Program Leader: Professor Stephen Ackland, Calvary Mater Newcastle
Researchers, students and support staff: 248
Researchers in the HMRI Cancer Program are helping to reduce the incidence of cancer and finding more effective therapies by tailoring treatments to the genetic profile of the disease, and to the needs of the individual patients and their carers.
The Program includes biomedical, clinical and public health researchers who are working across specialty research groups, including cancer genetics, cellular and molecular oncology, anti-cancer therapies, cancer trials, psycho-oncology for cancer patients and carers, and health behaviours to reduce the risk of developing cancer.
HMRI’s cancer research is focused on five key malignancies:
- Breast Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Melanoma
- Haematological Malignancies
The Cancer Program is made up of multidisciplinary teams of scientists, clinicians and statisticians working to improve our understanding of cancer and how to better prevent and treat the disease.
The Program also incorporates three national clinical trials groups based in the Hunter:
- Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group
- Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group
- Prostate Cancer Trials Group
The Hunter was awarded a Translational Cancer Research Unit (TCRU) grant by the Cancer Institute NSW in 2011. The Hunter TCRU integrates the elements of the bi-directional research pathway from basic science to clinical care; to facilitate rapid development and implementation of research discoveries; and to stimulate laboratory research on priority questions generated from the cancer clinics.
Researchers in the HMRI Cancer Program are also affiliated with the Clinical Cancer Research Network. The Network was established in 2007 to facilitate efficient conduct of clinical trials, and optimises collaboration between 14 cancer clinical trials units throughout Hunter New England Health to increase participation, and ensure equity of opportunity exists for all patients in rural, regional, metropolitan and private practices to participate in research trials.
The strength of cancer research in the Hunter was recognised by the University of Newcastle through the establishment of a Priority Research Centre in Cancer. Many members of the HMRI Cancer Program are also affiliated with the Priority Research Centre for Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery & Information-Based Medicine. Cancer Program members collaborate with the HMRI Information Based Medicine and Public Health Programs.For more information about the HMRI Cancer Program, you can also visit www.hmricancerresearch.com
