Cancer Trials Australia (CTA) is pleased to announce that a Phase 1 Oncology Clinical Trials Fellowship Program will be piloted in Victoria throughout 2020 and 2021 in partnership with the Victorian Government through the Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA).
CTA and VCA will co-fund two Fellowships based at CTA Members Alfred Health, Monash Health, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Western Health.
The Fellowships will support early career clinicians, providing mentorship in both clinical research, as well as operational aspects of conducting Phase 1 oncology clinical trials. Importantly, these Fellows will be tasked with driving expansion of Phase 1 oncology trial capability in Victoria.
CTA CEO, Dr Kurt Lackovic said “This pilot program will further consolidate Victoria’s standing as the pre-eminent Australasian destination for the conduct of Phase 1 oncology trials, strengthening our leadership in trial conduct, generating research opportunities and furthering clinical education, and contributing to a highly effective collaborative network, all of which help maximise oncology patient access to novel, potentially life-saving therapies.”
This pilot will also include development and rollout of an education program, open to oncology fellows across CTA’s membership.
Head of Early Drug Development Trials at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Deputy-Director of the Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit and Chair of CTA’s Phase 1 Tumour Group, Associate Professor Jayesh Desai said, “There has been tremendous growth in the number of early phase cancer trials being offered in Australia, providing access to novel drugs for our patients. Through this rapid growth in opportunity comes an even greater need to train the next generation of clinical trial investigators. This pilot program is an exciting initiative, as it adds formal Phase 1 training and direct mentorship to our highly collaborative CTA-led Phase 1 program.”