Utilising population-level linked data to improve (genomics enabled) cancer outcomes in Victoria

PROFESSOR MAARTEN IJZERMAN
Head of Cancer Health Services Research
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research

Data-driven research can improve cancer outcomes by analysing variation in care or by comparing real-world outcomes across a range of patient-related factors or characteristics of the health system. For instance, data-driven studies have shown relations between hospital case-mix volume and treatment outcomes for (rare) cancers. However, these datasets also allow the analysis of cancer delivery across episodes of care which allows a detailed analysis of the use of complex genomic sequencing and targeted treatments. Rather than just visualising and analysing the data, more advanced modelling methods are now employed to develop prediction models using Artificial Intelligence or to develop micro-simulation models to optimising treatment pathways.

A critical component for improving cancer outcomes is the access to linked data, such as developed in the MRFF funded PRIMCAT project. The data, which will also leverage the Value-Based Healthcare program of the VCCC alliance is a data set of nearly 200,000 Victorian patients with one of 6 tumor streams. The data covers a 10-year period and is linked to MBS and PBS service items to investigate the availability and uptake of genomics-enabled cancer treatments in metropolitan and regional areas. In this seminar, I will present progress in the development of an enduring linked dataset and examples of utilising this data for improving genomics-enabled precision oncology.

Maarten J. IJzerman is Professor and Head of Cancer Health Services Research in the University of Melbourne and a professorial fellow in the Sir Peter MacCallum department of Medical Oncology in Melbourne. He also maintained a fractional position as a professor of Health Technology and Services Research in the Netherlands where he has held senior leadership roles as dean and scientific director of the Biomedical Technological Institute. 

Professor IJzerman has published >250 papers covering diagnostics and medical technology, implementation and health outcomes research and is listed in the top 2% of most cited researchers globally (2019 and 2020). He leads several research programs in Canada, Europe and Australia focussing on implementation of genomics enabled precision medicine, including (simulation) models using real-world data, clinical decision support and patient preferences. In particular, he leads the health economics platform in the Illumina-University of Melbourne partnership, The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC).

Professor IJzerman has several international advisory and board memberships. He is an ESC member for the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), Chair-elect of the Health Sciences Policy Council at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (USA) and Chair of the study section HTA at the Netherlands Healthcare Research organisation.