Our Clinical Trial Unit was opened in 2004 and is led by a team of experienced and responsible investigators, ensuring the rights, safety and well-being of study participants are protected.
We are dedicated to enhance, foster and promote high quality clinical research in the most efficient manner.
Our goal is to help develop the best and safest therapies for the future.
Medical Oncology
Dr. Karen Briscoe – Medical Oncologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Phone 02 6656 5911
Fax 02 6656 5855
- Trials Experience: since 2004 as a Principal Investigator
- Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour
- Specialty Area/Board Certification: Medical Oncology, FRACP
- Patient Recruitment Strategy: Patients are seen in the Public Hospital Clinic. Patients are referred from local GPs, other specialists and Multi-disciplinary Team meetings.
Dr. Ankit Jain – Medical Oncologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Phone 02 6656 5911
Fax 02 6656 5855
- Trials Experience: since 2012 as a Sub-Investigator and 2015 as Principal Investigator
- Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour
- Specialty Area/Board Certification: Medical Oncology, FRACP
- Patient Recruitment Strategy: Patients are seen in the Public Hospital Clinic. Patients are referred from local GPs, other specialists and Multi-disciplinary Team meetings.
Dr. William Fox – Medical Oncologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Phone 02 6656 5911
Fax 02 6656 5855
- Trials Experience: since 2017 as a Sub-Investigator
- Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour
- Specialty Area/Board Certification: Medical Oncology, FRACP
- Patient Recruitment Strategy: Patients are seen in the Public Hospital Clinic. Patients are referred from local GPs, other specialists and Multi-disciplinary Team meetings.
Haematology
Dr. Martin Browne– Haematologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Phone 02 6656 5911
Fax 02 6656 5855
- Trials Experience: since 2010 as a Principal Investigator
- Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour
- Specialty Area/Board Certification: FRACP 2006, Haematology FRCPA 2002, MRCPath (UK), Haematology 2002
- Patient Recruitment Strategy: Patients are seen in the Public Hospital Clinic and Private Rooms. Patients are referred from local GPs, other specialists and Multi-disciplinary Team meetings.
Dr. Jolanta Benson– Haematologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Phone 02 6656 5911
Fax 02 6656 5855
- Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour
- Specialty Area/Board Certification: MBBS, BSc, MRCP (UK), FRCPA, FRACP
- Patient Recruitment Strategy: Patients are seen in the Public Hospital Clinic and Private Rooms. Patients are referred from local GPs, other specialists and Multi-disciplinary Team meetings.
Radiation Oncology
Associate Professor Tom Shakespeare – Radiation Oncologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Phone 02 6656 5911
Fax 02 6656 5855
- Trials Experience: ASTRO Health Services Research Committee 2004 – present (5yr appointment). Appointed to ASTRO-NCI Cancer Expert Corps Taskforce. Principal Investigator on TROG studies. Co-Investigator on qualitative, radiotherapy, chemo-radiotherapy, preventative and surgical trials
- Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour
- Specialty Area/Board Certification: Master of Public Health, University of NSW 2003, Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 2002 – present, Graduate Diploma of Medicine, University of NSW 2000, FRANZCR 1999 – present, MBBS University of Sydney 1992
- Patient Recruitment Strategy: Patients are seen in the Public Hospital Clinic. Patients are referred from local GPs, other specialists and Multi-disciplinary Team meetings.
Hospital Pathology Department | Hospital Pharmacy Department | Imaging | Information Technology
Hospital Pathology Department
NSW Health Pathology
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Helen Westaway– Manager
Phone 02 6656 7509
Helen.Westaway@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Tumour Blocks
- Patient tumour specimens may be stored at various laboratories, dependent upon where their surgery was performed
- Tumour blocks are usually fixed in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin, however it is advisable for this to be confirmed with the laboratory
Reference Ranges & NATA Accreditation can be provided upon request.
Hospital Pharmacy Department
Coffs Harbour Health Campus Pharmacy
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Janet Willis – Director
Phone 02 6656 7479
Janet. Willis@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Contact: Mr Vui Shin Chong
Phone 02 6656 5770
VuiShin.Chong@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Site Equipment
- Refrigerated, Frozen and Room Temperature storage available
- All equipment monitored and logged
Information Technology
Internet Connection
- High speed internet connection available to all networked computers
- External computers may not be connected to the network
Source Data Verification
- A Laptop or Desktop computer will be made available for Source Data Verification from the Electronic Medical Record System
- Roles: Research Nurses / Study Coordinators
- Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour
- Office Hours: The Clinical Trials office is open from 8:30am – 5pm Monday to Friday
Robyn Dever (CNS) (Mon – Fri)
Phone +61 2 6656 5733
(E): NCCICoffsCTU@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Annabel Pickett (CNS) (Mon – Thurs)
Phone +61 2 6656 5734
(E): NCCICoffsCTU@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Joanne Smith (RN) (Mon – Thur)
Phone +61 2 6656 5423
(E): NCCICoffsCTU@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Clinical Trial Unit Specific Fax
(F): +61 2 6656 5693
Site Training, Equipment and Experience
Standard Operating Procedures
A standard set of operating procedures has been developed for all MNCLHD Oncology Trial Units. These may be obtained from the unit.
GCP
All research staff have attended formal GCP training and can provide a certificate on request. In addition, staff have attended numerous Investigator Meetings which include GCP Training.
Shipping
All research staff have completed study specific shipping training and have extensive experience shipping blood, tumour, slides, discs (imaging) and films.
Trials Experience
Clinical Trial staff have a combined total of over 30 years Medical Oncology clinical trial experience working with Collaborative Groups, Pharmaceutical Companies and Contract Research Organisations in all aspects of Phase II, III and IV studies from feasibilities and Ethics submissions to Study Close Outs.
ECGs
Staff have access to and experience with performing ECGs.
Equipment
- Centrifuge and Refrigerated Centrifuge
- – 80 degrees C freezer
Electronic CRFs
- Inform
- RAVE
- Medidata
- Oracle
- ClinPhone
- TAO
IVRS and IWRS
All staff have experience with IVRS and IWRS.
Audits
MNCCI @ Coffs Harbour have not been audited by any regulatory bodies, however have been audited by ANZBCTG in 2006 and AGITG in 2009 and ANZCOG in 2014
Mosaiq TM
MNCCI @ Coffs Harbour utilises an electronic Medical Record (MosaiqTM). This has been assessed to comply with the FDA code 21 CFR part 11.
IT and Telecommunications
All study coordinators have their own desktop computer with high speed internet access.
Archiving
Off-site archiving is preferred and organised by the sponsor, however onsite archiving can be negotiated.
Site Initiation
This needs to be scheduled with the Clinical Trial Staff.
Monitoring
To facilitate monitors from each trial being able to access the site for monitoring purposes, the following guidelines are recommended:
- Monitoring visits are restricted to 2 monitoring days per visit
- The next monitoring visit should be scheduled immediately after monitoring and made directly with the study coordinator
- The site needs to be notified if more than one monitor will be visiting
- Satisfactory notification if a meeting with the Principal Investigator and/or pharmacy is required
- The Study Coordinator will be available for resolving issues/queries at designated times during the day and this can be decided at the start of each visit
- Monitoring staff will be provided with a comprehensive orientation to the clinical trials area.