The Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group is an experienced research group conducting cancer clinical trials involving radiotherapy (RT) in order to improve cure rates, quality of life and to reduce side-effects of treatment. Fifty per cent of all cancer patients need RT as part of their treatment. The aim of the proposal is to strengthen the quality and safety of RT trials by (a) enabling rapid review and checking of treatment by electronic means and (b) improve trial design.
Improving Sexual Health In Men With Prostate Cancer: Randomised Controlled Trial Of Exercise And Psychosexual Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,416.00
Summary
Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common and distressing side effects of prostate cancer. Despite being a critical survivorship care issue, there is a clear gap in knowledge surrounding the optimal treatment of sexual dysfunction in men with prostate cancer. This project examines whether exercise aids in the management of sexual dysfunction and explores if an integrated treatment model incorporating pharmacological, exercise and psychosexual therapies maximises improvement in sexual health.
Evaluating Cancer Screening: Context, Evidence, Values And Ethics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,460.00
Summary
The research and clinical communities are divided over whether certain forms of cancer screening do more harm than good. This project asks: What is the right thing to do about cancer screening now? Using robust qualitative methodologies, we will study real cases of cancer screening and analyse their ethical implications. Drawing on this data and analysis, we will produce tools to help policy-makers, consumers and professionals make good decisions about cancer screening in future.
Circulating Tumour DNA To Monitor Treatment Response And Resistance In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$876,950.00
Summary
Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (ctDNA) into the patient’s bloodstream and recent advances in genomic technologies now allow levels of ctDNA to be accurately measured in the blood. Changes in ctDNA levels have potential to be used as specific markers of disease progression and/or response to cancer therapy. This project will evaluate if ctDNA can be used to monitor treatment responses and individualise treatment decisions in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
Therapeutic Targeting Of Cell Cycle Checkpoint Aberrations In Pancreatic Cancer: Personalised Medicine In Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$634,354.00
Summary
Less than 5% of people with pancreatic cancer (PC) survive 5 years, and the odds of patients beating this disease have remained unchanged for 50 years. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop novel treatment approaches for this highly aggressive cancer. Our study aims to define novel therapeutic strategies for PC utilising specific anti-proliferative therapies and a personalised “companion biomarker” directed strategy.
Improving Evidence Based Care For Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,442.00
Summary
There is an urgent need to improve care for men with advanced prostate cancer if we wish to improve their survival. Compelling new evidence suggests we need to alter current practice by offering radiotherapy to high risk men – but will clinicians change their practice? We will develop and test ways to change practice within a network of 9 hopsitals. The study will provide crucial evidence about how to embed the recommended care into practice to improve outcomes for men with prostate cancer.
Best Evidence To Best Practice: Implementing An Innovative Model Of Care For Nutritional Management Of Patients With Head And Neck Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$276,250.00
Summary
This project aims to implement and evaluate an innovative best-practice dietetic model of care (MOC) based on published Evidence Based Guidelines for Nutritional Management of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer. Through integration with the multidisciplinary team, the MOC will take a patient-centred approach to delivery of nutritional care to minimise the detrimental sequelae of malnutrition and improve outcomes in this complex patient group.
Creating Sustainable Healthcare: Ensuring New Diagnostics Avoid Harms, Improve Outcomes, And Direct Resources Wisely
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,497,658.00
Summary
Novel imaging, biomarkers and genomic tests for risk assessment and early detection are emerging as major forces for change in clinical practice. While providing advances and new benefits for patients, new technologies can also have harmful, unintended consequences - overdiagnosis and overtreatment. This multidisciplinary CRE will investigate how to respond to emerging technologies to optimise health outcomes while avoiding harms and directing healthcare resources wisely.
Improving Linkages For Chronic Disease Prevention In Indigenous Communities: A Quality Improvement Approach.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Primary health care and public health are often conceived as two entities providing complementary services within the health system. This research aims to better understand how to link these complementary services by using quality improvement methods and to identify successful interventions that facilitate these linkages in the prevention of chronic disease in Indigenous communities.