A $22.19 million funding injection will bolster 14 multi-site Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Groups (CTGs) across Australia, aiming to enhance cancer research and improve patient outcomes. The funding, announced by Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler MP, will be administered through Cancer Australia's 2024–2027 Support for Cancer Clinical Trials program.
The Australian Cancer Plan will guide this round of funding, ensuring targeted and innovative research investment, particularly in areas of unmet and emerging needs. The program focuses on improving clinical trial design, enhancing equitable access to trials, and accelerating the translation of research into clinical practice, directly contributing to better outcomes for Australians affected by cancer.
The Clinical Trials program addresses a critical research funding gap by supporting the advancement of cancer prevention, treatment, and care programs that may not attract commercial interest from industry. It aims to improve access to optimal cancer care across Australia, particularly for people living in rural and remote areas, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO of Cancer Australia, stated, "This funding aligns perfectly with the goals of the Australian Cancer Plan, which is focused on reducing the impact of cancer and improving outcomes for all Australians." She added, "By supporting these clinical trials, we are advancing critical research and ensuring that innovative treatments reach those who need them most, helping to save lives and reduce disparities in cancer care across Australia."
The Clinical Trials program is crucial for smaller CTGs focused on rare and less common cancers, helping to build a strong pipeline of cancer clinical trials. By addressing unmet needs, the program has increased the number and value of successful grant submissions, expanded clinical trial sites, and boosted patient recruitment, particularly in rural and remote areas through tele-trials.
The 14 successful CTGs include: Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group, Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group, Australian & New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group, Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group, Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association, Australian New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Group, Breast Cancer Trials, Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Symptom Trials, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials, Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group, Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group, Thoracic Oncology Group Australasia, and Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group.
