Cancer research sets the direction for future knowledge generation and innovation in cancer care and is fundamental to all aspects of the cancer care system. Investment in research needs to align closely with the system priorities and consider how research can be better translated into practice at all points of the cancer care continuum.

Nationally coordinated and consistent investment into cancer research and clinical trials is key to ensuring Australia’s future research agenda is priority focused. There is scope to increase the translation of research into clinical outcomes and improve the rate of research commercialisation, raising the potential for sustainable funding for cancer research. There are also opportunities to expand research on critical topics and priority population groups and bring the national research agenda in line with areas that deliver the most value for consumers and society (such as palliative care).

Similarly, clinical trials research should align with unmet needs, and accelerate translation of innovative research into clinical practice.

Clinical trials provide an opportunity for consumers to benefit from the latest cancer care innovations and technologies. However, there are significant disparities in equitable access to clinical trials. Designing clinical trials to align with emerging needs and consideration of gender bias, cultural safety and accessibility would ensure equitable opportunities for participation by all Australians. There is also a need to increase community awareness of eligibility for clinical trials to improve equitable access for consumers.

This 2-year action recommends developing nationally coordinated, innovative research and clinical trials aligned to targeted investment priorities into areas of unmet and emerging need.

Areas of priority may include:

• continued focus on priority-driven national research funding, targeted to meet the areas of greatest need nationally. Examples include cancer prevention research, health services research, palliative and supportive care provision, research into health inequities and mitigation strategies, research infrastructure and translational research
• appropriate application of virtual care and telehealth across the cancer care continuum and different cancer types
• cancer risks, incidence, experiences and outcomes for priority population groups, including considerations of intersectionality
• promote cross-disciplinary research and collaboration across research groups. This can contribute to improvements in research commercialisation pathways to retain high quality research and researchers in Australia
• consider methods to improve equitable access to clinical trials, especially for those in rural or remote areas, adolescents and young adults, and older Australians
• build a culture within the cancer system that values and supports research and collaboration, including building staff capability to engage in research
• enable design of clinical trials that meet regulators’ requirements and therefore increase the proportion of clinical research that can be translated into best practice treatment options.

Implementation of this action should consider the measurement of outcomes and return on investment from cancer research. This action is also dependent on implementation of Action 3.2.1 Develop and implement a national framework that standardises the development, update, evaluation and uptake of Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs), including for priority population groups.

This action also builds on Action 1.2.3 Promote translational research on the impact of social, cultural, commercial and environmental determinants of health on cancer outcomes for priority populations to inform policy and practice.