The VCCC Alliance will be well represented among the speakers at the COSA Annual Scientific Meeting, next week.
The theme of the 2021 multidisciplinary meeting is Cancer care and research: Learning from the past and improving the future and the event has a focus on Immunotherapy, Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs).
Marie Malica, CEO of the Clinical Society of Australia (COSA), says organisers couldn’t let the opportunity pass to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic by taking a look at the key learnings, and the changes to patient outcomes and practice.
“Delegates will gain an understanding of the clinical and system implications particularly in relation to new and advanced cancer diagnoses, stakeholder perspectives on the impact of the pandemic on oncology services and what is known about vaccine response in cancer patients.
“We will also hear from a consumer on their experience of receiving treatment during the height of the 2020 lockdown in Melbourne.”
Professor Mei Krishnasamy, Research & Education Lead Cancer Nursing will be co-chairing a plenary on the use of big data “Real world data to improve care”. The session will bring together national leaders in the field of big data curation, application and innovation. It will explore the potential of big data to drive innovation in research, practice and value-based health care. Professor Maarten IJzerman, VCCC Alliance Health Services Lead will present a session on “Unlocking clinical and administrative data for improving cancer outcomes: best practices, missing links and solutions.
“We are thrilled to have so many high calibre presenters join us this year at COSA,” says Marie Malica. Professor Peter Doherty is giving the Presidential Lecture.
“It is also 10 years since approval of the first immunotherapy so this brings us to an exciting milestone where treatments are now available for so many cancers – not just melanoma, with more being researched. The program will feature presentations on mesothelioma and rare cancers.
“The COSA ASM is featuring sessions not just about immunotherapy treatments but other important peripheral issues such as, caregiving in the context of immunotherapy, survivorship and long term responders, identifying and managing immune related adverse events and developing a quality framework for the delivery of immunotherapy."
"During the Controversies in cancer session, delegates will hear from well-known Australian broadcaster and producer Andrew Denton," says Maria. In 2016, Andrew founded the health promotion charity Go Gentle Australia to argue for more compassionate end-of-life laws. He also produced the podcast series Better Off Dead that have been extensively referenced in parliaments around the country and have helped inform Australia’s voluntary assisted dying debate.
"We also expect an increase in international attendees. The silver lining in large online events is that anyone can attend – no travel requirements mean delegates can join from anywhere in the world. All delegates have access to presentations for 12 months post meeting and they can also access last years presentations on the platform as well," says Marie.
