Engagement

Our EDI commitment

We work towards creating more equitable research for people with GI cancer.

Since launching our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement in November 2023, we have made significant progress towards our goals, with the principle of ‘demonstrated action and continual improvement’ guiding the way.

Many of our efforts have focused on the teletrial model to enable greater access to trials for people in regional, rural and remote (RRR) areas. Also known as decentralised trials, teletrials represent a future where patients and their experiences are at the centre of oncology research and development. Instead of having patients jump through hoops to access trials of novel treatments at a major cancer centre, we need to bring the trial to the patient in their local communities or even in their homes.

Over the next five years, there will likely be a greater adoption of remote monitoring technologies and collaboration with local networks, pathology and imaging facilities to expand access to trials, and by leveraging these changes, we may accelerate the clinical development of trials thereby faster translation of results into practice.

Membership

Growth in membership in less represented specialties including nuclear medicine, gastroenterology and pathology
Radiologists acknowledged as a separate discipline, created a joint ASM Sub-committee with Radiation Oncologists
Proactive effort to grow our network of Indigenous health experts including collaboration with Prof Gail Garvey for the 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting
Worked with GICaNN to grow nurse representation with three nurses now actively involved on ASM Sub-Committees

Research

Introduced teletrial ambassadors to the Working Parties
Redesigned concept development process to include tele-trial clusters and built strong relationship with Australian Teletrial Program
Redesigned trial budgets to provide travel support and additional support for regional, rural and remote patients to ease the financial burden of participating in trials
Patient Informed Consent forms have been updated to reflect gender diversity
Introduced e-consent for trial participants to access the trial consent information online, allowing time to absorb the information at home and discuss with loved ones
Introduced standardised approach to collecting ANZ-specific ethnicity categories for all new trials

Education

First Nations-led video series, directed by Madison Shakespeare, Gadigal Traditional Custodian and former AGITG Community Advisory Panel Member, was produced during 2024 and will be launched in 2025
SBS Inclusion Training adopted for staff to further embrace diversity and promote a safe and inclusive workplace
Improved storytelling consent process for people with lived experience of GI cancer

Staff

Revised Work from Home policy with improved opportunities for employees to work flexibly
Introduced paid parental leave policy to support our staff through one of life’s biggest transitions

View the full update on our EDI progress

Idea Generation Workshops: Fostering collaboration for vital new research

Launched in 2019, our annual Idea Generation Workshop enables us to deliver on our strategic goals to accelerate the pace of discovery and foster collaboration between researchers.

These workshops help drive our research pipeline and provide a valuable platform for members to connect and develop new ideas using a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach.

In May 2024, we workshopped nine new ideas for anal cancer. Ideas that progress past the Workshop are then developed further in the concept development groups, before being presented to the Lower GI Working Party.

Thank you to our Co-Convenors Associate Professor Puma Sundaresan and Dr Michelle Thomas for helping to host another successful workshop.

Thank you to this year’s presenters:

Associate Professor Nick Clemons
Dr Rachael Dodd
Dr Shane Fitzgerald
Dr Glen Guerra
Dr Lucienne Heath
Professor Richard Hillman
Associate Professor Arend Merrie
Dr Dmitrii Shek
Dr Reshi Suthakaran

Learn more about the 2024 Workshop

GI Cancer Institute and AGITG
@GICancer

Image of LinkedIn post from the Idea Generation Workshop

AGITG Preceptorship: Encouraging the next generation of research leaders

The AGITG Preceptorship is a premiere educational event for senior trainees and junior faculty, which explores historical, current, and emerging treatments for the management of GI cancer.

Since the first Preceptorship in 2013, this event has evolved to become a pivotal way to deliver on our strategic objective to encourage and support emerging research leaders.

The 2024 Preceptorship explored the current management of oesophago-gastric carcinoma. Expert preceptors representing the disciplines of surgery, gastroenterology, radiation oncology and medical oncology were in attendance, offering invaluable discussions, insights, and mentorship. The background of the preceptees was just as diverse, with colleagues from Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK in attendance, as well as attendees from all over Australia.

Thank you to Co-Convenors Associate Professor Amitesh Roy and Associate Professor Fiona Day, our Preceptors and Assistant Convenors, and all the Preceptees for another successful Preceptorship.

Thank you to AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and MSD for your sponsorship of this wonderful event.

Learn more about the 2024 Preceptorship

26th Annual Scientific Meeting: A celebration of members and research

The 26th AGITG Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was held in Meeanjin Brisbane and was attended by over 430 delegates from all oncology-focused disciplines, as well as community and industry.

The 2024 ASM theme ‘Thinking Outside the Box, encouraged delegates to think beyond traditional trial approaches and challenge the norm. As a follow-on from our 2023 Meeting in Christchurch Aotearoa New Zealand, this theme highlighted the significance of equitable and diverse trials, encouraged contributors and delegates to explore innovative trial designs, and aimed to expand collaborations across diverse regions for greater global impact.

The Meeting’s Opening Plenary featured an exploration of the evolving management landscape of lower GI cancers. Professor Deborah Schrag delivered a keynote on contemporary rectal cancer management, challenging conventional approaches by demonstrating that sometimes less is more. Professor Tim Price, past Chair of the AGITG, followed with insights into AGITG's journey, highlighting key innovations and collaborative opportunities shaping the future of GI cancer research.

For our Closing Plenary, we began with a celebration of groundbreaking research, followed by an overview of the international trial landscape, emphasising key gaps and opportunities for development.

A multidisciplinary panel then explored the future of AGITG's global collaborations, before concluding with reflections from the AGITG Chair, Professor Lorraine Chantrill.

The range of research showcased at the Meeting came through in the record number of Best of Posters presentations, and especially in the popular New Concepts Symposium – where members presented concepts at an early stage of development and received feedback from the delegates and invited international faculty.

Thank you to the Meeting Organising Committees, sponsors, chairs, presenters, and delegates for being a part of another fantastic AGITG Meeting.

Watch expert Associate Professor Adnan Nagrial (Ramsay Health Care, University of Sydney MBBS FRACP PhD) present highlights from the 26th ASM below.

Video of Associate Professor Adnan Nagrial (Ramsay Health Care, University of Sydney MBBS FRACP PhD) present highlights from the 26th ASM

Our annual awards

AGITG offers many annual awards to recognise the outstanding efforts of members, and to award research concepts that have the potential for positive impact across GI cancer research.

John Zalcberg AO Award

For Excellence in AGITG Research
Jan Mumford

Our flagship award was presented to Jan Mumford in recognition of her significant and outstanding leadership contribution to AGITG research over a sustained period.

Jan joined the Community Advisory Panel in 2009 and was actively engaged initially as a committee member, then Deputy Chair and progressed to the position of Chair in 2017, retiring in 2023.

Her diligent work on the Community Advisory Panel was instrumental in providing a voice for survivors, patients, carers, and families impacted by gastrointestinal cancer.

Jan was integral in developing the AGITG ENGAGE Program which bought together medical professionals and community in a unique way to bring awareness of AGITG and clinical trials to the wider community, which in turn translated to significant improvements in treatment for people with GI cancer.