ONCOLOGY patients in the advanced stages of cancer will have greater access to clinical trials under an ambitious new national anti-cancer initiative.
At a time when only 5 per cent of adult cancer patients are on trials, compared to 80 per cent of children, the Eliminate Cancer Initiative targets the difficulties that stand in the way of anyone wanting to participate on a trial.
Philanthropist Andrew Forrest has offered $75 million through his Minderoo Foundation to the clinical trials project in the hope of making cancer non-lethal for the next generation. (Cancer incidence is expected to rise by 70 per cent because of an ageing population.)
"Currently, if a trial is not available locally, patients must travel interstate or miss out on the opportunity," said Perth-based Linear Clinical Research chief executive Michael Winlo.
"Under this project, we can take the trial to them."
Dr Winlo said the initiative aimed to create the world's first fully collaborated global clinical trial network to accelerate the development of new drugs.
"If you have cancer, you can be matched to any one of a number of trials available nationally through the ECI program and the trial will start locally to you," he said.
The program will begin initially at the Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre in Melbourne, the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in NSW and at Linear Clinical Research within the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.
It is then planned to roll out the program around the country and eventually the world.
"We're aiming to exchange trials and help each other to save lives," Dr Winlo said.
