Researchers from the Kolling Institute will help progress the latest cancer treatments following the official opening of an early phase clinical trials unit at Royal North Shore Hospital.
The early phase unit of the NORTH STAR Van Norton Poche Cancer Trials Centre is a dedicated facility to meet the needs of patients and their carers, while supporting the complex requirements of early phase trials.
Currently, patients with lung and brain cancer are receiving treatment, while further trials will open for a broader range of cancers in the coming months.
The unit was made possible following a transformative $20 million gift from the late Kay Van Norton Poche AO and her husband Greg Poche AO. The pair also donated $20 million to the leading Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre in New York to realise their vision of offering life-changing new treatments to a larger share of the community.
Investigators from Royal North Shore Hospital and the Kolling Institute and the cancer centre in New York are partnering on international clinical trials, giving patients in Australia access to the latest breakthrough medications, and providing crucial multi-centre data for the trials.
The new unit, which is the first of its kind for NSLHD, marks an exciting development in cancer care for the district and NSW.
NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri said the early phase unit will help advance vital cancer research and accelerate the development of improved treatments.
“Our district has been at the forefront of research and clinical care for more than a century, dedicated to diagnosing, preventing and treating disease and improving community health,” he said.
“This exciting new early phase clinical trials unit will build on that expertise, increasing our capacity to deliver the very latest therapies, and broadening our knowledge and experience in this rapidly changing field.”
NSW Public Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant officially opened the purpose-built unit, saying it will ensure research and clinical care reflect the needs of our broader population.
“This specialised facility will increasingly support people in rural, regional and Indigenous communities, ensuring that access to the best care and innovation is not limited by a patient’s postcode,” she said.
Royal North Shore Hospital oncologist and Kolling Institute researcher Professor Stephen Clarke said the facility will not only strengthen our clinical trial expertise, but will provide valuable training and career development for the health workforce in northern Sydney.
“This will deliver more opportunities for our district, and attract additional trials,” he said.
“Importantly, the early phase unit will be an integral part of the broader NORTH STAR VNP Cancer Trials Centre which is offering a range of trials across the local health district,” he said.
One of the patients receiving treatment at the new unit for head and neck cancer Michel Guilbert shared his experience at the event, saying it was an easy decision for him to join the trial.
“We are so fortunate to have opportunities like this to receive the latest therapies and treatments, and to be able to contribute knowledge for future generations,” he said.
“My health is improving and I would encourage others to join a clinical trial if they are given the chance.”
