More patients will have access to potentially life-saving cancer therapies as a result of Epworth joining forces with Cancer Trials Australia.

With the addition of Epworth, CTA now has 25 major healthcare provider members. These include Alfred Health, Austin Health, Barwon Health, Cabrini Health, Monash Health, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Western Health.

CTA enables collaboration amongst network members around resources, expertise and capability, which supports a growing number of oncology clinical trials in Australia; and enables the mentoring of clinical trial staff to ensure safe and efficient trials.

Professor Nikolajs Zeps, Epworth Director of Research and Development, said the partnership would mean more opportunity for oncology and haematology patients to participate in the latest clinical trials and medicines.

“Epworth is committed to innovation and the generation of knowledge. Collaboration with other healthcare organisations means that our doctors and nurses are exposed to new skills and clinical application for all patient safety,” he said.

Dr Kurt Lackovic, CEO of Cancer Trials Australia, said he looked forward to working closely with Epworth to support their clinical research activities.

“The goal is for Australian patients to benefit sooner from novel, life-saving therapies. Epworth promotes and supports both investigator-initiated and commercially-sponsored research, and is developing strong links to both national and international industry and government,” Dr Lackovic said

“Australia continues to have a vibrant clinical trial ecosystem, with principal investigators, study coordinators and other trial staff all gaining more experience and contributing to the advancement of patient care.”

Epworth HealthCare is Victoria’s largest not-for-profit private health care group, operating across metropolitan Melbourne and since 2016, at Geelong in partnership with Deakin University.

Epworth Brighton, Epworth Camberwell, Epworth Cliveden (East Melbourne), Epworth Eastern (Box Hill), Epworth Freemasons (East Melbourne), Epworth Hawthorn and Epworth Richmond.

For more information: www.epworth.org.au