EMBARGOED 12:00PM 18/11/2009
Media Release
Date:
November 18, 2009
Contact:
Tim Coghlan 9635 5262 / 0431 150 365
Victoria gets first online cancer clinical trial link
Cancer Council Victoria today launched an Internet resource called The Victorian Cancer
Trials Link, which enables cancer patients, family members, caregivers and health
professionals to identify suitable clinical trials that match an individual’s cancer diagnosis and
treatment history.
The link was launched at a function in Melbourne as part of the annual Cancer Council Victoria
President’s Awards which recognises the work of outstanding Victorians to the cancer cause.
Director Cancer Council Victoria, Professor David Hill, AO said the database aimed to
increase the number of patients enrolled in clinical trials, improve patient access to new and
innovative cancer treatments via clinical trials and increase the number and type of active trials
available to patients by aiding participant recruitment.
He said only seven per cent of Victorian cancer patients currently participated in trials and that
this link would facilitate significant room for improvement by increasing clinical trials
participation.
“ I’m pleased to announce the launch the Victorian Cancer Trials Link because clinical trials
take laboratory research and translate it into new treatments that save lives.
“For cancer patients, clinical trials also represent an opportunity to receive new treatments
before they are widely available,” he said.
Professor Hill said the Cancer Council had been a long-term supporter of clinical trials, having
managed and promoted clinical trials for over 30 years.
“During this time, we have invested more than $11 million in grants to cancer treatment
centres, enabling approximately 27,000 Victorian patients to enrol in cancer clinical trials.
“We know that many patients and their families who are hoping for cure or better quality of life
use the Internet to actively seek out better treatments and now they can visit the research
As background, the development of the VCTL database was funded through two Victorian
Cancer Agency clinical trials capacity building grants totalling $363,000. The first grant was
awarded in 2008 to develop the database framework for breast cancer clinical trials and in
2009 another grant was awarded to extend the database to cover the remaining cancer
tumour streams - central nervous system, colorectal, genitourinary, gynaecology,
haematological, head and neck, lung, skin and upper gastrointestinal.
Cancer Council Victoria President, Mr Peter Griffin, AM this year announced two award
recipients for the 2009 annual Presidents Award, an award selected by the Cancer Council
Board, which recognises outstanding individuals for their ongoing and committed support.
He said the Board had decided this year that two outstanding Victorians who had excelled at
fundraising should be selected for the award because both had done work which had
benefited the community, impacted on the enhancement of the work of the Cancer Council
and had impacted on cancer control in Victoria.
Mr Griffin announced that the award went to Mr Bruce Ward for his work with the Cancer
Council’s Relay for Life fundraising event and also to Beryl Fell for her work in fundraising for
Daffodil.
“Both individuals have contributed greatly to the work of the Cancer Council Victoria and are a
shinning example of the community spirit and commitment to others we see in our many
volunteers,” he said.
Mr Griffin also took time at the event to thank the many other supporters of the Cancer Council
and said in 2008, fundraising and retail supporters were responsible for generating $29.8
million for the Cancer Council.
“This equates to 69% of our total operating budget for the year.
“It took almost 100,000 volunteers, committee members, event participants, donors and
corporate supporters joining together to make this achievement possible.
“And I want to thank each of you for the role you have played,” he said.
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