Discover the latest progress in cancer research, education and clinical care delivered by the VCCC Alliance.Subscribe now
The VCCC Alliance has sharpened its focus on gynaecological cancers with the appointment of Associate Professor Sumitra Ananda as Lead and Dr Niveditha Rajadevan as Deputy Lead within the Distributed Leadership team in Gynae-oncology.
Professor Mei Krishnasamy appointed Deputy Chair of Cancer Research Advisory Committee (CRAC).
Australia is poised to eliminate cervical cancer within the next 10 years. The problem with eradicating illnesses from the general population though, is that underrepresented sections of our community can sometimes become invisible.
New research by Cancer Council Victoria has revealed the COVID-19 pandemic “exposed and deepened existing gaps in cancer care”, particularly for those already experiencing disadvantage, including regionally based Victorians, migrants and refugees.
A revolutionary new App, complete with disease-specific QR codes, is set to transform how patients affected by cancer at Western Health access information about their care.
In 2023, patients affected by cancer in Albury and surrounds now have access to cutting-edge treatments – and importantly more treatment options – as well as vastly improved health services and access to clinical trials through innovations like teletrials. But Associate Professor Craig Underhill says 25 years ago, the regional/metro divide was glaring.
I love that I get to work with people from all over the sector who are equally passionate about ensuring that people affected by cancer can take part in clinical trials safely and equitably.
The bottom line is that this will help improve outcomes.
Professor Peter Gibbs is the Research & Education Lead, Gastro-intestinal Cancers, Joint Division Head, Personalised Oncology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Senior Staff Specialist, Western Health.
Early in 2023, we will be commencing the work to develop the next strategy and business case for the VCCC Alliance. There will be a comprehensive process to seek feedback to guide the process and content for both the strategic plan as well as the subsequent business case. A detailed plan for consultation for both the strategy as well as the goals and actions which will form the subsequent business case will be released in early 2023.
New data shines a light on problems and possibilities.
I’d always prefer to start an end-of-year message on a positive note but as I write this, it’s impossible to ignore that several of our major hospital emergency departments are overwhelmed once again. The combination of a fourth COVID wave and an accumulation of workforce pressures and shortages have led to another stressful end-of-year for our healthcare colleagues, and for patients too...
Creating formal links between the VCCC Alliance and regional cancer centres aim to formalise collaboration and cooperation on joint activities.
Grampians Health is the third regional site to sign on as a program partner in a move that spells significant boost for the reach of the VCCC Alliance.
Irene Deftereos, Asha Bonney and Wenxin Hu were presented with their awards at a ceremony hosted at the VCCC building on November 21 and attended by Prof McArthur and representatives of the Picchi Brothers Foundation.
The theme of this year’s COSA Annual Scientific Meeting – Equitable cancer care for all – offered a rare and unfiltered view into the raft of inequities still experienced by so many people.
Attending the conference on behalf of the VCCC Alliance was Jo Cockwill, Deputy Chair of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee (CCAC), and Wamba Wamba woman Melissa Sheldon, Consumer Representative on our Health Equity Steering Group.
We asked Jo and Melissa for their reflections on the conference.
Associate Professor David Kok is the Chair of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Education and Training Advisory Committee, Co-convenor of the Master of Cancer Sciences at the University of Melbourne, and a Radiation oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Equity up in lights as national priority
A key tenet of our Health Equity program is an explicit focus on addressing inequities in cancer care and outcomes for underserved populations.
The Australian Cancer Plan will unashamedly focus on equity in outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, says Chief Executive of Cancer Australia, Professor Dorothy Keefe.
The 2022 SKILLED Clinical Trial Assistant interns last month delivered their final presentations, signalling another welcome boost to Victoria’s clinical trials workforce.
A study led by VCCC Alliance Research and Education Lead for Genito-urinary Cancers, Associate Professor Niall Corcoran, aims to improve decision-making in prostate cancer treatment by conducting the largest genomically informed, prospective randomised trial in intermediate-risk patients ever undertaken.
It was impossible to miss the significance of health equity on the national agenda for cancer care at the 2022 COSA Annual Scientific Meeting.
Dr Keely Bumsted O’Brien is Head of the Scientific Education Office at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, an Honorary Senior Fellow in the Department of Medical Biology at the University of Melbourne and a cancer consumer.
A world-class Parkville precinct to benefit all Victorians
I was thrilled yesterday to welcome the Hon Daniel Andrews MP, the Hon Jaala Pulford MP and the Hon Ben Carroll MP to the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre to make the second major health funding announcement in as many days.
Three promising PhD students from across the VCCC Alliance have been recognised with the 2022 Picchi Awards for Excellence in Cancer Research.
Since its launch in late 2019, the VCCC Alliance Consumer Engagement Toolkit has cemented its place as an important reference resource – now having been viewed over 20,000 times.
The VCCC Alliance is delighted to announce Albury/Wodonga Health and Bendigo Health as its first Regional Program Partners for the remainder of the Strategic Program Plan 2021-24 (SPP).
The VCCC Alliance Investigator-Initiated Trials (IIT) Toolkit reached new heights in FY 21/22, with traffic to the freely available digital asset showing strong growth in every key metric.