People with cancer in regional NSW have lower survival rates than city patients, and an $11 million research investment announced on World Cancer Research Day aims to close that gap.
The Translational Cancer Research Capacity Building Grants are part of an overall $21 million NSW Government investment, delivered over five years through the Cancer Institute NSW.
“Building research capacity is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of cancer care and I am pleased to announce the particular focus of this significant investment in our regions and rural communities,” said Minister for Medical Research David Harris.
University of Newcastle Professor Nikola Bowden received $5 million to expand the Regional Cancer Research Network NSW.
The network was set up in 2023. It links researchers across the University of Newcastle and the Central Coast, Hunter New England, Mid North Coast, and Northern NSW local health districts.
People with cancer in regional, rural, and remote NSW have lower survival rates and poorer outcomes than people in metropolitan areas. Research shows better outcomes can be achieved through engagement and participation in research.
The expansion will bring in new partners, including Cancer Voices NSW, the University of Wollongong, and the Illawarra Shoalhaven and Western NSW local health districts.
It will fund regional research fellowships, PhD scholarships, co-funding grant schemes, travel awards, and training and education opportunities.
“The Regional Cancer Research Network will scale-up regional cancer research over the next five years to address regional specific research questions and ultimately achieve the goal of equitable outcomes for people with cancer in regional NSW,” Professor Bowden said.
University of Sydney Professor Michael Solomon received $6 million for the NSW Surgical Cancer Trial Capacity and Equity Alliance.
The statewide network will work to increase access to surgical clinical trials, particularly for people in rural and regional areas and Aboriginal and multicultural communities.
“Less than 4% of registered cancer trials are surgical, yet surgery is the primary curative treatment for most solid tumours,” Professor Solomon said.
“We will train a new generation of trial coordinators, build centralised systems for ethics, governance and data management, and send our teams out to regional and rural hospitals to educate and build research capacity on the ground.”
Two other grants were also awarded. Professor Anna DeFazio of the University of Sydney received $6 million for Sydney Cancer Partners, and UNSW Professor Geoff Delaney received $4 million for SPHERE.
“The most impactful cancer research happens when researchers, clinicians and communities work together,” said NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Cancer Institute NSW CEO Professor Tracey O’Brien.
The NSW Government has awarded more than $300 million in cancer research funding, including clinical trials, over the past 10 years.
“Once the barriers are lowered, more trials will happen, more patients will benefit, and surgical care across the entire state will improve,” Professor Solomon said.
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