Cancer research gets $7 million boost in NSW regions
Congratulations to Dr Craig Gedye, Medical Oncology Senior Staff Specialist, who is Chief Investigator of a cancer research capacity building grant that has recently been awarded a $7 million investment to the NSW Regional Health Partners.
People living with cancer and the health care professionals caring for them are set to benefit thanks to the Translational Cancer Research Capacity Building Grant, awarded by the NSW Government through the Cancer Institute NSW. This significant grant will help build an innovative cancer research network in the Hunter, New England, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and Northern NSW.
Craig said,
“It can be hard to do health and medical research. With this network we hope to make it easier for patients and their clinicians to collaborate to advance cancer care through research relevant not only in NSW, but for anyone experiencing cancer.
“We have incredible people and clinicians in our regions and, by building on the systems we already use, we hope to embed cancer research in health care to improve the lives of people with cancer. I’m proud that it will happen here.”
The research will run collaboratively across all members of the NSW Regional Health partnership; through the four Local Health Districts, Calvary Mater Newcastle and with support from the University of Newcastle, and with dedicated staff based at the Hunter Medical Research Institute.
The grant recognises NSW Regional Health Partners as a partnership of institutions focused on bridging the gap between what medical research tells us and what happens to people in the health system.
Craig will be working with all the partners, of which Calvary Mater Newcastle is one, to form a steering committee to allow a cancer research infrastructure model to be designed.
NSW Regional Health Partners Chairman Stewart Dowrick said the $7 million injection will help people in rural and regional NSW who are often excluded from research.
“We’re a partnership with a common interest in improving the lives of people in rural and regional NSW, and cancer is a part of many of those lives,” Mr Dowrick, who is also Chief Executive of the Mid North Coast Local Health District, said.
Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor David Currow, said NSW is at the forefront of innovation in cancer research.
“Investment in research with a focus on priority populations is an important driver in improving cancer outcomes. We want to make an impact where it matters most – on the lives of people affected by cancer today, and into the future,” Professor Currow said.
NSW Regional Health partners is a partnership of the University of Newcastle, University of New England, HMRI, Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network, Calvary Mater Newcastle and the Central Coast, Mid North Coast and Hunter New England Local Health Districts.