The North Sydney Trials and Research Van Norton Poche (NORTH S.T.A.R VNP), a partnership between Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) and world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and made possible thanks to a $20 million donation from philanthropists Greg Poche AO and the late Kay Van Norton Poche AO, will be available to all Australians.
Within months of the launch, the centre will open four new studies including three clinical trials, providing access to new treatments for patients across metropolitan.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Dr Michael Holland said that as a physician, “I know that clinical trials are a powerful tool to bring hope to patients and their families and at the same time, provide much-needed treatment to improve lives and cure illnesses”.
The centre will also be used to attract the next generation of doctors, scientists and researchers to Australia and provide greater funding to discover cures through research and development.
Work will also begin on improving collaboration between hospitals, doctors and allied health professionals so every patient can participate in clinical trials, no matter where they live.
Minister for Health, Ryan Park said the global partnership would enhance treatment for residents with cancer and position NSW hospitals at the centre of international collaboration between the brightest minds in the medical world, while Minister for Medical Research, David Harris said they were “excited by the possibilities it brings for residents and their doctors throughout NSW”.
New trial centre brings sick hope
A WORLD leading clinical trial centre will soon provide increased access to international cancer clinical trials.
