SCP’s Anniversary Forum was held on Wednesday 20 July and attracted 50 people to The University of Sydney, to reflect on achievements to date and opportunities to enhance translational cancer research.

The Forum guest speaker was recently appointed Chief Executive of Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien, who provided an overview of the NSW Cancer Plan for the next five years.

Sydney Cancer Partners Director, Professor Anna DeFazio outlined SCP’s achievements to date, and observed that there have been remarkable achievements in cancer research and improved cancer care over the last few decades.

“There is, however, there is a long way to go,” she said. “And Sydney Cancer Partners’ vision is to continue to work together to build translational research capacity and reduce the impact of cancer in NSW”

The Forum was opened and chaired by SCP Clinical and Strategic Partnership Lead, Clinical Professor Rosemary Balleine, who said Sydney Cancer Partners provided cancer researchers and clinicians with a rare opportunity to “spark off one another.”

A highlight of the event was a panel discussion on whether, when faced with limited resources and stockpiles of existing data, cancer researchers should continue to search for new breakthroughs, or find the answers by understanding and translating existing information.

The Forum concluded with the announcement of the 2022 SCP PhD Scholarship recipients who were presented with certificates by Professor O’Brien.

Scholarship winners: