clinical cancer research network
why are clinical trials essential?
Cancer clinical trials are the lynch pin in translating laboratory findings into clinical practice to improve the lives of people with cancer.
In the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNE LHD), clinical trials are run through dedicated clinical trial units (CTUs) spaning multiple specialities, public and private institutions, metro and regional sites which work collaboratively through the Cancer Clinical Research Network (CCRN).
The CCRN was first formed in 2007 under an initiative funded by the Cancer Institute NSW. The CCRN was established to promote and support a portfolio of cancer clinical trials in the HNE region that best meet the needs of people affected by cancer.
The Hunter New England Local Health District (HNE LHD) covers a region of 131,785 square kilometres, including the Greater Newcastle and Lower Hunter clusters.
There are an estimated 929,200 persons living across the HNE LHD, with the majority living in the regional centres of the Greater Newcastle and Lower Hunter clusters. Recent reports estimate the incidence of all new cancers across the HNE LHD as 680 per 100,000 persons, with this figure increasing by 2.2% annually.
MISSION
The core objective of CCRN is to accelerate the uptake of promising new clinical approaches into practice by providing the evidence of efficacy, and thus improve cancer results through research.
The establishment of the HNE CCRN has improved the quality, efficiency and quantity of clinical trials operations in our region, with positive relationships existing between clinical trial units.
CLINICAL TRIAL UNITS
The CCRN is comprised of 8 clinical trials units who work synergistically to ensure the highest quality clinical trials are facilitated throughout the LHD.
Medical Oncology Research Trial Unit (MOR Trials) has been managing trials in solid tumours for over 30 years. Their aim is to provide people of the Hunter with access to cutting-edge treatment options for all types of cancer.
MOR Trials is made up of 16.2 FTE’s including trial coordinators, data managers, ethics, finance and laboratory staff. We have 11 Medical Oncologists, 1 Clinical Trial Fellow, 4 advanced trainees and are supported by a Clinical Trial Pharmacy Team.
MOR Trials have 30-35 trials actively recruiting at any given time. These are a phase 1b, 2 and 3 and are a mix of Pharmaceutical, cooperative group and investigator initiated studies. MOR is also responsible for the management of the NSW ClinTrial refer app.
As an established unit we have:
- SOP’s and working guidelines
- Weekly research meetings
- Active screening processes for all trials
- A policy of not participating in competing trials.
- A guarantee of 5 business day data entry
- Electronic investigator site files(eISF)
MOR Trials has been recognised as a trial unit that provides quality research as recognised by the following awards;
Asia-Pac SPIRA Award 2018
In 2018 we received the Society of Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) Asia-Pac Site Recruitment Innovation Award (SPIRA) award was in recognition of the innovative, patient-directed enrolment strategies used by MOR Trials.
AGITG Outstanding Site Award 2019
MOR Trials have also recently won the Australian Gastrointestinal Trials Group Outstanding site award for 2019. This award is judged on Team enthusiasm, quality, innovation, trial promotion and engagement.
The Hunter Cancer Centre (HCC) Clinical Trial Units is based at Gateshead in the Newcastle area. The unit provides a multi-disciplinary approach to cancer treatment.
The centre provides access to highly skilled medical, nursing and allied health with the aim of providing holistic and integrated treatment for patients, family and carers while respecting the individuality of each patient.
The Clinical Trial Unit has been operating since 2015 and covers the areas of Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Surgery. There are currently trials open in breast cancer (treatment and prevention), bowel cancer, prostate cancer, GBM and skin cancer. The unit participates in Phase 1b – Phase 4 trials and works with investigator initiated research, collaborative group trial and pharmaceutical sponsors.
The Hunter Surgical Clinical Research Unit is based at John Hunter Hospital Newcastle. It is led by Associate Professor Stephen Smith, a Colorectal and General Surgeon who has been active in surgical research since 2007. A/Prof Smith was the Early Career Researcher of 2019 at the Hunter Medical Research Institute awards held last year. Surgical research has a focus of improving the surgical journey of patients particularly those with cancer across the care continuum.
Surgical trials are a mix of investigator-initiated, co-operative group and sponsors trials both nationally and internationally. The research team consists of 3 FTE research nurses who manage all research activities across the spectrum of research and including all research and governance and regulatory responsibilities. The Research Unit works in close collaboration with the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle to undertake high quality research with measurable outcome and impact.
Radiation Oncology specialises in the treatment of cancer using state of the art imaging techniques and equipment. The delivery of high quality radiotherapy treatment utilises linear accelerators, brachytherapy units, simulators, MRI, and 3-D planning systems.
Research in the department is focused on ways to predict and monitor the delivery of more targeted therapy in order to spare healthy tissue. The unit also focuses on promoting a multidisciplinary approach to care, integrating radiation therapy with other cancer therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
The Radiation Oncology Trials Unit research coordinators have experience conducting local Investigator initiated research also Phase II and III clinical trials. We collaborate with many sponsors including TROG Cancer Research, ANZUP, AGITG, ANZGOG, MASC, Pfizer, AbbVie. At any one time there are approximately 30 trials being run through the unit, including both actively recruiting and comprehensive follow-up for patient outcomes.
In Australia, paediatric oncology does not operate in private practice and as a result all patients diagnosed with cancer are seen and treated in public services. The same can be said for clinical trials with all paediatric cancer trials offered in public units.
The Paediatric Oncology Trials Unit, located at John Hunter Hospital, supports paediatric and adolescent young adult patients throughout the Hunter New England Local Health District as well as on the central coast and in northern NSW. Operating for over 20 years and treating all branches of paediatric oncology, the team comprises of 5 staff specialists and 2 CRA and at present they are involved in approximately 40 active studies.
The Paediatric Oncology Clinical Trials Unit works closely with the teams at Calvary Mater Hospital for the treatment of adolescent young adults (AYA) with the AYA oncologist holding a joint appointment across both hospitals.
The unit are engaged with all phases of clinical research including regular contributions to disease registries – an essential element of paediatric oncology research given the rarity of many paediatric diagnoses.
The Paediatric Oncology Trials unit are active members of Children’s Oncology Group (COG), Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology group (ANzCHOG), The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and BFM Trial symposia.
Tamworth Hospital’s freestanding oncology clinical trials unit was established in 2002, and over the last 18 years its two study coordinators have built experience in conducting phase II-IV clinical trials across a diversified portfolio involving medical oncology, radiation oncology, and haematology, as well as palliative care and surgical specialties.
The North West Cancer Centre – home to the trials unit since 2007 – services a region of nearly 100,000 square kilometres. The oncology clinical trials service at the NWCC can offer regional and rural patients a broader range of treatment options within their community, providing increased accessibility and equity to those living in a rural setting, and achieving the best possible clinical outcomes close to home.
Local, national and international studies are conducted with sponsors from Australia, Europe, Canada and the United States.
We also network with metropolitan clinical trials units to offer continued follow up for patients recruited to trials at metropolitan hospitals, thus eliminating the burden of travel and providing continued trial follow-up information and care.
Currently Tamworth is involved in six trials open to recruitment, with another three trials due to start up in the next few months, and six in follow-up.
The Haematology Trials Unit at Calvary Mater Newcastle offers haematology clinical research trials to patients in the Hunter New England Health District and has the ability take referrals from other health districts as required.
Calvary Mater Newcastle’s Haematology Trials Unit was established in 2000 with small local investigator initiated trials. Steady growth and recognition has seen the unit develop into an efficient team of trial coordinators/research nurses, data managers, technical laboratory, administrative, finance and Ethics/Governance staff.
Haematology conditions are rare but often curable with continually emerging agents that are rapidly changing the Standards of Care. The Haematology Clinical Trials Unit team is able to activate early phase trials as well as larger randomised industry sponsored and cooperative group trials while still continuing with investigator initiated research. HCT manages a diverse portfolio of clinical trials, both national and international, providing access to a range of treatment options not otherwise readily available in Australia.
The unit supports the Haematology team at CMN via a multidisciplinary approach to facilitate as many haematology patients being provided with the opportunity to participate in clinical trials as possible. The HCT portfolio covers malignant diseases such as Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma and non-malignant conditions such as bleeding disorders and venous thrombosis
The Newcastle Private Hospital (NPH) clinical trial unit is a well-established unit embedding important medical research within a private setting. With over 10 years’ experience conducting clinical trials, the clinical trial unit is supported by a Chemotherapy Day Unit, Medical Centre, Oncology Ward, and an onsite pharmacy. The clinical trial unit has strong and supportive relationships with both local surgical and radiation oncology specialties, and access to all imaging and pathology services, providing complete care for our private patients.
The NPH clinical trial unit consists of eight (8) specialist Medical Oncologists that are actively involved in providing access to clinical trials for private patients. A team of three (3) qualified clinical trial coordinators, including a clinical trials manager and a regulatory specialist, are responsible for the efficient coordination and conduct of all clinical trials.
The clinical trials program at the NPH clinical trial unit continues to rapidly expand. With extensive experience in conducting Phase II, III and IV clinical trials, involving a mixture of Cooperative, Industry sponsored and investigator initiated trials, and on average, the NPH clinical trial unit has 8 to 12 clinical trials open at any one time.
The NPH clinical trial unit is committed to improving patient access to quality clinical trials, and consideration is always given when selecting the type of trials the unit will be involved with. This ensures that the NPH clinical trial unit is able to consistently deliver on patient recruitment targets while maintaining a high standard of research and patient care.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CASSANDRA GRIFFIN
- 02 49217460
- Cassandra.Griffin@newcastle.edu.au
