The Lung Foundation Australia Board and I are taking further advice on the operations of The Australaisian Lung Cancer Trial Group (ALTG).
At this time, Lung Foundation Australia have held preliminary discussions with a number of funding partners. We thank the ALTG Members who have come forward to form a new Management Advisory Committee.
At this time that the Lung Foundation Australia continues to be funded for the operation of the ALTG, in particular with University of Sydney, and all lung cancer trials are proceeding consistent with investigator agreements. We are being guided by funding contracts currently in place and these form a legal basis for future discussions.
The Lung Foundation Australia Board appreciates the Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia (TOGA) acknowledgement of a shared vision and our lead role in lung cancer policy, advocacy and the important role Lung Foundation Australia has played in making ALTG a success. We look forward to understanding TOGA’s vision and details of the proposed partnership going forward.
Lung Foundation Australia are awaiting meetings with TOGA to understand their proposal for any partnership. Lung Foundation Australia’s focus remains on advancing the care and treatment of people with lung cancer and through this lens the Board are reviewing the operations of ALTG closely.
The Board acknowledge the significant number of researchers and clinicians past and present who have contributed so much to making ALTG a success.
Lung Foundation Australia wishes to thank the community and our research partners, including the former Management Advisory Committee, for their ongoing support of lung cancer research and programs. We all share a vision of beating lung cancer.
Over the last two years Lung Foundation Australia, as peak lung cancer body in Australia, has achieved with your support a number of significant milestones including:
- Delivering internationally recognised and award-winning community awareness campaigns to challenge the stigma associated with lung cancer;
- Releasing the 2018 Blueprint for Lung Cancer Reform and subsequently securing support from the Minister for Health who has announced the Cancer Australia Enquiry into the prospects of national targeted lung cancer screening program due for release in October 2020;
- Working with patients with lung cancer and their families to submit patient centric submissions to Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, for new lung cancer treatments with nearly 100% success rate;
- Growing the Parliamentary Friends of Lung Cancer and Lung Health Group from 6 to 36 members since the election;
- Fully funding our Lung Cancer Support Nurse Telephone Service;
- Securing philanthropic funding to commence an integrated peer support program for lung cancer patients including telehealth;
- Funding four highly contested, early and mid career Lung Cancer Fellowships and PhD Scholarships; and
- Increasing participation by over 100% at both the 2019 ALTG Annual Scientific Meeting and at this year’s Australian Lung Cancer Conference (ALCC) which attracted a record 505 delegates with strong consumer engagement.
The Lung Foundation Australia looks forward to supporting lung cancer patients and their treating healthcare professionals for many years.
Mark Brooke
Lung Foundation Australia’s CEO