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Celebrating Regional Health Leadership: Network Clinician Research Fellow Felicity Bates Featured in Partyline

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 10 days ago
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We are pleased to share that Mid North Coast Local Health District Senior Palliative Care Pharmacist and NSW Regional Cancer Research Network Clinician Fellow, Felicity Bates, has been featured in Partyline , the online magazine of the National Rural Health Alliance. The Alliance is the peak body advocating for healthy and sustainable rural, regional and remote communities across Australia. Partyline is published quarterly and highlights initiatives and individuals making a meaningful impact on rural health. In her article, “A palliative care pharmacist’s mission to address existential distress in rural NSW,” Felicity reflects on more than a decade of ...
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A Reflection on Our Achievements

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 11 days ago
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By Professor Nikola Bowden, Program Director, NSW Regional Cancer Research Network As 2025 draws to a close, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all NSW Regional Cancer Research Network members, collaborators and partners for your commitment, energy and engagement throughout the year. Together, we have continued to grow a network that is reshaping what cancer research looks like in regional NSW, and it is timely to reflect on the progress we have made. This year, our Network continued to expand its reach and impact, with more than 375 members now engaged across four Local Health Districts. To date, we have provided $2.75 million in ...
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Network Clinician Fellows secure funding from NSW Health's End of Life Palliative Care Grant Program

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 11 days ago
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Congratulations to NSW Regional Cancer Research Network Clinician Research Fellows, Associate Professor Jenny Schneider and Fern Beschi, and their project team on being awarded funding through the NSW Government’s $2.7 million NSW Health End of Life Palliative Care grants program to improve end-of-life and palliative care services across the state. Together the will undertake the project “Stability and Compatibility of Commonly Used Palliative Care Medications Administered by Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion: Improving Best Evidence for Practice Change.” We are delighted to strong network member collaboration driving this important work. This project ...
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Introducing Our 2025 Regional Research Fellowship Recipients

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 11 days ago
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The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network is pleased to introduce the recipients of the 2025 Regional Research Fellowship grants, supporting outstanding clinicians and researchers who are driving meaningful cancer research across regional New South Wales. The Regional Research Fellowship scheme is designed to strengthen research capability across the Central Coast, Hunter New England, Mid-North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts, enabling researchers to deliver high-impact, translational cancer research within their own institutions. In 2025, two exceptional projects were awarded fellowships—each addressing a critical gap in cancer care and aiming ...
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Associate Professor Jennifer Schneider is adapting therapeutic drug monitoring for regional and remote cancer care

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 15-05-2025
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For patients undergoing cancer treatment, getting the right dose of chemotherapy is critical and can mean the difference between effective treatment, manageable side effects, and overall quality of life. This is where therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) plays a vital role. By measuring drug concentrations in the bloodstream, TDM helps tailor treatment to individuals, ensuring the safest and most effective outcomes. However, for patients in regional, rural, and remote areas accessing standard TDM methods isn’t always easy. Traditional approaches rely on venous blood draws and specialist lab facilities, resources that aren’t always close to home. These barriers can ...
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Supporting a good life until the end: How Fern Beschi is improving medication safety in community-based palliative care

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 15-05-2025
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F or Fern Beschi, becoming a Palliative Care Pharmacist was the natural intersection of her lifelong passion for science and deep desire to help others. From early experiences in aged care as a teenager to her current role at Calvary Mater Newcastle, Fern’s career has been shaped by a profound respect for compassionate, patient-centred care at the end of life. “Working in palliative care has taught me that making the best of the time we have looks different for everyone,” she says. “The role of medicines is not just to manage symptoms, but to help people feel well enough to live their lives, on their terms.” In palliative care, standard methods ...
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Celebrating Dr Jennifer Mackney's Achievement in Advancing Cancer Care in Regional and Rural NSW

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 24-03-2025
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The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) is thrilled to announce that Dr Jennifer Mackney, a recipient of the NSWRCRN Shovel Ready Translational Research Grant, has been awarded $800,000 through the Cancer Institute NSW’s Accelerated Research Implementation Grant . This funding will support the scaling-up of her prehabilitation model across community settings. Dr Mackney’s expanded program, known as C-SPRITES (Supported Prehabilitation – Improving Fitness, Ensuring Well-Being Before Surgery in People Living with Cancer), builds upon the success of her pilot project , which was funded by the Network. This pilot work helped to further develop ...
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ABSTRACTS OPEN | NSW Cancer Summit 2025 | 13 - 14 August, 2025

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 04-03-2025
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The Cancer Institute NSW have announce that abstract submissions for the NSW Cancer Summit 2025 have been extended to Monday, 28 April 2025. Abstract Submissions Now Open. The Cancer Institute NSW has called for Abstracts for this year's inaugural NSW Cancer Summit, to be held on 13 - 14 August 2025 at the ICC Sydney. Multiple abstract topics are open across two presentation types. Delegates are welcome to submit multiple abstracts, however each abstract must be submitted separately. For further information visit the NSW Cancer Summit webpage . We encourage NSW Regional Cancer Research Network members to consider submitting an abstract for ...
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PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Combined Exercise and Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Survivors

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 12-02-2025
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Adult cancer survivors often experience psychological and physical challenges such as anxiety, depression, fatigue and pain. These factors can negatively impact their quality of life, highlighting the need for holistic care to improve mental and physical health. Exercise and mindfulness-based interventions, when implemented independently, are proven to improve many of the challenges cancer survivors face. However, research on their combined effects on cancer survivors remains limited despite promising evidence suggesting they may work synergistically to improve outcomes. Study Objectives The successful applicant will design and conduct a pilot study ...
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Save the Date | NSW Cancer Summit 2025 | 13 - 14 August, 2025

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 18-09-2024
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The Cancer Institute NSW is thrilled to announce the inaugural Summit, which will be taking place over two days in 2025. When : Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 August, 2025 Where : ICC Sydney Further details to come. For early access to sponsorship packages please contact us via cinsw-events@health.nsw.gov.au For further information as it becomes available visit the NSW Cancer Summit webpage .
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Announcing our successful 2024 Research Starter Grants

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 27-06-2024
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The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network is pleased to announce the successful recipients of the 2024 Research Starter Grants. These grants are designed to grow research capacity and capabilities within the Network’s footprint by supporting new and emerging researchers, including medical and health professionals, to undertake translational cancer research projects. The Research Starter Grants scheme, funded through a Translational Cancer Research Capacity Building Grant from the Cancer Institute NSW, seeks to support building new research capacity and growing research experience across northern NSW – in the areas included in the Central Coast, Hunter New England, ...
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Announcing our successful 2024 Clinician Research Fellowships

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 27-06-2024
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The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network is pleased to announce the successful recipients of the 2024 Clinician Research Fellowships. These fellowships aim to build translational cancer research capacity and capability and will support clinical staff located at regional sites to undertake impactful research within their health services. The Clinician Research Fellowship scheme, funded through a Translational Cancer Research Capacity Building Grant from the Cancer Institute NSW, seeks to increase research capacity and capability across northern NSW – in the areas included in the Central Coast, Hunter New England, Mid-North Coast, and Northern NSW Local Health ...
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Dr Alex Flynn leads research to improve chemotherapy dosing

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 30-05-2024
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Dr Alex Flynn, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Trials Fellow at the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) is leading research aimed at developing chemotherapy dosing methods. Her project entitled "Validation and feasibility of dry-blood spot testing for infusional 5-fluorouracil dosing," seeks to improve the efficacy of treatment while minimising toxicity for patients. Traditionally, chemotherapy dosing for 5-fluorouracil (5FU) has been calculated based on a patient's height and weight. However, emerging evidence suggests this may not be the best method to calculate treatment doses, as individuals can respond very differently to this treatment based on ...
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NSW Cancer Research Education State-wide Seminar Series | Early-onset bowel cancer – detection & treatment gains amid the biggest cancer killer in the under-50s Tuesday 18 June, 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Online Webinar

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 28-05-2024
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NSW Cancer Research Education State-wide Seminar Series | Early-onset bowel cancer – detection & treatment gains amid the biggest cancer killer in the under-50s Tuesday 18 June, 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Online Webinar The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network, in collaboration with the Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE) Cancer CAG and Sydney Cancer Partners host the 2024 NSW Cancer Research Education State-wide Seminar Series. These online seminars are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Session Information A diagnosis of colorectal cancer is always life-changing but it is particularly devastating in the under-50s. This seminar ...
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Dr. Sunil Rai's research to improve breast cancer care in rural NSW

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 22-03-2024
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Dr Sunil Rai is a Medical Oncologist based at North West Cancer Centre in Tamworth Hospital. With a passion for enhancing the wellbeing and experience of his patients, Dr Rai's research and involvement in clinical trials are gaining recognition. Recently awarded a Clinician Research Fellowship from the NSW Regional Cancer Research Network, Dr Rai is spearheading a project entitled, “Assessing the feasibility and clinical and patient-reported impacts of the use of ctDNA testing in adjuvant breast cancer: A rural pilot study.” The project's primary objective is to evaluate the practicality, cost-effectiveness and patient experiences associated with Circulating ...
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NSW Cancer Research Education Statewide Seminar Series | Liquid Biopsy in Cancer | 16 April

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 21-03-2024
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Liquid Biopsy in Cancer Tuesday 1 6 April , 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Online Webinar The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network , in collaboration with the Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE) Cancer CAG and Sydney Cancer Partners host the 2024 NSW Cancer Research Education State-wide Seminar Series. These online seminars are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Session Information Liquid biopsies of blood, urine, or other body fluid such as ascites are gaining interest in cancer diagnostics and treatment. Liquid biopsies are used to identify ...
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NSW Cancer Research Symposium on Data Linkage - Register your Interest

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 13-03-2024
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NSW Cancer Research Symposium on Data Linkage 8.30am - 5.30pm | Thursday 4 July | Central Coast Clinical School & Research Institute| Level 10/77a Holden St, Gosford T he 'NSW Cancer Research Symposium on Data Linkage’ will explore health and population data linkage in cancer research and help NSW cancer researchers and health professionals increase their knowledge in the health record linkage process. The program is designed to assist researchers to gain a better understanding of the data sources available for cancer research, how to access this data, and ways to integrate it into their work. The Symposium will include project presentations ...
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Dr Christine O’Neill: Empowering thyroid cancer patients

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 08-02-2024
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Dr Christine O'Neill, head of general surgery at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital and VMO General and Endocrine Surgeon specialising in treating thyroid cancer, is committed to enhancing patient autonomy and optimising psychosocial care outcomes for thyroid cancer patients. In Australia, thyroid cancer ranks as the ninth most common cancer, with approximately 4000 new diagnoses every year. The issue of 'overdiagnosis’ – where the cancer found would be unlikely to have produced symptoms or led to serious outcomes if undiscovered - is also significant. Frequently, thyroid cancer is detected incidentally in patients who are having scans for unrelated reasons, ...
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NOW OPEN: Clinician Research Fellowship Scheme (Round 2)

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 01-02-2024
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The purpose of the NSW Regional Cancer Research Network's Clinician Research Fellowship scheme is to build translational cancer research by increasing research capacity and capability across the geographical area covered by the Central Coast , Hunter New England , Mid-North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health District boundaries. This scheme is aimed at supporting regional clinical staff to undertake translational cancer research within their own institution and to contribute to the wider goals of the Network. Funding Support Available The Clinician Research Fellowship award is a maximum of $100,000 ...
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NOW OPEN: 'Research Starter Grants' scheme

By NSW Regional Cancer Research Network (NSWRCRN) posted 01-02-2024
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The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network’s Research Starter Grants are designed to grow research capacity and capabilities within the Network’s footprint by supporting new and emerging researchers , including medical and health professionals, to undertake translational cancer research projects. Is this scheme for you? 'Emerging researchers' (including health and medical professionals who have recently commenced their research careers) who are working in the geographical area covered by the Central Coast , Hunter New England , Mid-North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts are ...
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