VCCC Alliance Precision Oncology Forum

Experiences accessing and receiving tumour genetic profiling

3 March 2026

Experiences accessing and receiving tumour genetic profiling: A consumer-led cross sectional survey study.

Tumour genetic profiling is increasingly used worldwide and is associated with improved patient outcomes. However, little is known about consumer experiences, needs, and priorities.

This consumer-led study aimed to inform equitable and ethical implementation of tumour genetic profiling by exploring:

• consumer awareness of tumour genetic profiling
• consumer experiences with tumour genetic profiling, and
• consumer priorities for improving access and delivery of tumour genetic profiling services in Victoria, Australia.

This webinar discusses the outcomes of this study and how a consumer reference group, comprising patients and caregivers with lived experience of tumour genetic profiling, was established and led the research process.

Chairs

Dr Huiling Xu
Senior Research Fellow, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Joep Vissers
Curation Scientist Team Leader, the University of Melbourne

Speakers

Associate Professor Camille Short
Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne

A/Prof Short is a behavioural scientist and Senior Research Fellow jointly appointed between the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences and Melbourne School of Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours (2007) and a PhD in Behavioural Medicine (2013) from the University of Newcastle. Her experience and post-doctoral training in health psychology, digital health and public health has been completed at leading institutes in Australia and Internationally and supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (2014-2018).

Her research aims to develop, evaluate and disseminate innovative health intervention and behaviour change technologies that can help bridge the gap between what is available in clinic and what is available at home. Supported by the Victoria Cancer Agency and the National Breast Cancer Foundation she is currently leading a program of work focused on the co-design of of digitally-supported exercise interventions to support cancer patients recover from treatment.

Kathy Minas
Consumer Representative

Kathy Minas was a carer for her late husband who was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder in 2012. Her cancer consumer experience includes the support of her husband through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and participation in four clinical trials over a two-year period.

Her vision for Personalised Cancer Care is that future treatment options for low survival cancers are enabled through genomics and become part of the standard of care for all patients. Kathy has been part of the WEHI Consumer Program since 2016 and been a member of the WEHI Consumer Advisory Panel since 2018. She has also been the WEHI nominee to the VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee since 2021. Kathy Co-Chaired the Consumer Reference Group for Project 2.5 of the Strategic Program Plan and was a Steering Committee member for Program 2 – Personalised Cance Care.

Melissa Sheldon
Consumer Representative, VCCC Alliance, Echuca Regional Health,
and the Melanoma & Skin Cancer Advocacy Network

Melissa Sheldon is a survivor of stage IV melanoma. First diagnosed 16 years ago, she is fortunate to be here; her journey included targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Driven to improve health equity, she focuses on marginalised communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and rural populations. She is passionate about personalised cancer care, precision oncology, and advancing consumer-led research and leadership.