It gives me great pleasure to present our 2022 Annual Report which showcases ANZGOG’s achievements over the last year.
ANZGOG continues to expand its trials in operation, in development and in the pipeline. We are fortunate to have 1200 dedicated members working locally and globally to improve life for women affected by gynaecological cancer through research.
We were delighted to be able to open three studies to recruitment this year – HyNOVA, ADELE and PARAGON-II. On the other end of the trial cycle, four studies closed to recruitment after meeting significant recruitment milestones. We thank all participating women and their families, participating hospitals and collaborating trial teams for their long-term commitment to the studies.
Another landmark for this year was having our first face-to-face Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) since 2019. It was a joy to see our members finally catching up in person and discussing a number of exciting new research ideas to take into the future. The meeting created the perfect, open environment for our members to collaborate and foster research innovation.
My primary goal as Chair of ANZGOG is to continue to improve our core research activity, which is to conduct insightful clinical trials for women with gynaecological cancer. This is what ANZGOG does best, and we aim to do it even better by harnessing improvements in technology as well as the power of the community to help women with gynaecological cancer.
We’re at a great point in our relationships, both nationally and internationally. In the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) – the peak international gynaecological cancer research group – we’re very fortunate to have an even greater number of ANZGOG members in leadership positions, including Prof Alison Brand AM as GCIG Chair! That means that our ANZGOG membership stands to be able to contribute to international clinical trial design, more now than ever before. This is extremely exciting, not only for ANZGOG members, but also for women in Australia and New Zealand with gynaecological cancer.
iPRIME closes to recruitment
iPRIME, a study that is trying to better understand the role for immunotherapy in ovarian cancer, closed to recruitment after completing its patient accrual.
HyNOVA opens to recruitment
The HyNOVA study opened to recruitment after activating its first site, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (pictured). The study aims to determine the efficacy of heat during ovarian cancer surgery and chemotherapy.
Honour Her launches
The Honour Her campaign brought together Australian artists and the public to raise funds for gynaecological cancer research and honour women affected by these cancers. Artists, both renowned and emerging, were invited to donate works of art inspired by and in support of women impacted by gynaecological cancers.
Survivors Teaching Students launches in New Zealand
The ground-breaking education program, Survivors Teaching Students (STS), commenced in New Zealand. The volunteer program was first brought to Australia in 2017, enabling survivors to educate health professional students about on women’s experiences with the diseases.
ANZGOG grants $100K to two member research projects
ANZGOG Members Dr Paul Cohen and Prof Kum Kum Khanna were each awarded $100K for their success in the Fund for New Research grant round 2021.
AtTEnD closes to recruitment
The international endometrial cancer trial AtTEnD, led by ANZGOG in Australia and New Zealand, reached its recruitment target of 550 participants, including 48 participants from ANZ.
TIPS closes to recruitment
Led by ANZGOG in collaboration with the NHMRC CTC, the surgical intervention ovarian cancer trial TIPS successfully recruiting 47 patients.
Team Teal 2022
The Team Teal campaign continued to engage the harness racing community to increase vital awareness of gynaecological cancer and raise funds to support ANZGOG’s research projects. The 2022 campaign was an outstanding success, where close to $400,000 was raised.
ADELE opens to recruitment
ANZGOG's endometrial cancer study, ADELE, opened to recruitment. Led by Principal Investigator Linda Mileshkin (pictured) & co-chair Yeh Chen Lee, the study plans to open at a further 22 sites in ANZ, with a target of recruiting 135 participants.
ANZGOG 2022 ASM
ANZGOG’s first face-to-face Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) since 2019 took place in Melbourne. The ASM delivered an outstanding program to over 300 delegates centred around the theme of “Pathways to Precision Care”.
New Chair of ANZGOG
Prof Clare Scott, among the world leaders of research into rare cancers, is elected to take on the role of ANZGOG Chair.
EMBRACE closes to recruitment
Led by Principal Investigator Dr Katrin Sjoquist, the EMBRACE study recruited 22 patients in total - 15 patients in the high grade serous ovarian cancer cohort and another 7 patients in the triple negative breast cancer cohort.
ANZGOG launches a new podcast
ANZGOG launches ‘On the Down Low – speaking up about ovarian cancer’, a new podcast featuring raw and inspiring stories from women with ovarian cancer and their caregivers, who speak in intimate detail about the challenges of living with cancer, and make a powerful call for advocacy, awareness and change.
Survivors Teaching Students launches in Tasmania
The STS survivors were set up to bravely share their very personal stories with Tasmania’s next generation of doctors with the launch of the innovative education program at the University of Tasmania, enabling the program to now be available in all ANZ states.
PARAGON II opens to recruitment
ANZGOG’s rare tumour, basket study, PARAGON-II, officially opened to recruitment after activating its first site, Newcastle Private Hospital. The study plans to open at least 15 sites in Australia and New Zealand, with a target of recruiting 182 participants.
ANZGOG Chair Prof Clare Scott receives AM
ANZGOG Chair, Professor Clare Scott is appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours list for her significant services to gynaecological cancer.
This year represented another successful year for ANZGOG’s research portfolio, with three trials opening to recruitment, four completing recruitment, and several new trials under development or poised to commence recruitment in 2022/23. The commitment and determination from our members ensured that we continue to improve life for women through developing pioneering gynaecological cancer research.
ANZGOG was pleased to open three studies - HyNOVA, ADELE, and PARAGON-II - to recruitment this year. The three ANZGOG-led studies are funded by the Australian Government – Medical Research Future Fund in collaboration with the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, at the University of Sydney.
Patient Recruitment: 461/500
Sites Open: 11/11
Patient Recruitment: 22/60
Sites Open: 12/12
Patient Recruitment: 3/80
Sites Open: 2/5
Patient Recruitment: 93/110
Sites Open: 19/19
Patient Recruitment: 105/114
Sites Open: 15/15
Patient Recruitment: 36/70
Sites Open: 6/6
Patient Recruitment: 0/135
Sites Open: 5/23
Patient Recruitment: 174/200
Patient Recruitment: 83/760
Sites Open: 5
Patient Recruitment: 0/182
Sites Open: 01/15
ANZGOG congratulates members Dr Paul Cohen and Prof Kum Kum Khanna for their success in the Fund for New Research Grant round 2021.
There were 15 applications for the Fund for New Research Grant 2021. Each application was reviewed by two assessors and discussed at the ANZGOG Research Advisory Committee (RAC). All applications that were supported by the RAC were further reviewed by the Fund for New Research Grant Panel and scored against a criteria for either clinical or pre-clinical studies. The recommended priority projects were finally reviewed and ratified by the ANZGOG Board.
The Fund for New Research is made possible by public donations, bequests and philanthropic grants from charities with shared interests in ANZGOG’s research work. With this support, we have been able to support 16 studies from 2015 to 2021 inclusive.
Established in 2016, The Ovarian cancer Alliance for SIgnal-Seeking clinical trials (OASIS) Initiative matches molecular subtypes of ovarian cancer with targeted new therapies designed to improve women’s lives, and aims to significantly shorten the cycle of clinical testing by:
• Speeding Translation: Strengthen existing links between laboratory and clinical researchers to accelerate the application of research findings.
• Improving cost-efficiency: Develop an infrastructure and culture that enables much more cost-effective trials.
• Developing funding: Establish a pool of funds, with proper governance oversight, to support the prompt initiation of signal-seeking studies once indicators are identified in the lab.
OASIS HAS GENERATED OVER $12MILLION OF ACTIVITY FROM PHILANTHROPIC AND PHARMACEUTICAL SOURCES, ACROSS SEVEN CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL TRIALS SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
Future directions of OASIS include improving clinical trial access and treatment options to all Australian and New Zealand women with ovarian cancer through a streamlined and improved molecular screening process.
In response to the rapidly rising incidence of endometrial cancer in Australia and New Zealand, ANZGOG established the EnDomEtrial caNcer (EDEN) Research Initiative Steering Committee in 2020-2021. The EDEN team, coordinated by Prof Linda Mileshkin and Assoc Prof Alison Brand AM, will work with national endometrial cancer experts to focus on five key areas of unmet need:
Each of these areas of focus are being developed through collaborative consultation with a group of 60+ volunteer ANZGOG members.
The Steering Committee will drive the strategy for the research and work closely with the Uterine Tumour Working Group who will assist investigators to develop their studies and will engage ANZGOG members, public, philanthropic and pharma funders, as well as local and global collaborators of ANZGOG to achieve the Initiative’s goals.
Following its launch in 2020, the Translational ANZGOG (TR-ANZGOG) Research Initiative has reached the implementation stage. Resources developed are being utilised to support ANZGOG trial investigators with the translational aspects of studies at various stages of trial development.
Implementation of TR-ANZGOG into ITTACc and EPOCH will enable current and future translational research for particularly rare tumour types: cervical cancer, and uterine and tubo-ovarian carcinosarcoma.
TR-ANZGOG processes are being tested to facilitate access by ANZGOG Translational Investigators to biospecimens and data from existing cohorts.
Next steps will focus on expanding the TR-ANZGOG Network of Laboratories across Australia and into New Zealand, and building data management infrastructure.
TR-ANZGOG will meet an ANZGOG strategic goal to build capacity for
translational research by supporting the collection of biospecimens associated
with all ANZGOG trials, provide enduring custodianship for biospecimens, and
maximize the use of biospecimens through research.
Our research is published in leading national and international journals to share the results of our studies with peers around the world.
Several key ANZGOG members attended the ASCO (the American Society of Clinical Oncologists) 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago in June to connect and collaborate with international partners in gynaecological oncology. The meeting enables ANZGOG to contribute to the latest research discussions on the global stage.
Find a full list of ANZGOG’s publications on our website.
Our membership has grown significantly since our organisation was founded in 2000, doubling in the last eight years to just short of 1,200. ANZGOG's members in every Australian state and New Zealand are dedicated to growing the research portfolio in both treatment, surgery, radiation oncology, quality of life and survivorship.
Together with our staff, donors and partners, our members work to improve life for women through cancer research.
ANZGOG’s 1200 plus members are based at 63 hospitals, universities and research institutions in Australia and New Zealand. These members volunteer their time to help operate the organisation and take part in tumour working groups, research and advisory committees.
The role of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is to guide the scientific direction of the organisation and ensure the research we undertake is of the highest scientific quality, whilst also relevant and feasible in the current environment. The RAC is comprised of members covering the breadth of experience in gynaecological cancer clinical trials, including clinicians from Gynaecologic Oncology, Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology, basic and translational scientists, a Quality of Life expert, statistician and consumer representatives. Paul Cohen commenced in the role of Deputy Chair of the RAC in 2021 and has been a wonderful support, providing knowledge, insight and practical support freely and often.
2022 has been a period of great activity, as we gradually came out of COVID-19 restrictions. ANZGOG was successful in getting three new clinical trials open to recruitment – HyNOVA, ADELE and PARAGON-II during this period, with a further two closing to recruitment – AtTEnd and REZOLVE. ANZGOG’s research portfolio will be expanding even further in the next 12 months, as we see three studies open to accrual – EPOCH, ITTACc and PEACE, with still more working through the pipeline. As we all know, challenges still remain in running clinical trials during a pandemic, due to ongoing resourcing issues throughout the health sector and beyond. Despite this, ANZGOG’s tenacity to undertake ground-breaking research has remained steadfast.
Dr Alison Davis
Chair - ANZGOG Research Advisory Committee
The ANZGOG Study Coordinators Committee has been busy building its membership base over the last year with new members invited onto the committee. We now have representatives from WA, VIC (and regional VIC), ACT, NSW, and QLD (plus regional QLD). We are looking to gain a representative from New Zealand over the next year.
Our committee members have been working on a host of operational and guidance documents for the ANZGOG site start-up toolbox, this will provide ANZGOG sites with a range of tools to assist with every day activities related to clinical trials. The committee has also been assisting with review of the ANZGOG Site Information and Capacity Form providing feedback on the draft survey.
The committee received an update and had the opportunity to ask questions directly from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on the National Clinical Trial Governance Framework. This was a wonderful chance for us all to get insights on possible impacts on sites once the Framework is launched.
The Study Coordinators Workshop on Teletrials at the 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting was a great success with representatives from a primary site, a regional satellite site and an Investigator discussing the Victorian Teletrials experience. This was a well-attended session with attendees taking the opportunity to ask lots of questions of the speakers. We will be following this up next year with members of the MRFF funded Australian Teletrial Program to get some insight on progress and their experience so far.
Donna Long
Chair - Study Coordinators Committee
“Our consumers are part of our core membership. They have the ability to bring their expertise and experience to our trials, and all aspects of our activities. They are one of our key stakeholders, both inside and outside of ANZGOG, as they remind us just how important research is. I really want us to bring the community with us in every way we possibly can.”
- Prof Clare Scott AM (ANZGOG Chair)
"What those affected by gynaecological cancers want, is for ANZGOG to innovate, drive support for and conduct research trials to improve outcomes for women affected by gynaecological cancers.”
This statement drives the goals of ANZGOG’s Consumer Research Panel (CRP). We believe that clinical trials are our best bet and are critical to advance the science of gynaecological cancers.
This year most of the CRP members attended the ANZGOG Annual Scientific Meeting in person and I got to meet the team after recruiting members via Zoom.
Mingling with ANZGOG's team helped to crystallize understanding for our newer members about our core role, contributing consumer review to research ideas.
Educationally we attended workshops on “Consumers in research”, "Participation in Tele–Trials” and “Urban Indigenous Cultural Considerations”. The last was an engaging presentation by a young cervical cancer survivor.
The theme of survivorship has been foremost, with the team contributing feedback to GCIG‘s survivorship care plan and participating in a research project on the use of the word “survivorship” in gynaecological cancers.
It is important to the CRP that our researchers find new ways, to not only progress treatments outcomes, but to also improve quality of life for people living with gynae cancers.
Consumer participation in the Tumour Working Groups and the EDEN initiative continues to gain momentum and we look forward to a fruitful and productive year.
The Ovarian Cancer Preceptorship 2021 was held 3 & 4 December 2021 and Chaired by Assoc Prof Tarek Meniawy and Co-Chairs Dr Michelle Wilson and Dr Sally Baron-Hay.
This was a great opportunity for attendees to understand the landmark studies and discuss clinical practice in these cancers, with experts in Australia and New Zealand, and also an excellent learning opportunity for the Fellows and Trainees who presented, including valuable discussion by the mentors and guest panelists.
A total of 53 fellows, trainees, registrars, and early career clinicians attended the sessions virtually.
ANZGOG, as part of its member education activities, presented a two-day Education Webinar on the Foundations of Gynaecological Cancer focusing on Ovarian Cancer for ANZGOG members and others across the health sector. The Ovarian Cancer Webinar was held on Friday, 13 August and Friday, 20 August and Chaired by Professor Michael Friedlander AM and Associate Professor Philip Beale. Renowned ANZGOG members, leaders in their fields presented on the following topics: pathology of ovarian cancers, surgery, genetics, molecular pathology, chemotherapy 1st line, recurrent ovarian cancer, survivorship, management of uncommon ovarian cancers and consumers in research and education. The webinars were attended by 245 members and provided them with a unique opportunity to hear from these experts in the field including a panel discussion after each webinar. This three-part Foundations in Gynaecological cancers is supported byAstraZeneca and in 2022 the focus will be on Endometrial Cancer.
Survivors Teaching Students (STS) is a ground-breaking education program that brings the faces and voices of ovarian and other gynaecological cancer survivors and caregivers into the classrooms of health professional students to teach them about women’s experiences with the diseases.
STS has had a successful fourth year, now with a fully implemented program running in all Australian States, ACT and New Zealand. The program's volunteers are now working with 21 universities, mainly with medical schools and with increasing interest from nursing and health sciences schools.
COVID has resulted in the majority of the participating universities continuing with online (via Zoom) tuition. The 10 STS volunteer teams across Australia and New Zealand continue sharing their stories via a hybrid model, in person at some Schools in QLD and WA. Increasingly women and caregivers affected by all gynaecological cancers join the STS Program to share their stories and provide students with a breadth of experience, though the focus remains ovarian cancer.
“The STS program gives me a precious opportunity, alongside other ovarian cancer survivors and carers, to share our stories directly with medical and nursing students. We take them away from their textbooks, and into real life… It’s a profound and memorable session - and that’s our aim - for we want to make a positive, lasting impact… it's our legacy... hoping to improve survival rates and helping to shape future care for women with ovarian cancer.”
STS REPORT
Six episodes completed the series which has attracted a wide listening audience around the world and a 5-star rating:
https://www.anzgog.org.au/on-the-down-low "This is my body, It let me down but it is still with its scar" Catlin
‘On The Down Low – speaking up about ovarian cancer’ is a podcast featuring raw and inspiring stories from women with ovarian cancer and their caregivers, who speak in intimate detail about the challenges of living with cancer, and make a powerful call for advocacy, awareness and change.
Hosted by Alison Dance, the six-part series follows the arc of an ovarian cancer journey covering topics including symptoms and diagnosis, treatment and side effects, challenges with finances, relationships and intimacy, issues specific to regional and younger women, research, clinical trials, recurrence, hope and advocacy.
This ANZGOG Podcast is supported by Westfield Sydney. Dr Helen Gooden, STS National Manager was named a Westfield Sydney Local Hero 2021 with the $10,000 prize money directed towards producing this first series of “On the Down Low: speaking up about ovarian cancer”.
Join Alison Dance as she speaks to women with ovarian cancer and their carers, sharing raw and inspiring stories. A powerful call for advocacy, awareness and change, this podcast encourages the health conversations women need to have. Join the call for change today #OnTheDownLowPodcast. On The Down Low is available on all major podcast apps from May 8 2022.
ANZGOG actively engages with our members, the Australian and New Zealand clinical research community and our international partners to ensure the relevance, vibrancy and impact of our research agenda. ANZGOG collaborates with organisations with a similar agenda to address shared challenges. These collaborations are the key to ANZGOG’s success and support our diverse research activity and our work as a leader in gynaecological cancer research.
ANZGOG’s Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2022 was held on the 23-26 March at the Crown Promenade, Melbourne. The ASM delivered an outstanding program to over 300 delegates centered around the theme of “Pathways to Precision Care”.
The hybrid model of this year’s ASM brought together national and international experts in gynaecological medicine, radiation and surgical oncology, pathology, basic scientists, translational and quality of life researchers, study coordinators and nurses, as well as pharmaceutical industry partners. The ANZGOG ASM enables delegates to learn about the latest developments in gynaecological cancer and an opportunity to build collaborations among members and industry personnel.
Many presentations at this year’s ASM focused on exploring pathways from translational research into the development of clinical trials and reviewing how molecular profiling and genetics are shaping the management of ovarian and endometrial cancer.
Delegates were fortunate to hear from our three keynote international speakers:
Dr Ana Oaknin (Medical Oncologist, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain)
Pathways beyond BRCA?
Other presentation highlights included those in the Pure Science Symposium, Controversies in Gynaecological Cancer, and Quality of Life and Survivorship sessions. Updates on ANZGOG’s Initiatives – EDEN, OASIS, and TR-ANZGOG and ANZGOG trials currently open to recruitment highlighted some of ANZGOG’s achievements and challenges to date.
Still on a high after an excellent #ANZGOG2022ASM last week! Congratulations to @LiuDongli for winning the poster prize for her research on #EndometrialCancer - well deserved recognition of a great collaboration with @Glubbster & @DrTracyO @anzgog @UNSWMedicine pic.twitter.com/2nYETzDVYs
— Prof Caroline Ford (@DrCFord) March 27, 2022
Best Main Conference Abstract Award
Dr Oliver Klein
‘Ipillimumab and nivolumab combination immunotherapy in patients with rare gynaecological malignancies: results of a multi-centre, phase 2 trial (CA209-538)’
Best Pure Science Abstract Award
Dr Nikki Burdett
‘The genomic landscape of resistance in HR-deficient high grade serous ovarian cancer’
Best Poster Abstract Award
Dr Dongli Liu
‘GZD824 inhibits endometrial cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro.'
Gynaecological cancer is a global issue. Connecting with other world leaders in research is critical to improving treatments and outcomes for women with gynaecological cancer across the world.
ANZGOG’s strong international collaborations are fostered through its individual members and organisational membership of the Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup (GCIG), which is comprised of 32 member countries. ANZGOG is a significant collaborator internationally in gynaecological cancer clinical trials development and regularly has a large number of members participating at the GCIG meetings and on its various committees.
In the GCIG Spring 2021 meeting, ANZGOG Director and past Chair Assoc Prof Alison Brand AM was appointed Chair-Elect to the GCIG, following in the footsteps of another former ANZGOG Chair – Prof Michael Quinn AM – who also served as GCIG Chair. GCIG Chair appointments are for two years. Alison Brand AM has served on the GCIG Executive for several years and was nominated by ANZGOG as their organisation representative.
In addition, John Andrews (ANZGOG Manager – Research Programs and Pipeline) was appointed Chair-elect of the Harmonization Operations Committee of GCIG at its Spring 2022 meeting in Chicago. ANZGOG will now have six members in key leadership roles within GCIG in the coming year which is a true testament to ANZGOG's reputation as a global leader in gynaecological cancer research:
These GCIG appointments, in addition to several ANZGOG members who are currently committee and council members of International Gynaecological Cancer Society (IGCS), demonstrate ANZGOG’s growing reputation and leadership in the global gynaecological cancer research space.
One of the inaugural members, ANZGOG participated in the formation of the Asia Pacific Gynecological Oncology Trials group (APGOT) in 2019. The group was formed to focus on collaborative studies in gynaecological cancer within the Asia Pacific region, strengthening capabilities and ensuring a greater range of trials available for women.
ANZGOG has already conducted one study (MOCCA) and is currently operating another (VIP) in cooperation with Singapore as part of the OASIS Research Initiative.
ANZGOG continues to collaborate both nationally and globally with other research organisations as demonstrated in the table below:
ANZGOG has a long-term relationship with the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC), at the University of Sydney, who have acted as a sponsor of our larger trials. Currently, ANZGOG has eight open trials in collaboration with the CTC, and a further three in development.
Strong local collaborations are fostered with institutions such as Sydney and Melbourne Universities, Walter & Eliza Hall, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology and University of Western Australia are ensuring a diverse approach to research ideas and clinical trial development.
ANZGOG also works closely with other cooperative cancer clinical trials groups, the Quality of Life Office, CREST Health Economics to foster new trials and contribute to their development.
WomenCan is the fundraising arm of ANZGOG, funding research and education programs conducted by ANZGOG’s membership.
WomenCan’s mission is to engage with the community to fund pioneering discoveries that will enable women with gynaecological cancer to live better and live longer.
In 2022, $258,000 was bequeathed to ANZGOG for dedicated research. We are extremely grateful for the support of all these donors. It is with this generosity that new pioneering discoveries in gynaecological cancer will come. Our warmest gratitude to Barbara, Pauline and Kate.
Case study – Kate O’Meagher
Following her death from ovarian cancer, Kate left ANZGOG a gift of $50,000. Her sister Eileen Sargent (pictured, right) wrote to us about Kate ‘Our little sister Kate O’Meagher wanted to make a difference in the world. She was an incredible person. Kate was not an excessively wealthy person, just an ordinary person, giving above and beyond what would be expected.’ Eileen went on to participate in the WomenCan Larapinta fundraising trek, walking 80+ kilometres. Eileen says ‘When Kate died, I felt completely useless. I wanted and needed to help others, just like Kate. The Larapinta Trek gave me this opportunity. It is reassuring the money raised by ANZGOG is well placed and so needed.’
For more information about leaving a legacy gift to ANZGOG’s research, please visit here.
Eileen pictured (left) on the Larapinta Trail with fellow trekker Jane.
WomenCan’s Team Teal partnership through the sport of Harness Racing continues to be stronger and we are grateful to New Zealand, the Australian state bodies and all the clubs involved who have raised over $2M to support ANZGOG’s research and education programs including Survivors Teaching Students. The future is bright for Team Teal as we look to expand into new sporting codes.
Via a number of wins from our dedicated reinswomen and community fundraisers, a total of $391,798 was raised for Team Teal 2022.
Thank you to the valuable donors, supporters and fundraisers for their continued support of Team Teal and ANZGOG's gynaecological cancer research programs.
In September 2021 WomenCan launched the inaugural Honour Her online art campaign.
We received passionate support from the art community that not only inspired the sale of original artworks but revealed new supporters with personal gynaecological cancer stories, like Adelaide artist Sarah, whose family has lost three generations of women her Great Grandma, Grandma, Great Aunt and her Aunt from ovarian and breast cancer through a familial cause (read here) or artist Annie Palmer, whose daughter Aleesa overcame cervical cancer to become a mother (read here). These stories were powerful, and the artist-audience reach containing our call to action about gynaecological cancer research was considerable.
Thank you to WomenCan’s valuable loyal donors and committed fundraisers for their continued valuable support of ANZGOGs gynaecological cancer research programs.
“We must continue to grow our financial stability. This gives us freedom to express
our ideas and sends a message to our members that their concepts can be supported
and developed into clinical trials.”
ANZGOG has collaborative agreements both locally and globally with research institutions and other clinical trial groups. It also conducts a number of its clinical trials in collaboration with the University of Sydney and its NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC). The University of Sydney supports ANZGOG with grant applications, sponsorship of agreed trials and coordination of the trial operations.
Government grant funding for the benefit of ANZGOG clinical trials projects achieved under the collaboration is administered by the University of Sydney and is received annually to support these research activities.
The Cancer Australia Support for Cancer Clinical Trials Program, provides $500,000 annually to ANZGOG to support research development work by our research staff, consumer engagement and education activities and research development workshops.
