A VCCC Alliance and Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC) collaboration

Victorian Precision Oncology Summit 2023

Personalised molecular testing for all Victorians

28 April 2023

This event was held in April, as the inaugural VCCC Alliance and MPCCC Victorian Precision Oncology Summit 2023 where the focus was on equity of access to molecular testing. To help close the gap in molecular testing access and improve cancer outcomes for more Victorians.

The inaugural VCCC Alliance and MPCCC Victorian Precision Oncology Summit 2023 focused on equity of access to molecular testing, attracting professionals working in cancer genomics from multiple disciplines and perspectives.

Translating cancer genomics into the clinic to inform better cancer care presents many exciting questions and challenges. From providing equitable access to tumour profiling and upskilling clinical practitioners to enabling emerging technologies and translating new biological discoveries, this is an area that is rich with potential to drive improvement in patient outcomes.

The Summit brought together key actors in Victorian cancer genomics to identify potential opportunities to synchronise activities for the benefit of Victorian cancer patients.

The presentations set the scene for attendees and you will be provided with insights from breakout sessions, where attendees workshopped solutions to the critical challenges that were highlighted. 

Keynote Speaker

Professor Olivier Michielin
Head of the Centre for Precision Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland 

Professor Olivier Michielin obtained a Masters of Physics in 1991 at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and a Medical Degree from the University of Lausanne in 1997. He pursued his PhD training under the supervision of Jean-Charles Cerottini (Ludwig Institute) and Martin Karplus (Harvard and Strasbourg Universities, Chemistry Nobel Prize Laureate 2013). He was appointed Group Leader of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics in 2002 and became an Assistant Professor and Privat Docent at the Medical Faculty of Lausanne in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

In parallel, he has trained as a medical oncologist and obtained his board certification in 2007 at the Department of oncology of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) where he is currently heading the melanoma clinic. He was appointed Associate Professor in 2010 and full Professor in 2019. Prof Olivier Michielin is mainly focused on translational oncology, developing new molecularly defined therapeutic approaches based on original bioinformatics techniques developed in his laboratory, as well as melanoma clinical trials at the Lausanne University Hospital. In 2016, Prof. Olivier Michielin was appointed Head of the Center for Precision Oncology within the Department of oncology.

Speakers

Victoria Sharp, Consumer

Victoria Sharp is a consumer advocate and adviser to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance Network. Victoria has a lived experience of cancer and a deep appreciation of personalized medicine as an effective tool for treatment and management for health.

As a direct beneficiary of molecular testing, personalized oncology and a clinical trial, Victoria understands the power of personalized medicine. Molecular testing has informed her management and treatment directions and advice regarding choice of appropriate surgeries, chemotherapy, prophylactic treatments and participation in clinical trials. She attributes her survival to research done in precision oncology.

A major aspect of her work as a planning and design consultant has been in stakeholder, community and public consultation as part of project facilitation with Local and State Government. More recently she has directed her interest and skills in community consultation and co-design towards the cancer community with a view to embedding the patient perspective as a core value in policy and strategic implementation.

Dr Kortnye Smith, Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre 

Dr Kortnye Smith is a medical oncologist and researcher at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Eastern Health. After completing her medical oncology training, she pursued a two-year fellowship at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Melbourne Genomic Health Alliance where she investigated pathways for the integration of complex genomic sequencing into cancer therapy. 

Currently she works predominantly in lung cancer and melanoma as well as focusing on her passion of improving patient equity by coordinating the Oncology in the Home program across the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Her research focuses on the implementation of new models of care and educational to facilitate access to genomics across Victoria.

Sponsors

VCCC Alliance would like to acknowledge the following sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor

International Speaker Category Sponsor

Silver Sponsor