Our diverse membership drive our research forward.

Our core value lies in our ability to bring together clinicians, researchers and members of the lived experience community to address unmet needs in GI cancer research.

In 2024, we welcomed 76 new members to a total of 1,874 members from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our members include medical specialists, scientists, nurses, allied health professionals and health community members.

We support our members with research and development opportunities, including:

  • quality educational and networking events
  • multiple research development pathways
  • access to expert development support for new trial concepts
  • funding opportunities
  • opportunities for recognition at our annual awards
  • study co-chair positions for early and mid-career researchers, and
  • regular committee turnover to provide opportunities to get involved.
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'Join the AGITG' video

Our 16 committees are comprised of 147 dedicated members.

Members actively contribute to the organisation, enabling us to conduct research that is infused with innovation, passion and goodwill. They also help us ensure that we have robust and transparent processes for research development and funding.

We embed lived experience through our Community Advisory Panel.

Since 2008, AGITG Community Advisory Panel (CAP) members have contributed to the design of all new clinical trials, and are represented on our research and trial management committees. CAP members are people who have lived experience of GI cancer. They volunteer their time to advise on our research, making it not only more robust but more relevant to people with GI cancer.

From our Community Advisory Panel Chair,
Jeff Cuff

The Community Advisory Panel (CAP) has experienced another productive year, offering advice to the AGITG on general research directions and priorities from a community perspective. As the organisation grew, our role within the group evolved accordingly, prompting us to refine and optimise our processes for greater efficiency and impact.

After four years on the CAP, including one year as Deputy Chair, we farewelled Milton Kirkwood in July 2024. On behalf of the AGITG, I would like to thank Milton for his immense contribution to the CAP. He brought great wisdom to the group and generously shared his insights into the needs of the patient, family and carers during their cancer journeys. Thank you, Milton.

With Milton’s retirement, we welcomed Jodie Collins as the new Deputy Chair. Jodie joined the CAP in 2023, combining her love for science with her desire to make a difference to people’s lives. Jodie, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in her mid-40s, wishes to see public screening for colorectal cancer implemented at the same scale and as early as what exists for breast cancer, so cases can be caught before reaching Stage 3as hers did.

In 2024, we also welcomed Brooklynn Dowling, John Paduano, Margaret Whitson and Stephen Deed to the CAP. Brooklynn’s dad, Jim, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2021 and sadly passed away in 2023. Brooklynn is determined to make a difference for others and help find answers and better treatments.

John has been supporting the AGITG for years, co-hosting an annual golf day fundraiser at Mollymook Golf Club, to raise funds in memory of his son Alex who sadly passed away from bowel cancer in 2018. John was introduced to AGITG’s work by medical oncologist and AGITG Chair, Professor Lorraine Chantrill, who treated Alex.

Margaret is an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer at the Calvery Mater Hospital in Newcastle and her role is to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients and their families through their cancer journey. She is a Kamilaroi woman who grew up in the Hunter Valley and is a strong advocate in the community to support early detection and prevention of cancer.

Stephen was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2015 and underwent an extensive surgery and treatment. Stephen is committed to making a difference and helping cancer survivors manage their lives post their treatment.

I would like to welcome our new members and thank all the CAP for dedicating their valuable time and expertise. Your work makes our research more robust, and more relevant and accessible to people with GI cancers.

I would also like to acknowledge the sad passing of former AGITG CEO, Russell Conley. Russell played a vital role in establishing the CAP and ensuring researchers valued the CAP's patient-centred approach. Russell dedicated his life to improving outcomes for people with GI cancer and he has left an indelible mark on this organisation and its mission. We will all miss him dearly.

The CAP plays an integral role in the process of reviewing new trial ideas and studies that will help improve patient outcomes.

In 2024, CAP members helped in the review process of many trials and concepts, including:

1. Trial results lay summaries:

  • GENESCREEN-5FU Trial Results Lay Summary
  • MONARCC Trial Results Lay Summary
  • MODULATE Trial Results Lay Summary
  • TOPGEAR Trial Results Lay Summary

2. Concepts:

  • Adjuvant IO (March UGIWP)
  • ATTMAN
  • ENRICH (September UGIWP)
  • LSTA (UGIWP)
  • MOSAIC (September LGIWP)
  • Neo-GOLSTA
  • OPTIC (March LGIWP)
  • PREDICT 5FU mCRC (March LGIWP)
  • REAL-CRC
  • RESECO (March LGIWP)
  • STOMA-PATH
  • TARget-NEN (March UGIWP)

3. Meetings held with investigators following concept review:

  • Neo-GOLSTA
  • STOMA-PATH

4. Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF) reviews:

  • BIL-PPP PICF
  • INTEGRATE IIb PICF
  • MR-STAR PICF
  • Neo-POLEM PICF
  • PemOla PICF

I would like to congratulate the CAP for their unwavering commitment to help advance new treatment options that will improve outcomes for people with GI cancer.

Image of Jeff Cuff, CAP Chair

Jeff Cuff

Community Advisory Panel Chair

We build steadfast partnerships with others who want to change outcomes for people with GI cancer.

As part of the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Alliance, we worked alongside #PurpleOurWorld, Pancare Foundation, PanKind, the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Jreissati Pancreatic Centre and Team Lopez Foundation for improved pancreatic cancer awareness and advocacy.

We continue to work closely with our friends at Gut Cancer Foundation New Zealand and would like to acknowledge them for funding access to AGITG trials across several sites in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Cancer Research Economics Support Team (CREST) and Cancer Quality of Life Expert Service Team (CQUEST), from the University of Technology Sydney, remain crucial partners as we increasingly implement value-adding quality of life and economic measures in our research.

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We make international connections in pursuit of better GI cancer treatments worldwide.

GI cancers are a global issue, necessitating a global approach to developing new, accessible and relevant treatments.

To amplify our research beyond Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, we continue to build collaborative relationships with international trials groups, like the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Cancer Trials Ireland, Frankfurter Institut für Klinische Krebsforschung, A.C Camargo Cancer Center, Cambridge Cancer Centre, University of Southampton, Clinical Research Malaysia, Taiwan Cooperative Oncology Group, National Cancer Centre Of Singapore (NCCS), and Tata Memorial Hospital.

AGITG was well represented at leading oncological conferences throughout the year, including ASCO GI, ASCO, ESMO and ESMO Asia. AGITG leaders met with industry colleagues and international trial groups to develop new collaborations and to strengthen existing partnerships.

Our global footprint continues to expand with 287 sites worldwide: 

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Middle East

2

USA

6

New Zealand

8

UK

9

Asia

33

Canada

40

Europe

69

Australia

120

*Numbers are collective numbers since 1991 and accurate as of 31 December 2024.

CommNETs collaboration in 2024

Formed in 2015, Commonwealth Neuroendocrine Tumour research collaborative (CommNETs) brings together researchers, clinicians and community members from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada under one umbrella to encourage the development of clinical trials in neuroendocrine cancers. We were thrilled to announce the opening of the first CommNETs clinical trial, STOPNET, in 2024.

Learn read more about STOPNET.

Video of A/Prof Matt Burge

We work with expert coordinating centres around the country to deliver our trials.

Our people make up a passionate team who are driven by our cause.

Board of Directors

Thank you to our Board Directors for their service in 2024.

Professor Lorraine Chantrill

Chair

Dr Anne O’Donnell

Deputy Chair

Professor Robert Ramsay

Company Secretary

Grant Mundell

Treasurer

Professor Stephen Ackland

Christine Bishop

Liz Thorp

Geoff Parnell

Dr Mark Lee

Associate Professor Manju Chandrasegaram

Ebony Gaylor

appointed January 2024

Professor Chris Karapetis

appointed June 2024

Professor Tim Price

retired January 2024

Professor Niall Tebbutt

retired May 2024

Our staff

In 2024, we welcomed nine new team members across fundraising, research and operations. Welcome to John, Bridget, Amy, Tiffany, Miriam, Breeda, Ingrid, Megan and Ali.

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Corporate support helps us unlock the answers to better treatments for the 37,780 Australians diagnosed with GI cancer each year.

We thank AstraZeneca for their support in 2024.

Silver sponsor

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