Individual Abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Regional Victorian Trials Alliance: linkages, innovation, special populations, equity (ReViTALISE) project: addressing disparity in regional populations. (#94)

Donna Long 1 , Ian M Collins 2 , Samuel Harris 3 , Javier Torres 4 , Wasek Faisal 5 , Vanessa Wong 5 6 , David Campbell 7 , Kurt Lankovic 8 , Tricia Wright 9 , Krishna Rachakonda 10 , Peter Gibbs 6 11 , Mei Krishnasamy 11 12 , Jennifer Philip 11 13 , Oliver Klein 2 14 , Irene Blackberry 15 , Christopher Steer 1 15 16 , Craig R Underhill 1 11 15 16
  1. Border Medical Oncology, Border Medical Oncology Research Unit, Albury, NSW, Australia
  2. Southwest Healthcare , Warrnambool, Vic, Australia
  3. Bendigo Health, Bendigo, Vic, Australia
  4. Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton, Vic, Australia
  5. Grampians Health, Ballarat, Vic, Australia
  6. Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  7. Andrew Love Cancer Centre, University Hospital , Geelong, VIC, Australia
  8. Cancer Trials Australia, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  9. Latrobe Regional Hopsital, Traralgon, Vic, Australia
  10. Mildura Base Public Hospital, Mildura, Vic, Australia
  11. Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  12. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  13. University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  14. Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Vic, Australia
  15. Latrobe University, Wodonga, Vic, Australia
  16. UNSW School of Clinical Medicine, Rural Clinical Campus, Albury, NSW, Australia

Aim

The aim of the ReViTALISE project is to provide equal access to high-quality cancer care, bridging the metropolitan- regional trials gap by 2025 and improving cancer outcomes for regional Victorians.

Funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Infrastructure Fund and awarded to Border Medical Oncology Research Unit (Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre) as the lead site, working with the Regional Trials Network - Victoria (RTN-Vic), the ReViTALISE project will run over 5 years.

Methods

  • The RTN-Vic created a project that involves 7 interconnected Initiatives in areas of unmet need for regional populations, partnering with Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne, La Trobe University Wodonga, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. This project will address equity of access for regional patients and will implement COSA Teletrial methodology as a means to deliver these Initiatives.

ReViTALISE key activities:

  • Identify new and expand existing RTN-Vic sites
  • Expand trial portfolios: registry, Immunotherapy and rare cancer, palliative and supportive care, geriatric oncology
  • Upskilling the regional multidisciplinary workforce: establishment of a Regional Research Teaching Hub

The key outcomes:

  • Increase trial participation in Regional Rural and Remote areas by 2025 creating equitable access and outcomes
  • Improving models of care for Indigenous, palliative and supportive care patients
  • Establishing new research programs in older patients
  • Improving research literacy in the regional workforce with the establishment of a Regional Research Teaching Hub
  • Improving access to registry and immunotherapy trials
  • Improve access to teletrials
  • Building and consolidating networks of research active clinicians across regional centres

 

Results

Early outputs from each of the project areas will be presented.

 

Conclusion

This is an innovative project in important areas of unmet need in regional populations, developed by the regions and led by the regions.