The Research Management Unit is responsible for the management of the research policies and processes for the Cancer Council Victoria. In 2006 the Council spent $19.8 million on cancer research. This research includes clinical and biomedical investigations conducted externally in Victorian Hospitals, Universities and Medical Research Institutes as well as behavioural, epidemiological and clinical research programs conducted at our Cancer Control Research Institute (100 Drummond Street). The Cancer Council Victoria also manages Research Consortia and Grants Processes on behalf of the State and Federal Governments and the Australian Cancer Society. Management fees are charged for these services.
The Research Management Unit has four key research management roles:
Management of approximately $5 million per annum of externally funded biomedical research. This involves making sure the donor dollar is allocated wisely and efficiently and that research progress is monitored and is satisfactory. Our Medical and Scientific Committee, sub-committees and assessor panels assist us greatly with this role by providing their expert advice. Includes overall policy development and implementation, administration of all Fellowships, Grants, Post-Doctoral Fellowships, Scholarships and Studentships.
Our new venture grants scheme aims to encourage advances in cancer knowledge by seeking research proposals that could revolutionise cancer research and treatment. The Venture Grants Committee conducts the peer review and selection process, providing mentors to assist short-listed applicants with their final application. Funding for successful applications is contingent on the availability of funds yet to be raised by The Cancer Council Victoria.
Internal research risk management via the internal research quality assurance and human research ethics committee processes and the research code of practice. Also includes the administration of NHMRC policies and incoming grants for the internal research units of the Cancer Council.
This committee provides a mechanism for reviewing research proposals prepared and funded within the Cancer Council to ensure their scientific quality. The committee receives proposals submitted to it in standard format and sends the proposals to independent assessors for review and scoring. A scoring standard, based on descriptors adapted from the NHMRC, is applied to ensure that only projects reaching an acceptable score will be approved.
In Australia, any individual or organisation conducting research involving humans is required to consider the ethical aspects of their research.
The Cancer Council Victoria conducts research into many aspects of cancer and has a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), which oversees the ethical aspects of this research. Research projects are reviewed in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The Committee’s brief is to ensure that the participants will not be harmed in any way—physically, psychologically, spiritually or emotionally. Participants’ privacy and the confidentiality of information gathered are also key issues considered by the committee.
Management of the Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium Inc (VBCRC). $3 million per annum from the Victorian Government. The Consortium conducts fundamental research into the causes and biology of breast cancer through its own research groups, located in appropriate medical research institutes in Melbourne. The Research Management Unit provides central administration and management functions including the governance of this incorporated association (Annual General Meeting of Members, Board and Scientific Committee meetings plus a Scientific Conference every two years), financial and other services, monitoring research output of the five research groups and reporting progress to Government.
Managing the National Grants/NHMRC liaison office on behalf of The Cancer Council Australia. Commencing in 2005, the NHMRC is conducting the assessment and ranking of all the grants received by the state cancer councils and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. We are the primary contact and liaison point between NHMRC and the cancer councils. The NHMRC information, rankings and reports are provided to the respective funding bodies who make the final decisions on which grants receive funding.
We also ensure the ‘promotion’ of The Cancer Council Victoria’s research programs via the Annual Review and other avenues.
