OHMR Innovator OFFICE FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH

It’s our time to shineI would like to extend a warm welcome to each and all of you to this, the first issue of the OHMR Innovator. As Director of the Office for Health and Medical Research, I am enormously proud of the medical research sector we support.

As a paediatrician and medical administrator I have always enjoyed research and seeking solutions to problems.

As the NSW Health and medical research sector seeks to build on its global reputation as a hub of excellence, the Office for Health and Medical Research recognises that collaboration within the sector is critical. It is my personal goal to make this happen. NSW research institutes, universities and hospitals conduct some of the best health and medical research anywhere in the world.

The NSW Government has committed an additional $159 million over four years to boost support for health and medical research in addition to the $900 million already invested. It is my vision to see the health and medical research sector communicate and engage as a whole, so we can not only learn from one another, but work together in translating ideas to innovations.

To paraphrase Spike Lee, “You have to do the research. If you don’t know about something, then ask the right people who do.” It is my ambition to encourage a research platform for all to access and form alliances with the right people. I look forward to sharing this journey with you all.

Dr Tony Penna, Director OHMR

A full complement to assist you OHMR was derived from the Office for Science and Medical Research with an establishment list of 6 positions and transferred from NSW Trade and Investment to NSW Health in June 2011. Over the past 5 years the NSW Health and medical research portfolio has grown enormously, in turn so has our small office. For the first time in 5 years, we have a full complement of staff with the recent addition of 5 new employees, now consisting of 17 permanent staff members to assist the research sector.

Within the office, we work as a family unit guided by our highly respected leader Dr Tony Penna. There are 5 teams within our small office to help provide state-wide infrastructure and support to build health and medical research capability across the state.

Anne O’Neill, Associate Director, manages the Project Management, Commercialisation (including Medical Devices Fund and Commercialisation Training Program), Philanthropy & Projects Team.

Lorelei Brealey manages the office’s budget, grant funding such as Medical Research Support Program (MRSP), Evaluation and the Communication Strategy.

James Cokayne carefully guides the Research, Ethics and Governance team, charged with the clinical trials implementation plan.

Brett Reed oversees Infrastructure and Capacity Building projects such as Genomics and Biobanking.

Lastly and certainly not least, Tina Loppacher applies her expertise to managing the Research Hubs and Stakeholder Management projects, such as the Health Services Research Support Program.

As a team we are here to assist you. A full list of contact details for all members of OHMR is included.

The NSW Government has committed an additional $159 million over four years to boost support for health and medical research in addition to the $900 million already invested.

CONTENTSIt’s our time to shine .........................1

A full complement to assist you ...... 1

Sustainable Biobanks in NSW ..................................................2

Clinical Trials Implementation Plan ......................2

2015 Hubs Forum .............................3

Genomics on the forefront in NSW ...............................3

Forge Magazine .................................4

August 2015 © NSW Ministry of Health • 1

Office for Health and Medical Research

August 2015 © NSW Ministry of Health • 2

Sustainable Biobanks in NSWOHMR is supporting projects that will assist biobanks become more sustainable, have higher standards, and facilitate data linkages. The Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR) is working closely with the Cancer Institute NSW and NSW Health Pathology to support biobanks to become more sustainable, continue to improve standards of operating, and facilitate data linkages.

Work being undertaken includes:

NSW Health Pathology developing a state-wide biobanking service delivery model with sub projects occurring across quality standards, financial costing, Material Transfer Agreements, and data. A State-wide Biobanking Reference Group is being formed, with a workshop occurring on 12 August 2015.

OHMR is developing a NSW Health Consistent State-wide biobank Policy Directive on Participant Consent. Drafts have been prepared after broad consultation and review of Biobank processes and procedures for obtaining consent. The Policy Directive is currently being finalised for public consultation.

In the 2015 Budget the NSW Government committed $12 million to develop a large-scale biobank to support research in NSW. The project will engage with the major research bodies in NSW and cohort studies. Project planning has recently commenced and further consultation with researchers will occur over the next 12 months.

OHMR has launched a NSW Biobanking Registry at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/ohmr/biobankregistry/Pages/default.aspx

For more information please contact ohmr@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

Clinical Trials Implementation Plan underway The Clinical Trials Jurisdictional Working Group (CTJWG) was established in April 2014 by the Hospitals Principal Committee through a NSW-sponsored item (through OHMR) to identify and implement a consistent national approach to multi-jurisdictional clinical trials within Australia with an intention to enhance Australia’s ability to attract national and international clinical trials.

The CTJWG has developed an Implementation Plan which focusses on four major key priority areas:

Enhancing national consistency for ethics and governance review

Establishing a metrics system and promoting ICT interoperability

Improving efficiency of recruitment and accruals

Developing a strategy for positioning Australia as a preferred location for performing clinical trials.

Metrics and an accompanying data dictionary have been developed to inform a National Annual Aggregate Statistics collection for clinical trials. These have been endorsed by the Health Ministers through the Council of Australian Governments

– Health Committee (COAG – HC). The statistics collection will provide both strategic and operational objectives for all jurisdictions to apply a common reference for measuring clinical trials success.

A single set of definitions for roles and responsibilities across jurisdictions is in development. This will provide for the first time a common authoritative reference point for all jurisdictions to agree to separate the roles of each of the parties involved in the conduct of clinical trials. This will lead to greater consistency in the expectations and practice of clinical trial sponsors, sites, ethics committees, and governance officers which will lead to less duplication and greater efficiency in the approval and conduct of multi-jurisdictional clinical trials.

James Cokayne, Principal Policy Officer and team leader of the Research Ethics and Governance & Projects team within OHMR is your main point of contact if you require further information.

The Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR) has been providing funding aimed at improving access to genomics research infrastructure in NSW.

James Cokayne (Clinical Trials Implementation Plan)

OHMR Innovator – Issue 1 August 2015

August 2015 © NSW Ministry of Health • 3

2015 Hub ForumThe NSW Health and Medical Research Hub Council and the NSW Office for Health and Medical Research are pleased to be hosting the second Hub Forum on 22 September, 2015. The Research Hubs bring together local health districts, medical research institutes, universities and community oriented research in the same geographical region to share knowledge and resources.

As part of the Hub Strategy, released in 2014, annual workshops involving all Hubs are held to set key priorities for the coming year and to enhance collaboration among academics, clinicians, researchers, the community and others.

The Hub Strategy aims to build on NSW health and medical research strengths, to increase patient and community benefit from research, and to ensure NSW remains competitive nationally and internationally.

The focus for this year’s Hub Forum will be on working with our health service delivery partners and building collaborative capability across the Hubs. We will consider new collaborative grants initiatives, state-wide infrastructure, training and career pathways for early-mid career researchers.

We consider these to be the foundations of an innovative, sustainable health and medical research sector with a strong translational capacity.

Both Minister Skinner and Minister Goward have confirmed their attendance. We look forward to a productive, action focussed day, deliberating issues with our key stakeholders from all parts of the health and medical research sector including; Chief Executives of LHDs, Executive Directors of medical research institutes (MRIs), senior executives from the Ministry of Health and its Pillars, and Deputy Vice Chancellors of Research.

Nominations to attend the Forum are being coordinated through the local Hub contacts and state Hub Council members.

If you have ideas to share on any of the above initiatives – please feel free to contact Tina Loppacher, Principal Policy Officer, tlopp@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

Genomics on the forefront in NSWThe Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR) has been providing funding aimed at improving access to genomics research infrastructure in NSW.

A range of initiatives improving access to genomics research infrastructure have been developed by the OHMR:

NSW Health and the Garvan Institute are partnering with the ASPREE and the 45 and Up Study to develop a Medical Genome Reference Bank (MGRB) – a data library comprising the whole genome sequences of 4000 Australians.

The NSW Government has a 10-year plan to build on the state’s world-class research capability, translate more discoveries into practical health outcomes, and maintain its position as a leader in biotechnology.

Grant funding to undertake research using whole genome sequencing; this program will open for submissions in the coming months and will seek EOI’s for research into Mendelian (single-gene) disorders, rare and inherited genetic disease, or complex disease with a strong genetic component.

A Cancer Genomics Medicine Program led by Professor David Thomas, Director of The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Professor John Simes from the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre. This program involves two sub-projects; clinical screening for ‘actionable’ mutations in advanced cancer and an innovative clinical trial based on molecular eligibility.

Funding support for pathogen genomics at the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology – Public Health Laboratories in partnership with the Marie Bashir Institute.

The NSW Government is funding the application of next generation genome sequencing technology to the study of pathogens.

OHMR is funding Bioplatforms Australia to provide training and development of bioinformatics expertise in NSW. This will ensure that the NSW health and medical research sector is equipped to interpret data from next generation sequencing.

Lastly, a NSW Research Hubs Genomics Reference Group (GRG) has been formed and has its first meeting on 24 August 2015 with nominees from NSW research hubs.

image provided by Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Office for Health and Medical Research

August 2015 © NSW Ministry of Health • 4

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Contact details NAME PHONE NO. EMAIL POSITION

Antonio Penna 9391 9929 tpenn@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Director

Project Management, Commercialisation, Medical Devices Fund, Philanthropy & Intellectual Property

Anne O’Neill 9391 9459 aonei@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Associate Director

Geoff Coleman 9391 9230 gcole@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Principal Policy Officer

Chritine Whittall 9461 7069 chwhi@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Senior Policy Officer

Lisa Schonstein 9391 9514 lscho@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Policy Officer

Caitlyn Pitt 9424 5911 cpitt@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Assistant Policy Officer

Tim Mackay 9391 9228 tmcka@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Admin Support Officer

Grant Funding, MRSP, Evaluation, Event Management and Communications Strategy

Lorelei Brealey 9391 9989 lbrea@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Principal Policy Officer

Jocelyne Aldridge 9461 7054 jaldr@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Senior Policy Officer

Amy Cohen 9391 9252 amcoh@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Project Officer

Research, Ethics and Governance

James Cokayne 9391 9920 jcoka@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Principal Policy Officer

Nicole Denham 9391 9190 ndenh@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Senior Policy Officer

Jean Hsu 9391 9594 jeshu@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Policy Officer

Infrastructure Capacity Building such as Genomics and Biobanking

Brett Reed 9391 9362 breed@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Principal Policy Officer

Rose Sapuppo 9391 9603 rsapu@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Assistant Policy Officer

Research Hubs, Stakeholder Management and Health Services Research Support Program

Tina Loppacher 9391 9733 tlopp@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Principal Policy Officer

Ranjini Ganendren 9391 9910 rgane@doh.health.nsw.gov.au Assistant Policy Officer

Forge MagazineRecently Dr Tony Penna was interviewed by Forge Magazine, a quarterly publication providing a new spotlight for Australia’s economic and entrepreneurial successes.

Spearheaded by Senior Journalist Tony Featherstone, formerly of BRW and Shares magazines,Tony Penna discusses the blueprint for success in driving collaboration in health research.

The NSW Government has a 10-year plan to build on the state’s world-class research capability, translate more discoveries into practical health outcomes, and maintain its position as a leader in biotechnology.

It is a very informative magazine that you may be interested in reading. To view the full article you can visit the website http://www.forgemag.com.au/ or purchase the magazine at any major newsagent.

2015 Hubs Forum Tuesday 22 September 2015 Swissotel Sydney 68 Market St Sydney NSW Invitation Only Event Contact: Tina Loppacher 9391 9733

ACTA 2015 International Clinical Trials Symposium Wednesday to Friday 7-10 October 2015 Hilton Hotel Sydney 488 George St Sydney NSW 9254 5000 www.acta2015.com.au info@acta2015.com.au

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