The ACT Government today revealed the designs for a new research facility at the Canberra Region Cancer Centre, Canberra Hospital.
It will contain a research laboratory for cancer, blood disorders, and immunology; a clinic where patients are assessed for trial treatments, and samples are collected and stored; and a wellbeing hub for patients and their families.
The more than $7 million facility, on level three of the Cancer Centre, will open in late 2024; construction will begin later this year.
Health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said researchers, clinicians and consumers would come together to deliver better patient care, while the facility would attract and retain outstanding clinicians.
The facility will conduct specialist research through partnerships with the ANU’s John Curtin School of Medical Research; the University of Canberra; the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne; and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney.
Clinical trials (testing of new treatments) will flourish, oncologist Professor Paul Craft AM expects. Patients will be able to access innovative investigational treatments that they otherwise cannot get, or are expensive outside trials. Professor Craft will look to increase early phase trials.
Professor Craft also believes that increased research will enhance the hospital’s ability to obtain grants and competitive funding.
It will also, he said, be a great advantage to have research staff and collaborating colleagues together in one area, rather than scattered across campuses, as they are now.
The Cancer Centre cares for patients in both the ACT and southern NSW; 30 per cent of patients come from the surrounding region. Every day, 1,000 people are treated on radiation oncology machines, Cathie O’Neill, Canberra Health Services’ chief operating officer, said; 200 people are seen by doctors in clinics; 100 people receive chemotherapy; and there are 50 dedicated beds for oncology and haematology treatment.
“It’s a really important place for people to come, often for extended periods of time, to receive treatment that can be really quite debilitating,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“Cancer diagnosis is obviously a scary thing, and treatment is often quite intense. People want to know that they’ve got access to the very latest treatment. Consumers are also really enthusiastic about contributing to new knowledge, to the development of new capability in cancer treatment. So, having access to those clinical trials, and being able to participate in new research and innovation is a very important part, not only for clinicians, but also of that patient journey.”
The ACT Government will establish and maintain a gynaecological cancer service; further information is expected this month.
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