Dr Michelle Wilson
MBChB, MD, FRACP
Oncologist & Service Clinical Director for Cancer and Blood Research, Auckland Hospital, NZ
MBChB, MD, FRACP
Oncologist & Service Clinical Director for Cancer and Blood Research, Auckland Hospital, NZ
Michelle Wilson is the clinical director for Cancer and Blood Research and Staff Medical Oncologist at Auckland City Hospital. Her research focus is geared towards gynaecological cancers early phase translational research and meaningful clinical trial endpoints; in particular, their utility and evolution in an era of precision oncology practice. She was awarded an MD from the University of Auckland for her work on the challenges facing clinical trial design in oncology. She is chair of the ANZGOG Ovarian Tumour Working Group, an active member of ANZGOGs research advisory committee and co-leads the Aotearoa New Zealand Oncology Decentralised Clinical Trials (teletrials) steering committee. She is passionate about creating better access to trials independent of where you live and to help translate new treatments to better outcomes and patient experience.
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Decentralized Clinical Trials
Embedding clinical trials within our health system is a priority initiative to improve patient outcomes. International guidelines recommend clinical trial participation should be considered as part of standard management and can be the best treatment option for many cancer patients. Despite this, only a small minority of patients with cancer, ranging from 5% in the USA to 14% in the UK participate in clinical trials. In Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ), very few patients and whānau have access to clinical trials in oncology. However, we know the majority of New Zealanders want the chance to take part in a clinical trial.
Traditionally, clinical trials involve patients attending hospitals for face-to-face interactions with trial staff. Barriers to participation include the conceptual exclusion of whānau from trial processes, lack of available trial sites close to home, financial and time costs of participation, and additionally the inconvenience of travel to centres where trials are conducted. Decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) and teletrials both refer to a concept based on the core principle of improving access to clinical trials by taking the trial to the person and their whānau. The concept of DCTs has rapidly gained popularity internationally with its patient-centred approach. It aims to reduce whānau burden, increase enrolment and retention, and preserve quality of life, while also increasing the efficiency of trial logistics.
We will present an update on the rationale for decentralised trials in AoNZ, the steps taken to date to introduce this initiative and the key next steps to grow opportunities in this space.
Embedding clinical trials within our health system is a priority initiative to improve patient outcomes. International guidelines recommend clinical trial participation should be considered as part of standard management and can be the best treatment option for many cancer patients. Despite this, only a small minority of patients with cancer, ranging from 5% in the USA to 14% in the UK participate in clinical trials. In Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ), very few patients and whānau have access to clinical trials in oncology. However, we know the majority of New Zealanders want the chance to take part in a clinical trial.
Traditionally, clinical trials involve patients attending hospitals for face-to-face interactions with trial staff. Barriers to participation include the conceptual exclusion of whānau from trial processes, lack of available trial sites close to home, financial and time costs of participation, and additionally the inconvenience of travel to centres where trials are conducted. Decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) and teletrials both refer to a concept based on the core principle of improving access to clinical trials by taking the trial to the person and their whānau. The concept of DCTs has rapidly gained popularity internationally with its patient-centred approach. It aims to reduce whānau burden, increase enrolment and retention, and preserve quality of life, while also increasing the efficiency of trial logistics.
We will present an update on the rationale for decentralised trials in AoNZ, the steps taken to date to introduce this initiative and the key next steps to grow opportunities in this space.