Cabrini Cancer Institute officially opens in 2021

Cabrini Research Annual Report 2020-21 Cabrini Cancer Institute

The Cabrini Cancer Institute was officially opened on 21 April 2021 by the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Honourable Greg Hunt MP. The launch of the Institute is a further exciting step in the development of cancer research at Cabrini Health. Based at the Malvern hospital, the Cabrini Cancer Institute will be dedicated to advancing translational research by bringing all aspects of cancer research together; and expanding clinical trials and exercise programs for cancer patients. As one of Australia’s leading providers of cancer services, the integration of the Cabrini Cancer Institute within the Cabrini Malvern hospital allows researchers and clinicians to work together developing breakthroughs to deliver better health outcomes for all cancer patients.

A grant from the Federal Government allowed us to develop phase one of a two-phase project to create a Cancer Institute. Phase one gives us the capacity to double the number of clinical trials over the next two years and build a state-of-the-art cancer exercise laboratory to best understand how to integrate exercise into every cancer patient’s treatment. The new cancer exercise laboratory is one of only a few exercise laboratories in the world dedicated to cancer patients. The new world-class laboratory will investigate the potential positive benefits of exercise and exercise therapy/rehabilitation in patients across the entire cancer continuum. To do world-leading research that improves cancer patient outcomes requires exceptional researchers who are leaders and at the forefront of the cancer exercise research field. Cabrini Research is extremely excited to welcome Dr Eva Zopf and Kelcey Bland who will lead the cancer exercise research program at Cabrini.

Phase two of the Cancer Institute involves building a new facility. It will allow further expansion of clinical research, development of research partnerships including a rare cancers treatment centre, and establishment of new research services, including genomics (analysis of cancer genes) and tissue banking (storing tumour cells for research). This building will ensure that Cabrini remains at the forefront of cancer treatment and research.

The development of the Cancer Institute also allows expansion into research in patient experience using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), development of novel techniques to determine best therapies, such as tumour organoids (mini-tumours grown in gel that are used for research), and the collection and analysis of data to improve patient outcomes. Cabrini is committed to providing innovative, integrated, individualised, multidisciplinary, personalised cancer care for patients from pre diagnosis through to treatment and survivorship, including palliative care. Collaboration with the Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre allows the integration of exciting translational research, where findings from the laboratory are able to be used to design more effective and less toxic treatments for patients.

It allows the ability to tailor treatments for individual patients, better known as precision (or personalised) medicine.

Also integrated in the Cabrini Cancer Institute is the newly established Exercise and Wellness Centre. A relaxed, welcoming and comfortable environment, the Cabrini Exercise and Wellness Centre is overseen by dedicated wellness coordinators, and provides information and support to cancer patients and their carers throughout their cancer journey, ensuring that Cabrini better meets the needs of each cancer patient. The centre will embed world’s best research into the development and evaluation of its program structure and delivery of its programs and services. Being integrated in the same space as the cancer exercise laboratory, will fast track the translation of positive research findings into programs offered through the Exercise and Wellness Centre, providing an individualised approach to cancer care for patients.

From top: The Honourable Greg Hunt MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care (left) with Professor Gary Richardson OAM. Katie Allen, MP Minister for Higgins, the Honourable Greg Hunt MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Ian, oncology clinical trials participant. The Honourable Kelly O'Dwyer, Former Member for Higgins, Katie Allen, MP Member for Higgins, and the Honourable Greg Hunt MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care. Associate Professor Melita Kenealy.