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With very evident support from public and private funding sources, there is optimism that 2021 will usher in a new era of cancer research and development, teamed with commercial collaboration, and a whole-of-Victoria desire to improve cancer outcomes globally.
In news last week, the University of Melbourne, together with international genomics company, Illumina, has welcomed the Victorian Government’s support to establish a $60 million world-leading genomics hub in Victoria. The hub funding will complement the Victorian Budget 2020/21 announcement of $33.1 million for the VCCC alliance, of which $27 million will enable a new Strategic Program Plan to support projects that will increase access to personalised cancer care through translational research initiatives, systems processes and education.
The Victorian Budget 2020/21 delivered $2 billion for the Breakthrough Victoria Fund to ensure Victoria remains at the forefront of research and innovation. This will ensure that, alongside other research and development entities, VCCC alliance members WEHI and Peter Mac will also be strongly positioned to lead acceleration of the discovery of new medicines and effective treatments.
This year the VCCC established affiliate partnerships with Albury Wodonga Health and Bendigo Health, an important step in bridging the metro-regional trials gaps by 2025. A clinical trials project - Regional Trials Network – Victoria led by the Border Medical Oncology Research Unit has received $18.6 million as part of the Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), to progress its important work. The project involves eight clinical research sites in regional Victoria and will deliver projects specific to regional and rural health care needs.
MRFF enabling grants will also provide a boost to the Australian Teletrial Program which aims to improve our overall clinical trial system through the Australasian Teletrial model. The establishment of tele-trials standard operating procedures, project teams and steering committees, templates and pilot studies, with involvement from COSA, MTPConnect, Clinical Trials Project Reference Group and Regional Victorian Trials Alliance Linkages will ensure greater equity and access to trials than ever before. Workforce capability is an important driver in transforming clinical trials and there is widespread engagement in the VCCC initiated-programs supporting the clinical trials workforce.
The VCCC model of distributed leadership invites those most willing-and-able to effect change, to play a key role in the alliance. We could not have achieved the significant outcomes of the 2016-2020 Strategic Research Plan (SRP) without the drive and initiative demonstrated by the VCCC Research & Education (R&E) Leads and Steering Committee members. This leadership has made an impact on multiple fronts, and I want to sincerely thank the strong commitment and effort of our steering committee members and VCCC community in the successes of the SRP.
The VCCC Strategic Program Plan 2020-2024 (SPP) will build on the successful work of the VCCC to-date. Comprised of 10 interlinked programs, the SPP will continue to inform collaborative action, particularly in areas where the capabilities of multiple organisations are required to generate the greatest achievement.
From this week, we are seeking expressions of interest from individuals with relevant expertise to join Program Steering Groups. Steering Groups will provide leadership, expertise and guidance to finalise program plans in early 2021 and drive program implementation to mid-2024. These groups will include:
Following this undertaking, a detailed VCCC Strategic Program Plan 2020-2024 will be released in mid-2021.
Finally, I would like to congratulate the inaugural class of 2018-2020 Master of Cancer Sciences students who complete their studies this year. Congratulations on your efforts and for choosing a path that will enable you to positively impact the lives of people with cancer. You are our first and therefore most precious alumni.
I wish you all well as we approach these final weeks leading to the seasonal break. I hope you have a safe and restful summer. As I reflect on the challenging year gone by and look forward to 2021, I couldn’t think of a better place to be living and working than right here in Melbourne in our beautiful state of Victoria.
All the very best for the season,
Prof Grant McArthur
Executive Director
