PRIMCAT: Predicting the population health economic impact of current and new cancer treatments

The University of Melbourne, together with international genomics company, Illumina, have welcomed the Victorian Government’s support to establish a $60 million world-leading genomics hub in Victoria.

Promising treatments must become available quickly, but not at the expense of safety. And people who benefit from them need access, says Professor Maarten IJzerman of the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research Cancer Health Services Research group, and University of Twente Techmed Center.

Metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is cancer that has spread outside of the prostate, and may continue to grow despite treatment.

A new model has conservatively estimated that a three-month delay in cancer diagnosis and treatment due to COVID-19 would result in 90 additional deaths and $12 million in additional healthcare costs in Australia over five years.

A Victorian and Tasmanian chapter of the Professional Society of Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) student network has been launched, fostering the development of future leaders in health economic and outcomes research.

In the two years since its establishment, Professor Maarten IJzerman's Cancer Health Services Research group has developed strong programs in data-driven research, cancer registries, precision oncology and clinical trials.

Some countries are reporting a 40 per cent decline in cancer cases at the peak of the pandemic indicating people may be presenting later with symptoms or not attending for cancer screening; people need to see their GP early as possible so hospitals can prioritise capacity to see patients with life-threatening or potentially curative disease.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research have identified evidence gaps and a lack of consistency in approaches adopted by health economic evaluations of metastatic colorectal cancer treatments.

Traditional clinical trials have been vital for improving cancer treatments for the last 70 years, but new data-driven approaches can enhance treatment for individuals and better allocate healthcare resources for everyone.

Precision medicine is taking us from a one-size-fits-all approach to using patient-specific information—including genomics, clinical and administrative data—to guide healthcare decisions tailored to a specific patient. It is driving improved outcomes through access to more effective treatments earlier, therefore reducing economic and health service burdens.

Effective cancer services and treatments increasingly depend on high-quality data insights. Professor Maarten IJzerman addresses the challenges at a joint VCCC-MSPGH seminar.

Following an extensive international search, health services and technology expert, Professor Maarten J. IJzerman (pictured) has been appointed Chair of Cancer Health Services Research. This prestigious position has been established by the University of Melbourne and Western Health, as part of their contribution to the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) Leaders in Cancer Strategy.

While Australia has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, the major political parties are failing to address the long term sustainability of our healthcare.

Whole-genome sequencing is changing the cancer treatment landscape, but we have to understand its use in the real-world to support a more sustainable, affordable health system.