Professor Bruce Mann and Dr Belinda Yeo will step down as Breast Cancer Research and Education co-leads at the end of 2023, after almost five years at the helm.
Professor Mann and Dr Yeo were appointed in February 2019 to the jointly held positions, which facilitate integration and collaboration across disciplines to connect research, education and clinical care in breast cancer collaboration with research and clinical trials in the breast cancer field.
The pair led the highly successful Grand Rounds at a pivotal time, steering the educational series through the pandemic. The Grand Rounds provide an online meeting place where learners in breast cancer research, prevention, detection and treatment can take a collaborative approach to problem-solving. The program works closely with consumers to ensure that educational programming is relevant and impactful.
For Professor Mann and Dr Yeo, key achievements included:
Other highlights included three major all-day forums: the first on neoadjuvant therapy with Professor Eric Winer, second on breast cancer in young women with Professor Ann Partridge, and another on risk-adjusted screening with Professor Gareth Evans. “Our role in these initiatives has been to bring people together to stimulate thought and encourage collaborations,” he said.
Prof Mann said a significant amount of effort had been invested in the data linkage project – now called Data Connect – which is beginning to yield results.
“We have also advocated strongly for streamlined research governance for multi-site research,” he said.
Prof Mann and Dr Yeo will pass the baton to a new Research and Education Lead in the coming months.
"There is an enormous amount of talent and drive among breast cancer clinicians and researchers across the VCCC Alliance,” Dr Yeo added. “We wish the new lead all the best in continuing to develop links across the Alliance to realise the potential opportunities to create synergies and share knowledge to benefit the workforce and patients."
VCCC Alliance Executive Director Professor Grant McArthur thanked Prof Mann and Dr Yeo for their leadership.
“Bruce and Belinda brought strong leadership in both breast cancer surgery and oncology to this position. We are extremely grateful for their contributions across the Alliance, which have no doubt accelerated progress and benefited patient outcomes for those affected by breast cancer and built strong foundations for the next lead to build upon.”
Dr Yeo is a medical oncologist and clinician-scientist at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Austin Health. Professor Mann is a surgical oncologist; Director of Breast Cancer Services for Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Royal Women’s Hospital, and Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne.
Learn more about the Research and Education Leads at VCCC Alliance.
