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Cancer Services

Research and Clinical Trials

​We have a long history and focus on cancer research, with the Haematology and Medical Oncology Clinical Trials Unit active since 2000 and radiation oncology research commencing in 2014, following the opening of the Cancer Centre in 2013.

Cancer research can benefit current patients and patients seeking treatment in the future. Participating in research offers increased medical and nursing surveillance of a specific medical problem and overall general health, it also provides an opportunity to access treatment options and/or medications that are otherwise unavailable outside the context of a clinical trial.

Clinical trials are a vital step in the development of new treatments and therapies. Clinical trials vary in their design and purpose and involve testing a wide range of interventions and observations including new drug therapies, medical devices, surgical and other non-pharmacologic treatments.

Nurses play a central role in the successful conduct of clinical research trials. Clinical trials nurses work at a clinical research site under the immediate direction of a Principal Investigator, whose research activities are conducted under Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines. They are involved at all stages of the clinical trials process.

Clinical trials nurses oversee the running of the trial and co-ordinate or liaise with various stakeholders including the patient, doctor, wards staff, pharmacist, sponsor, Ethics Committee and Research Governance Officer.

Clinical trials nurses also:

  • Prepare ethics submissions ensuring all the correct documentation is present and signed off in accordance with regulatory requirements.
  • Handle processing and shipping of biological samples within Australia and internationally.
  • Train staff working on clinical trials via in-services.
  • Undertake patient review including more traditional nurse-type tasks such as measuring vital signs, taking blood, doing an ECG or providing education and support.

Haematology Clinical Trials

Haematology Clinical Trials have been run on the Central Coast since 2000. The Haematology Clinical Trials Unit has studies open to recruitment in the following disease areas:

  • Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
  • Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia
  • Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
  • Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • Mantle Cell Lymphoma
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
  • Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
  • Multiple Myeloma

More detail on the current open trials can be found on the free mobile phone application ClinTrial Refer –  Haematology NSW/ACT. Download via iTunes or Google Play.

Principal Investigators Clinical Trial Coordinators Administrative Assistant
​Dr Campbell Tiley ​Mark Lacey ​Eric Droguett
​Dr Cecily Forsyth ​Smitha Abraham
​A/Prof Mark Dean ​Gina Maccari
​Dr Brenton Wylie ​Sharon Burton
​Dr Tasman Armytage ​Elizabeth Taylor
​Dr Alison Lyons ​Maree Evans

For more information about haematology clinical trials please contact the Nurse Unit Manager on 02 4320 3940.

Medical oncology clinical trials

Medical oncology clinical trials at the Central Coast Cancer Centre began in 2012 and are supported by medical oncologists, an Advanced Medical Oncology Trainee and medical oncology research nurses.

Pharmacy staff at the hospital are a key part of the trials team. Further support is provided by the hospital laboratories, private pathology and medical imaging.

The department is accredited for the training of medical oncologists.

​Investigators Research Nurses
​Dr. Craig Kukard – Head of Department Richard Clayton – Nurse Unit Manager
​Dr. Susan Tiley ​Michelle Dixon
​Dr Matthew Wong ​Cassandra Rubio
​Dr Matthew Chan ​Bronwyn Raymond
​Dr Mamta Bagia Abraham Mathews
​Dr Mal Arasaratnam ​Maree Jarrett

Clinical Trial Fellows

Dr Alex Flynn

 

We offer the following types of medical oncology clinical trials:

  • Pharmaceutical sponsored
  • Collaborative group studies, population surveys, epidemiological studies and psychosocial qualitative studies.

All clinical trials of the Central Coast Cancer Centre are listed below, arranged by cancer tumour group or special area. Each listing includes study title and protocol number, key staff, current trial status and a link to the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry website for further details. or the Clinicaltrials.gov website for further details

Internal page link Breast Cancer

Internal page Gastrointestinal Cancer

Internal page Gynaecological Cancer

Internal page link Head and Neck Cancer

Internal page Lung Cancer

Internal page Neuro-oncology

Internal page link Skin Cancer

Internal page link Symptom Management

Internal page Urogenital and Prostate Cancer

For more information about medical oncology clinical trials please contact the Nurse Unit Manager on 02 4320 9890.

Radiation oncology clinical trials

The Radiation Oncology Clinical Trials Unit began at the Central Coast Cancer Centre in early 2015, and is comprised of full and part time radiation oncologists as well as a Radiation Oncology Trial Coordinators who works closely with patients, radiation therapists, nurses and doctors.

​Radiation Oncologists Trial Coordinator ​
Dr Simon Tang Richard Clayton – Nurse Unit Manager
Dr Apsara Windsor Abraham Mathews
A/Prof Michael Back ​Maree Jarrett
​​A/Prof Andrew Kneebone
Dr Thomas Eade
​Dr Roland Yeghiaian-Alvandi
Dr Hester Lieng

Clinical trials for radiation oncology patients are registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry or the Clinicaltrials.gov  website for further information.

Internal page link Breast Cancer

Internal page link Urogenital and Prostate Cancer

For more information about radiation oncology clinical trials please contact the Nurse Unit Manager on 02 4320 9890.

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