The inaugural class of the Master of Cancer Sciences from the University of Melbourne and Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre has completed the groundbreaking new course.
Demand has grown since the first intake of 33 students two years ago, with 184 people of all ages, backgrounds and career stages currently enrolled in a Graduate Certificate, Specialist Certificate or Master’s pathway. The new graduates represent a broad range of disciplines from oncology, neurosurgery, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, dentistry, research and clinical trials.
Masters student Qichen Zhang, Hospital Medical Officer at Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre co-authored a paper this year on medical students’ perceptions and expectations around digital health education and training (ET). “The uptake in telehealth was massive this year,” says Qichen. “It really demonstrated how medical education needs to shift into the digital space both in teaching students how to use new technologies but also delivering quality education online. I was able to complete my Masters online with access to some incredible cancer researchers while dealing with COVID in my workplace.”
To fulfill Master’s requirements, students must complete a research capstone project. Sophie Beaumont, Head of Dental Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre hopes to publish results early in 2021. "My retrospective cohort study has given me greater insight into the complexities of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws following radiotherapy, and I am hoping to translate some of the findings into practical clinical guidelines for better patient management within our department.”
Brindha Shivalingam is the Director of Neurosurgery at The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse where she runs a research team for Brain Cancer. The wholly online delivery of the course enabled Brindha to complete the degree without being on campus in Melbourne. "I am primarily a clinician but as my career has progressed, I have become increasingly involved in research. This Masters course has provided me with a much-needed broad understanding of all of the essential components of cancer research. The research project that I have just completed will help toward creating a non-invasive liquid biopsy for brain cancer."
More than 270 experts have contributed to the leading-edge curriculum as subject development coordinators, tutors and mentors. Subject choice is broad; incorporating cancer diagnostics and therapeutics through to cancer in society and supportive care and palliative care.
Theresa Connor, Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a tutor for the Drug Discovery and Development subject. “There is a big knowledge gap in how to translate research and ideas into potentially life-saving drugs. The way that research is typically carried out largely focuses on the publication of results, so researchers do not typically know how their data may be translated via commercialisation through a drug discovery and development process. The Drug Discovery and Development subject allows students to work through stages of a translational research project, including discovery of a target, generation and optimisation of lead compounds and continuing through to pre-clinical work and clinical trials. The subject is rounded out by discussing regulations, patenting, funding and the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.
Image: Drug Discovery and Development Pipeline
“They get a great overview of the growing industry in Australia and get to hear from scientists who have successfully translated their research into a commercially available drug to assist patients.”
“They get a great overview of the growing industry in Australia and get to hear from scientists who have successfully translated their research into a commercially available drug to assist patients.”
Theresa Connor, Drug Discovery and Development tutor
Stephen Mieruszynski from WEHI agrees that understanding the drug development pipeline leads to opportunities for cancer researchers, “Australia has an excellent environment for clinical trials due to the legal and medical framework of our country. Studies conducted in Australia are often accepted by major international authorities…There are so many roles, from bench and clinical research, the legal and business aspect, and even marketing, that can lead to a successful and fulfilling career in drug discovery and development.”
“The challenge for Australian scientists and clinicians is to realise the commercial potential of their amazing discoveries. As a country we consistently perform outstanding research, but often the commercial realisation of that discovery is lost,” says Kirsten Fairfax, Subject Coordinator, Drug Discovery and Development from Menzies Institute, UTAS.
“This subject is designed to give researchers and clinicians an understanding of the drug discovery pipeline so that they are well placed to commercialise their own research ideas. This in turn will facilitate improved outcomes for patients as it will provide a framework to access new medicines.”
The Master of Cancer Sciences Program is supported by the Victorian Government.
Learn more about the full two-year course and individual subjects through the University of Melbourne.
Applications close 4 January 2021.
