UNSW Precision Care Clinic Expands Genomic-Guided Cancer Care to Over 200 Australians with Rare Tumours
核心洞察
The UNSW Precision Care Clinic at Prince of Wales Hospital has guided treatment decisions for more than 200 patients with rare or complex cancers since launching in 2023.
The clinic uses tumour genomics to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations, with 22% of patients coming from regional and remote areas of Australia.
Referrals have come from over 100 oncologists across 76 cancer centres in all Australian states and territories, bridging the urban–rural expertise gap.
A precision oncology clinic run by UNSW Sydney (搜索) at Prince of Wales Hospital has provided evidence-based treatment guidance for more than 200 Australians with rare or hard-to-treat cancers since its launch in 2023, addressing a persistent gap in specialist access for patients outside major metropolitan centres.
The Precision Care Clinic, part of UNSW's broader Precision Care Initiative, uses genomic information about tumours to guide treatment decisions. A multidisciplinary team of specialists reviews each referred case and delivers recommendations back to the treating oncologist, allowing patients to continue care locally while benefiting from centralised expertise.
Professor Natalie Taylor, who leads the initiative, described the clinic as a response to the rapid pace of change in oncology. "Precision oncology is evolving rapidly, and for clinicians managing complex cancer cases, it can be challenging to stay across all available treatment options and emerging evidence," she said. "It's about ensuring patients can receive informed, evidence-based treatment guidance, from wherever they live in Australia."
Bridging the urban–rural divide
The clinic has received referrals from more than 100 oncologists across 76 cancer centres spanning all Australian states and territories, including metropolitan, regional, and remote areas. Notably, 22% of the patients whose care has been guided by the clinic come from regional and remote locations, underscoring its role in democratising access to cutting-edge cancer expertise.
While genomics and molecular testing are increasingly embedded in cancer care, translating complex results into actionable treatment decisions remains a significant challenge — particularly for busy clinicians practising outside major centres. "This is where the Precision Care Clinic really comes into its own," Professor Taylor said. "We can provide a more detailed review of complex cases and can help translate results into practical treatment options that clinicians may not otherwise have time or access to explore."
The clinic has also provided one-off follow-up consultations for more than 100 patients seeking to better understand the findings of their case reviews.
Clinical trial identification and care refinement
Working in partnership with Omico, a not-for-profit precision oncology organisation, the clinic connects patients with advanced cancers to genomic testing and clinical trial opportunities. In some instances, the review process has surfaced clinical trial options that had not previously been considered or of which referring clinicians were unaware. In other cases, the clinic's input has confirmed or refined existing care management plans.
"The clinic has contributed to valuable changes in the trajectory of care for some patients based on the latest evidence in precision oncology," Professor Taylor noted.
The service is designed to complement, not replace, the treating oncologist. Referring clinicians are invited to participate in case discussions, creating what Professor Taylor described as an opportunity for shared learning and strengthened decision-making. "The referring clinicians are invited to be part of the discussion, not only to provide information about their case, but also to engage with emerging evidence," she said.
Funding and the path to sustainability
The clinic's development has been supported by the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund. The recent federal budget allocated $71 million to continue Omico's Precision Oncology Screening Platform Enabling Clinical Trials (PrOSPeCT) program, which facilitates genomic profiling and treatment matching for patients with advanced cancers.
Despite this momentum, Professor Taylor cautioned that the long-term viability of services like the Precision Care Clinic hinges on structural funding reform. "For this to be sustainable, we need to see this kind of care recognised and funded as part of routine publicly funded healthcare," she said, adding that success will ultimately mean embedding such services as a routine component of cancer care rather than relying on time-limited research grants.
A blueprint for broader application
The team is now exploring how the clinic's model could be scaled and adapted to other complex diseases beyond oncology. "We think this clinic could offer a blueprint for how specialised expertise is shared more evenly across Australia — ensuring that where a person lives does not determine the care they receive," Professor Taylor said.