NORTH STAR VNP’s first board meeting
Foundational steps for Australia’s premier cancer clinical trials centre
NORTH STAR VNP held its inaugural advisory board meeting with NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri, bringing together a diverse collection of members from business, health and the media to ensure the centre’s success. The clinical trials and research centre was launched in August following a $20 million donation from the late Kay Van Norton Poche and her husband Greg. It is set to dramatically increase access to the latest international cancer trials, improving patient outcomes and offering hope to families across the country. The centre is a partnership between the district and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC) in New York, and will be based across both Royal North Shore and North Shore Private hospitals. NORTH STAR medical director Professor Stephen Clarke said the advisory board will support the operation of the innovative centre, offering strategic advice and high-level guidance. “We are tremendously fortunate to have such an experienced and diverse collection of board members who will provide strong governance, while also sharing their business, health and communications expertise,” he said.
“It is this experience which will help ensure we’re able to support patients across Australia, both in metropolitan and regional areas, and significantly widen opportunities. “The centre is expected to become a national leader, attracting the brightest minds and driving innovation in the delivery of cancer care. “Early discussions have centred around the importance of meeting with regional and international partners, and the importance of the Single Digital Patient Record, data security and data sovereignty. “The advisory board discussed the strategic plans for the next 12 months through to the next decade.” Three initial clinical trials with MSKCC are set to commence within months to improve outcomes for people with head and neck cancers, breast cancers and upper gastric cancers. NORTH STAR is expected to increase survival rates for Australians living with cancer and accelerate the work already underway at NSLHD and other premier institutes. Australians can support the centre by donating to the NORTH Foundation at northfoundation.org.au/northstar
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 22| 15 NOVEMBER 2024
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