Director, Department of Medical Oncology, RBWH

Qualifications: MBBS (Hons), University of Qld, 1987; RACP Advanced Training in Medical Oncology, 1996; Fellowship of Royal Australian College of Physicians (FRACP), 1996.

Current Appointments:

• Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Queensland (UQ)
• Adjunct Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
• Affiliate, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

A/Prof Wyld is a Medical Oncologist who has practiced as a staff specialist (currently Eminent status) at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) for over 20 years, after having undertaken an ICRF Cancer Research Fellowship in Leeds, UK, in 1996-97. He has been the Director of Medical Oncology at RBWH for 20 years, during which time he has overseen the development of the large, highly regarded Medical Oncology clinical trials unit at RBWH, and has managed the unit continuously for almost 20 years. Over the last 20 years as a full-time practicing cancer clinician at RBWH, A/Prof Wyld has maintained an active research focus, predominantly in the area of clinical research, including a major focus on clinical trials (see below). A/Prof Wyld’s research involvement over 20 years has been broad, but with a particular focus on gastrointestinal cancers, gynaecologic malignancies and qualitative patient-focused research. His current major research interests are in the area of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and the area of supportive care, survivorship and qualitative patient focused research. He also has a long history of mentoring staff in clinical research and a proven track record of research collaboration.

Doctor of Philosophy (Queensland University of Technology), Master of Applied Science (Research) (Queensland University of Technology), Bachelor of Nursing (Queensland University of Technology)

Dr Raymond Chan is Professor of Cancer Nursing, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queensland University of Technology. To date, he has attracted over 21 million (AUD) of research project grants as a chief investigator (> $7 Million as CIA) to undertake research in supportive cancer care. Dr Chan is a chief investigator for 4 current/past NHMRC project grants and 2 NHMRC Fellowships, and has published 115 peer-reviewed articles. Ray is currently the Chair for the Survivorship Group, Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), and the Board Director (Knowledge Development and Dissemination) for the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC). He is a past President for the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA), the peak professional body representing cancer nurses across Australia.

Recent funded project highlights include:

• (2019-2020): ImplEMenting a nurse-coordinated, INtegrated, shared-care model involving specialists and general practitioners in breast cancer post-treatmENT follow-up: a Phase II randomised controlled trial (The EMINENT Trial). Metro South Health (CIA)
• (2017-2020): A sequential multiple assignment randomised trial (SMART) of nursing interventions to reduce pain associated with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. NHMRC (CID)
• (2016-2019): Peripherally InSerted Central catheter Securement: the PISCES Trial. NHMRC (CIC)
• (2014-2017): Development and evaluation of a nurse-led, tailored self-management behavioural intervention for managing distressing symptoms in patients with advanced cancer (The SM² Study). RBWH Foundation and NHMRC (CIA)
• (2014-2015): Younger women’s wellness after cancer program.  RBWH Foundation (CID)
• (2014): Central venous Access device SeCurement And Dressing Effectiveness in Cancer Care: The CASCADE Trial.  RBWH Foundation (CIA)
• (2013-2016): Improving quality of life in high-risk cancer populations: a randomised trial of a structured intervention for head and neck cancer survivors. NHMRC (CIJ)
• (2012-2013): A double-blind randomised controlled trial of Moogoo Udder Cream® versus aqueous cream for managing radiation-induced skin reactions in patients with cancer.  RBWH Foundation; Office of Health and Medical Research; Cancer Nurses Society of Australia; Moogoo Skincare
• (2011-2014): The RSVP Trial:  Replacement of Intravascular device administration sets after Standard Versus Prolonged use. NHMRC and RBWH Foundation (CIG)
• (2010): Self-management associated with fatigue in patients with advanced cancer. RBWH Foundation, Queensland Nursing Council, Royal College of Nursing Australia (CIA)

Recent QCCS Project

• The effects of bundled interventions on clinical practice for fertility preservation amongst young cancer patients

Research Keywords 

Ray Chan’s publications are available on:

Principal Allied Health Research Fellow in the Division of Cancer Services and an Advanced Speech Pathologist (Cancer Care) at the PA Hospital

Dr Bena Brown is a clinician-researcher with a passion for caring for people with cancer and their families. Her research interests are focussed on optimising health services and systems, person-centred care, telepractice, and survivorship. Bena has lead the design, testing and implementation of ScreenIT – an electronic patient reported outcome platforms which connects patients with cancer, and their families, to their health care team.  Since the awarding of her PhD, Bena has worked part-time (2.5 years full time equivalent since 2012) sharing motherhood with her research and clinical career. She has 45 peer-reviewed publications, has presented at multiple national and international conferences, and has been awarded over $1.5 million in research grants.

Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, RBWH Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Haematology, RBWH

A/Prof Glen Kennedy is a Haematologist who specialises in the treatment of malignant haematological disorders including bone marrow / stem cell transplantation.

A/Prof Kennedy began his specialty training in combined clinical haematology and haematology pathology in 1999, and was admitted to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in late 2002 and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in early 2003.

In 2003 A/Prof Kennedy undertook a Clinical Fellowship at the Peter McCallum Cancer Institute in Melbourne, Victoria, in areas of malignant and transplant haematology. To date, A/Prof Kennedy has authored or co-authored over 60 peer reviewed publications, over 100 abstracts at national and international meetings, and developed and managed several local investigator initiated studies in haematology and bone marrow transplantation.

In late 2003 A/Prof Kennedy returned to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and was appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Haematology in 2007. Since 2004 he has conducted regional services in haematology at the Rockhampton Hospital and gained his academic title via the University of Queensland School of Medicine in 2010.

Senior Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

The consequences of cancer and treatment on fertility can be a continuing source of distress for adolescent and young adults. Oncofertility is a developing specialty that focuses on  the reproductive future for cancer survivors as well as interventions to manage the psychosocial aspects of loss of reproductive function. This project aimed to identify the clinical practice of fertility preservation for young people aged 15-24 years across five tertiary cancer centres in Queensland. Data were examined over a five year period (2012-2016) regarding documented risk of infertility discussions, referral to fertility specialists and fertility preservation. Analysis identify variation in clinical practice associated with age, gender and disease type. While targeted interventions in 2015 were effective in reducing variations across some domains, the lack of uniform guidelines, clear referral pathways and limited consensus on the best way to deliver and provide services continue as barriers to equitable  fertility preservation. We aim to develop further interventions to address these issues.

Projects

• The effects of bundled interventions on clinical practice for fertility preservation amongst young cancer patients

Senior Medical Oncologist, Mater Misericordiae Ltd

A/Prof, School of Clinical Medicine, Mater Clinical Unit, University of Queensland

A/Prof Woodward is a senior medical oncologist at Mater Misericordiae Ltd and an Associate Professor, School of Clinical Medicine, Mater Clinical Unit, University of Queensland. A/Prof Woodward completed medical training in 1993, graduating with first class honours and a University Medal, and obtained her FRACP (Medical Oncology subspeciality) in 2002. A/Prof Woodward commenced employment as a Medical Oncologist at Princess Alexandra Hospital in 2003, and was recruited to Mater Misericordiae Ltd in 2010 as a Senior Medical Oncologist. A/Prof Woodward is an invited member of the MOGA Breast Cancer Expert Advisory Panel, and a principal investigator for Breast Cancer Trials. A/Prof Woodward is Principal Investigator for 18 clinical trials at the Mater, and co-investigator on many more.

A/Prof Woodward has published 17 journal articles (first author of 2 of these journal articles and last author of 3); and 18 abstracts. A/Prof Woodward’s works have been cited more than 250 times. A/Prof Woodward is involved as a co-investigator or chief investigator on approx $1.25million in grants for research.

A/Prof Woodward has a long history of being involved in practice- changing clinical trial research in breast cancer patients and is passionate about research to improve symptom management and survivorship in breast cancer. Some of her current research interests are Cochrane reviews related to AI arthralgia, and taxane related peripheral neuropathy. A/Prof Woodward is also involved in multi-disciplinary collaborative breast cancer research projects, and is on the steering committee for a recently established breast cancer biobank.

Gynecological Cancers Group Leader, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Prof Penelope Webb‘s research interests cover all aspects of the epidemiology of ovarian and endometrial cancer from aetiology and prevention, to diagnosis, patterns of care, quality of life and survival. A particular focus is on the role of environmental (non-genetic) factors in the causation of cancer and also the development of sequelae and survival after a diagnosis of cancer.

Much of this work is conducted within two national population-based studies, the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS, 2002-6) and Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study (ANECS, 2007-9), and within two international consortia, the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC) and Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2). A 24-month follow-up for the Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle (OPAL) Study was recently completed in which we are investigating whether modifiable aspects of lifestyle are associated with outcomes following a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. As well as this, approval has been obtained for a new project using data-linkage to assess the relation between medication use and cancer risk and outcomes.

Behavioural Scientist, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

A/Prof Vanessa Beesley has dedicated over a decade to working in the specialised field of patient-reported outcomes in cancer research. A/Prof Beesley is passionate about person-centred care, based on these outcomes. A/Prof Beesley’s work spans across many tumour streams including patients and carers affected by ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic, colorectal cancer, neuroendocrine tumours and melanoma. A/Prof Beesley has been a chief investigator of nine patient-reported outcome studies funded through major national schemes or specialist agencies, published over 50 scientific articles, held multiple Cancer Australia contracts to provide recommendations to government. A/Prof Beesley has substantive expertise in analysis of patient-reported outcome data and have co-written a manual on this topic. A/Prof Beesley has personally led both observational studies and clinical trials to provide evidence about ways to improve the management and outcomes for people affected by cancer.