The inaugural VCCC Alliance and MPCCC Victorian Precision Oncology Summit 2023 will focus 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 brings together key actors in Victorian cancer genomics to identify potential opportunities to synchronise activities for the benefit of Victorian cancer patients.
Presentations will set the scene for attendees to participate in a series of facilitated breakout sessions, workshopping solutions to the critical challenges highlighted.
The summit is fully catered and will be followed by networking, drinks and canapes.
Professor Olivier MichielinProfessor 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.
Victoria Sharp, ConsumerVictoria 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.
Professor David Thomas, CEO, Omico: the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine CentreProfessor David Thomas is a medical oncologist and researcher with a focus on the impact of genomics on cancer medicine and public health. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Omico: the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre, a nationwide network of research and treatment centres enabling research in precision medicine.
He established a national infrastructure for clinical research into sarcomas and has played a significant role in the development of adolescent and young adult oncology. Despite an active clinical role, David has published more than 250 research papers including senior or lead author papers in Science, Cancer Cell, Cancer Discovery, Molecular Cell, Journal of Cell Biology, Cancer Cell, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, and JAMA Oncology. His work has directly led to changed clinical practice, including regulatory approvals for denosumab in giant cell tumor of bone, and whole-body MRI for patients with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.
VCCC Alliance would like to acknowledge the following sponsors:
A VCCC Alliance and Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC) collaboration
