Melanoma Research and Therapy in New Zealand: Raising the Bar through Collaborative Action
Around 60 New Zealand and international melanoma clinicians, scientists and consumers met in Queenstown on 9 September 2017 for the inaugural Melanoma Research and Therapy in New Zealand meeting. The meeting was organised by MelNet, Melanoma New Zealand and the Queenstown Research Week.
Overseas speakers were:
- Professor David Whiteman, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane: Melanoma epidemiology and risk assessment
- Professor Mel Ziman, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth: Blood based biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of patients with melanoma
- Professor Mark Shackleton, Alfred Health and Monash University, Melbourne: Melanoma heterogeneity – the elephant in the room.
New Zealand speakers were:
- Distinguished Professor Bruce Baguley, Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre
- Dr Sanjeev Deva, Auckland DHB and Clinical Trials New Zealand
- Professor Rod Dunbar, University of Auckland
- Professor Mike Eccles, Dunedin School of Medicine
- Dr Jacqui Gardner, Canterbury District Health Board
- Mr Richard Martin, Waitemata DHB
- Paul O'Neil, Consumer
- Professor Cris Print, University of Auckland
- Professor Peter Shepherd, University of Auckland
- Dr Rosalie Stephens, Auckland DHB
- Dr Michelle Wilson, Auckland DHB and Clinical Trials New Zealand.
A specific aim of the meeting was to develop mechanisms to ensure effective collaboration between consumers/patients, relevant scientists, pathologists, oncologists and clinical trials clinicians.
You can find the programme here and speaker/poster abstracts here. A brief report on the outcome of the day is available here.
Next step: 8 December 2017 meeting
As a next step in addressing the meeting recommendations, MelNet has agreed to fund a meeting to establish a melanoma research and therapy special interest group. The half-day meeting will be held at the Novotel at Auckland International Airport on Friday 8 December. All those with a special interest in melanoma research and therapy, including scientists, oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, clinical nurse specialists and surgeons, are invited to attend.
Please contact the MelNet Coordinator for further information.