$3 Million Grant to Transform Gynaecological Cancer Treatment and Survivorship
We’re excited to announce that QCGC Research has been awarded a $3 million Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to focus on improving the quality of life for gynaecological cancer patients and survivors.
Led by Director of QCGC Research Professor Andreas Obermair, the new CRE—ALIVE WELL—will address the significant gaps in treatment and follow-up care of gynaecological cancers.
Current treatments often take a severe toll on patients, affecting everything from fertility to long-term recovery.
Transforming Care with Personalised Approaches
The CRE aims to move away from the outdated, rigid models currently offered as standard of care for gynaecological cancers, toward more contemporary, women-centred approaches. Three priority areas of research will focus on:
- Enabling fertility after endometrial cancer.
- Reducing lymphoedema, a common side effect of cancer treatments.
- Optimising recovery from cancer, allowing women to regain their health and function.
Cutting-Edge Clinical Trials
Building on six clinical trials already underway (feMMe, ENDO-3, Pre-Anvu, ECHO, ACUMEN & RECENTRE), involving over 2,500 women worldwide, the CRE will launch three new trials to further explore the impact of personalised treatment. These trials will focus on:
- Improving pregnancy rates after endometrial cancer.
- An alternative non-surgical treatment replacing hysterectomy for early-stage endometrial cancer in patients with a specific molecular profile.
- Less invasive surgery for early-stage vulvar cancer.
According to QCGC researcher Dr Eva Baxter, the ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of life for gynaecological cancer survivors, ensuring that they can get back to living their best lives.
What are Centres of Research Excellence (CRE)?
The NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) Centres for Research Excellence (CRE) are groups of researchers in Australia funded to work on important health issues. These centres bring together experts from different areas to focus on specific health challenges, such as cancer, heart disease, or mental health. The goal is to improve health outcomes by encouraging collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of knowledge.
CRE funding supports research programs, trains new researchers, and helps translate research findings into real-world health benefits.
Researchers collaborating on the CRE to Improve the QuALIty of SurVival in Gynaecological Cancer PatiEnts (ALIVE WELL)
Chief Investigators
- Prof Andreas Obermair, The University of Queensland;
- Dr Eva Baxter, The University of Queensland
- Prof Beverley Vollenhoven, Monash University
- Prof Sandra Hayes, Cancer Council Queensland
- Prof Alexandra (Sandie) McCarthy, Griffith University
- Prof Linda Mileshkin, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
- Prof Monika Janda, The University of Queensland
- Dr Kristy Robledo, The University of Sydney
- Prof Haitham Tuffaha, The University of Queensland
- Prof Val Gebski, The University of Sydney
Associate Investigators
- Ms Lesley McQuire, Ms Merran Williams, Ms Leonie Young, Ms Anne Mellon, Dr Michelle Harris, Prof Orla McNally, Dr Andrea Garrett, Prof Paul Cohen, A/Prof Alison Brand, & Prof Martin Stockler.
Learn more about this transformative research and how it aims to close the gaps in gynaecological cancer care: