Strengthening Rising Tide Foundations for Clinical Cancer Research Connections in Australia
August 13, 2026
Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) recently attended the MASCC/ISOO 2026 Annual Meeting from June 25th-27th in Melbourne, Australia. The conference provided a platform to promote international clinical research in supportive cancer care, including several of the RTFCCR’s grantees. The team also conducted two site visits to leading Australian organizations in cancer research: the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center in Melbourne and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney.
Collaborative Development of Supportive Care
The MASCC/ISOO (The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and International Society of Oral Oncology)’s focus on supportive care stems from the recognition that many cancer patients face unmet needs surrounding the management of severe cancer and treatment-related symptoms. The conference aimed to spotlight innovative clinical solutions for symptom management and highlight oversights in clinical trials through the inclusion of patient partners.
MASCC has kindly promoted the RTFCCR’s Early Career in Supportive Care program during the conference. The program aims to fund innovative clinical research in supportive cancer care and to provide early career opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to young researchers. MASCC’s endorsement during the 2026 Annual Meeting will undoubtedly allow the Early Career Program to reach a wider audience and help provide crucial research with necessary backing.
The conference included a presentation by RTFCCR grantee Dr. Susan Peterson, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, who shared her research on remote symptom monitoring. RTFCCR Advisory Board Member Prof. William Dale of City of Hope gave a presentation highlighting a disparity in healthcare, with a focus on digital health for geriatric patients.
Building Collaborations with Leading Australian Research Centers
As part of its visit to Australia, RTFCCR strengthened relationships with two leading research institutions: the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) in Melbourne and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) in Sydney.
At Peter Mac, one of the top global oncology hospitals, RTFCCR met with representatives from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and clinical leaders, including Prof Sandro Porceddu, Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology to explore shared priorities across radiotherapy, surgery and supportive care. Discussions highlighted opportunities for future collaboration and underscored Peter Mac’s strong commitment to patient-centred clinical research. Peter Mac is considered a leader in cancer care, in part due to its strong inclusion of patient perspectives in its clinical research.
The visit to WIMR reinforced a longstanding collaboration with RTFCCR. The site visit included meetings with Phillip O’Connell, Executive Director of the WIMR, to discuss shared goals, a meeting with RTFCCR grantee Prof. David Gottlieb to discuss his research on stem cell transplantation, and an opportunity to connect with potential applicants.
These visits reflect RTFCCR’s ongoing commitment to building meaningful international partnerships that advance innovative, patient-focused cancer research. RTFCCR extends its gratitude to all researchers met at the MASCC/ISOO 26 Annual Meeting and to all clinicians and collaborators at Peter Mac and WIMR.