The Cancer Clinical Trials Unit at Wollongong Hospital is driving healthcare improvement through clinical trials in Haematology, Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology, positively impacting patient outcomes.
The Cancer Clinical Trials Unit has achieved remarkable milestones for the local cancer community including:
- Structured expansion of a self-funded trials unit in a regional public health organisation under the guidance of an experienced Cancer Clinical Trials Manager.
- Ten-fold increase in the number of clinical trials conducted over 8 years, now with more than 75 active cancer clinical trials.
- Establishment of a diverse workforce of 26 staff in the self-funded trial unit who have come from science, physics, nursing, pathology and business backgrounds.
- Provided access to trial treatments for more than 100 patients in 2022 alone.
- Development of partnerships with pharmaceutical and academic partners driving business development opportunities.
- Initiating clinical trials in rural Cancer Care Centres resulting in 10 active trials aiming to reduce disparity in access to clinical trials for regional and rural communities.
- Increasing the diversity of trials, treating more than 23 different cancer types.
World first trial offering alternative treatment options for myeloma
The Cancer Clinical Trials Unit at Wollongong Hospital treated the very first patient in a new clinical trial for adults with multiple myelomas. The trial tests an innovative, new class of drug for myeloma and provides a treatment option for myeloma patients whose previous treatments have not worked, or their disease has come back.
The Unit’s involvement in this trial for patients is an enormous achievement for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and is a testament to the level of expertise and high-quality research being made available locally to patients.
The Outstanding Cancer Clinical Trials Unit Award honours a cancer research unit for its performance and demonstrated operational efficiency and productivity. The award also recognises alignment of clinical trials’ actions to the principles of the NSW Cancer Plan – equity, collaboration and person-centredness.
