The Challenge
Every day, more than 50 people in Australia are told they have blood cancer. Blood cancer remains a critical health issue, with traditional treatments like chemotherapy often leading to severe side effects and variable outcomes. There is a pressing need for more personalised and effective treatments that can improve patient survival rates and quality of life.
Project Overview
The Epworth Centre for Immunotherapies and Snowdome Laboratories (The Centre) supports various activities aimed at transforming blood cancer treatment, including:
- Conducting investigator-initiated research studies into all haematological malignancies, including genomic analysis to personalise treatment options for blood cancer patients.
- Providing blood cancer treatment options beyond chemotherapy by broadening the availability of cutting-edge immunotherapies, cellular therapy trials, and next-generation "bedside to bench" research.
- Supporting a state-of-the-art cryopreservation facility and staff to deliver autologous stem cell transplant services and introduce CAR T-cell therapy.
Project Outcomes
The Centre has four strategic aims and objectives:
- Innovative Cellular Therapies: Provide blood cancer patients with innovative cellular therapies through a stepwise approach, including a new cryopreservation facility, apheresis, and autologous stem cell transplant clinical services.
- Access to CAR T-cell Research: Facilitate access to CAR T-cell research, clinical trials, and future delivery of these novel treatments as standard care for blood cancer patients.
- Precision Medicine: Offer molecular oncology and cancer immunology treatments as a form of precision medicine for blood cancer patients, including genomic analysis, cutting-edge research, and new clinical trials.
- Education and Expertise: Support education and training for registrars and junior doctors to underpin haematology, research, and genomics services in connection with blood cancer.
Measuring Impact
Hearts and Minds measures its impact across six core categories as developed by the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes. Key highlights include:
Advancing Knowledge
- Collaborations: The Centre collaborates with universities, healthcare institutes, industry sponsors, and national clinical data registry sponsors. Notable collaborations include the MOCI Biobank study, which collects and stores de-identified patient samples for future research, and a partnership with the Turtle Laboratory at the University of Sydney for translational research in cellular therapies.
- Research Publications and Presentations: In 2023, The Centre achieved 21 citations in peer-reviewed publications, 7 poster presentations, 8 oral presentations, 6 webinars, and an editorial comment.
- Knowledge Sharing: Raising awareness through media, social media, and newsroom articles. The Centre also established a thriving Volunteer Observership Program for volunteers to learn about haematology clinical research.
Research Capacity Building
- Training Future Clinicians and Researchers: Supported two haematology registrar positions in 2023 and continued contributions to new investigator-initiated studies. The Gailey Lazarus-Snowdome Foundation Research Fellowship candidate was also supported to completion.
- Biobank and Clinical Data Registries: Over 500 patients have consented to the Biobank, with more than 10,000 biospecimens currently stored, representing over 20 types of blood cancers. The Centre contributes to national clinical data registries to monitor and improve patient care and outcomes.
Health Impacts
- Genomic Testing: In 2023, 139 genomic tests were performed, helping guide treatment decisions for blood cancer patients.
- Clinical Trials: Since 2017, 161 patients have received treatment through haematology clinical trials at Epworth. The first CAR T-cell clinical trial commenced in April 2024.
Social Impacts
- Improved Access to Services: In 2023, Epworth became the first private hospital in Victoria to deliver a NATA-accredited autologous stem cell transplant service, treating 25 patients to date.
The Epworth Centre for Immunotherapies and Snowdome Laboratories led by Professor Miles Prince, Dr Salvatore Fiorenza and A/Prof. Costas Yannakou at is at the forefront of transforming blood cancer treatment through innovative research, cutting-edge technologies, and collaborative efforts.
Funding support from Hearts and Minds Investments, as nominated by Core Fund Manager, Cooper Investors. This content was last updated in July 2024, for further information visit Epworth.
