge).
The VCCC Alliance is delighted to announce Melissa Le Mesurier as the new Chair of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee.
The VCCC Alliance is thrilled to announce Barwon Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Latrobe Regional Hospital as the latest regional cancer centres to join its Regional Partnerships Program.
The Rotary Club of Ballarat South hosted Grampians Health to deliver the first clinical trial consumer awareness session as part of a new educational initiative by the VCCC Alliance.
A University of Melbourne researcher who has provided accurate estimates of cancer risk associated with breast cancer genes is the recipient of the 2023 Tony Burgess Medal.
We remember Wendy Benson, a dedicated member of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee, who passed away after a lengthy cancer battle.
The Federal Government’s $260 million investment in a new National Lung Cancer Screening Program will have a massive impact on reducing the number of deaths from Australia’s biggest cancer killer, says Associate Professor Gavin Wright.
Genuine breakthrough for cancer research
The term ‘breakthrough’ is thrown around a lot in medical research and I’ve witnessed a small number of true breakthroughs in my career. The use of mRNA vaccine technology for individualised neo-antigen vaccines I think is going to be another one of those moments…I remember where I was when the data first came out.
Over 200 experts in cancer genomics from around the country came together on Friday 28 April for the inaugural Victorian Precision Oncology Summit 2023, coordinated by VCCC Alliance and Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC), supported by the Victorian Government as Platinum Sponsor.