Queensland cancer patients will have easier access to clinical trials thanks to a new partnership between QUT and a non-profit research agency.
The Brisbane university’s Australian Translational Genomics Centre (ATCG) has been selected as a national testing site for Omico, which operates a clinical trials screening program called PrOSPeCT.
The Precision Oncology Screening Platform enabling Clinical Trials Australia (PrOSPeCT) is the result of a $185 million public-private funding commitment by the Australian Government, NSW Government and industry partners.
The collaboration with QUT will see 1600 Queensland cancer patients, over the next 18 months, receive free personalised tumour analyses with the potential to be identified for new treatment trials.
PrOSPeCT’s mission is to transform cancer care in Australia by establishing a sustainable network for precision genomic testing and clinical trials.
This network will enable cancer patients to access the latest therapies with the potential to reduce treatment and testing costs.
The ATGC is a major contributor of genomic reports to the program.
ATGC Deputy Director of Genomics Associate Professor Paul Leo said precision medicine allowed individual patients to be connected to treatments tailored to their specific cancer based on genomic testing.
“This strategic collaboration with Omico has the potential to transform the landscape of cancer care in Queensland, bringing us closer to our objective of providing precision medicine to every cancer patient in Queensland,” Associate Professor Leo said.
“The project provides advanced genomic profiling of cancers to inform tailored treatment strategies and, whenever possible, grants patients access to cutting-edge clinical trials featuring drug combinations optimised for their specific cancer type.”
ATGC Director Professor Ken O’Byrne said the initiative aimed to benefit patients across Queensland, not just in Brisbane.
“The program will offer testing services to patients in regional and remote centres, helping to improve access to state-of-the-art molecular diagnostics and clinical trials across diverse geographical regions,” Professor O’Byrne said.
“The ultimate goal is to establish a sustainable model for precision oncology, thus alleviating some of the financial burdens associated with oncology care while, most importantly, improving outcomes for patients.”
The ATGC is located at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane and is part of QUT’s Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health.
