In the Children’s Cancer Centre, clinical trials are embedded in our approach to treating children’s cancer.
Clinical trials are used to determine the most effective and safest treatment for each disease. Each clinical trial is aimed at improving survival rates or reducing side effects or late effects of cancer treatment.
Clinical trials are standard practice in the treatment of children’s cancer across Australia and internationally. In fact, a higher percentage of newly diagnosed children with cancer and their families participate in clinical trials perhaps than any other field of medicine.
By embedding clinical trials into the standard care pathway, we ensure that all patients have access to cutting-edge treatments, medications and innovations in cancer treatment.
The Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) is a proud to partner with the following organisations to deliver cutting edge cancer treatments:
- The Children’s Oncology Group (COG)
- Australian and New Zealand Children's Haematology/ Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)
- International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP)
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital
- CONNECT Consortium
Clinical trials unit
In the CCC, the clinical trials unit (CTU) is a group of clinical trial coordinators and research nurses who are dedicated to ensuring the safe and efficient running of over 90 clinical trials, across all types of children's cancer.
Clinical trials manager: The manager oversees the entire CTU, managing staff and coordinating the clinical trial lifecycle, including budgeting, reporting, and contracts. This role acts as the primary liaison between the CTU and other hospital departments.
Deputy clinical trials manager: The deputy manager provides direct line management for CTU members, including work allocation, staff supervision, and professional development. They lead, motivate, and support team members, developing key relationships with internal and external stakeholders alongside the manager.
Research nurses: The team includes clinical nurse coordinators and research nurses dedicated to specific studies. The clinical nurse coordinators manage research patient care, acting as key liaisons for patients and families, and handle bookings and appointments. Research nurses dedicated to specific studies, such as the CLOCK study, administer the investigational medical product and educate other nursing staff.
Clinical trial coordinators: Coordinators handle patient management and data for specific trials. They serve as the primary contact for their allocated trials, covering six tumour streams: early phase, brains, solids, molecular, liquids and bone marrow transplant. Clinical trial coordinators are responsible for patient enrolment, scheduling, and follow-up, as well as ensuring compliance with study protocols and regulatory requirements.
By embedding clinical trials into the standard care pathway, the CTU ensures that CCC patients have access to cutting-edge treatments and innovations. The collaborative structure and dedicated personnel of the CTU support the efficient and effective delivery of clinical trials, providing crucial treatment options for children with cancer.
Participation in clinical trials
It is possible that your child may be able to be part of a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research investigations to test new treatments, new combinations of treatments, interventions or tests to prevent, detect or treat various types of diseases or medical conditions.
In the CCC we run clinical trials to test new ways to:
If participation in a clinical trial is offered to your child, taking part will be entirely your family’s decision.
It’s important to note that all treatments in clinical trials are strictly regulated and must be approved before they can be offered to patients. Your doctor and clinical trial coordinator will explain everything about the trial and give you detailed written information. If you do not wish for your child to take part in a clinical trial, it will not affect the treatment they receive.
Participation in a clinical trial may or may not directly benefit your child. But the results of clinical trials today help children with cancer in the future.
Useful resources