Cancer clinical trials MNCCI Coffs Harbour

Welcome to the clinical trials unit at the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute (MNCCI) – Coffs Harbour.  Our aim is to provide patients with the latest treatments in Medical Oncology, while focusing on quality management of clinical trials.

The clinical trials unit is a centre of excellence located on the Mid North Coast of NSW at Coffs Harbour Health Campus – an academic teaching facility with an exceptional reputation in conducting clinical trials with both pharmaceutical and university-based research groups.

We are a small, agile, responsive unit with fast study set up timelines and offer a dedicated team of experienced investigators and study coordinators, proficient in the conduct of single and multi-centre clinical trials, whilst ensuring the rights, safety and well-being of study participants are protected, and maintained

Our patient recruitment strategy: Patients are seen in the public hospital outpatient clinic, and are referred from local GPs, other specialists and multi-disciplinary team meetings.

Dr. Karen Briscoe
Medical Oncologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Phone: +61 2 6656 5737
Fax: +61 2 6656 5855

Email: MNCLHD-CHHC-NCCI-CTU@health.nsw.gov.au

  • Trials Experience: since 2004 as a principal investigator, and since 2001 as a sub investigator.
  • Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour.
  • Specialty Area/Board Certification: VMO Medical Oncology, FRACP.
  • Medical Oncology Co-Investigators: Medical registrars / advanced trainees as appropriate.

Dr. William Fox
Medical Oncologist 
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Phone: +61 2 6656 5737
Fax: +61 2 6656 5855

Email: MNCLHD-CHHC-NCCI-CTU@health.nsw.gov.au

  • Trials experience: since 2014 as a Sub-Investigator and 2019 as Principal Investigator.
  • Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour.
  • Specialty Area/Board Certification: Medical Oncology, FRACP.
  • Medical Oncology Co-Investigators: Medical registrars / advanced trainees as appropriate.

Dr. Pinky Baghi
Medical Oncologist
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Phone: +61 2 6656 5737
Fax: +61 2 6656 5855

Email: MNCLHD-CHHC-NCCI-CTU@health.nsw.gov.au

  • Trials Experience: since 2018 as a sub-investigator.
  • Institution: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, Coffs Harbour.
  • Specialty Area/Board Certification: Medical Oncology, FRACP.
  • Medical Oncology Co-Investigators: Medical registrars / advanced trainees as appropriate.

MNCCI Coffs Harbour Health Campus Oncology Clinical Trial Unit has experienced senior clinical trial coordinators dedicated to clinical research.

In addition, the unit includes an experienced study start up specialist/ finance manager, an administration officer, and a clinical trial pharmacist.

Global contact details for the unit (preferred option)

Phone: +61 2 6656 5053 or +61 (0) 429 234 338
Fax: +61 2 6656 5693
Email: MNCLHD-CHHC-NCCI-CTU@health.nsw.gov.au

Clinical Trials Nursing Unit Manager

Jo Smith
Phone: +61 (0) 429 234 338

Clinical Trials co-ordinators

Kaarin Goeldner +61 2 6656 5733
Christine McMillan +61 2 6656 5735
Veronique Doran-Bradley +61 2 6656 5734

Health Manager

Phone +61 2 6656 5423

Clinical trials administration

Phone: +61 2 6656 5592

Clinical Trials Pharmacist

Phone: +61 2 6656 5053

Site training, equipment and experience

Standard Operating Procedures

A standard set of operating procedures has been developed for the MNCCI Oncology Trial Unit. These may be obtained from the unit.

Good Clinical Practice

All required 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 required research staff have completed the Civil Aviation Academy Australasia – safe transport of infectious substance by air and have extensive experience shipping blood, tumour, slides, discs (imaging) and films.

Trials Experience

All staff have clinical trials experience with the following tumour streams:

  • bladder
  • brain
  • breast
  • colorectal
  • upper GIT (also doing oesophageal studies currently)
  • head and neck
  • lung
  • melanoma
  • ovarian / gynaecological
  • prostate
  • pancreas.
ECGs

Staff have access to, and experience with performing ECGs.

Electronic CRFs
  • Inform.
  • RAVE.
  • Medidata.
  • Oracle.
  • ClinPhone.
  • myTrials.
  • Sirius.
  • ctc eCRF’s.
  • eClinicalos.
  • Macro.
  • Redcap.
IXRS

All clinical staff have experience with IVRS and IWRS.

Audits

MNCCI @ Coffs Harbour has not been audited by any regulatory bodies, however have undergone collaborative audits with favourable results.

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.

Clinical research associates performing source data verification using Mosaiq are required to complete a requisition form for access to patient data. It is to be noted that the trial unit monitors patient access of CRAs on a regular basis to ensure compliance and patient privacy.

IT and Telecommunications

All study coordinators have their own desktop computer with high speed internet access and international phone lines.

Site Equipment

  • Centrifuge, both refrigerated and non-refrigerated.
  • -20oC and -80oC freezers.
  • ECG machine.
  • Locked fridge, specific to trials.
  • Height and weight scales.
  • Fully stocked advanced resuscitation trolley.
  • Onsite pharmacy with the ability to do own compounding.

Archiving

Off-site archiving is preferred and organised by the sponsor; however the unit can supply the sponsor with a quotation if required. Collaborative trials will be archived onsite.

Research Governance Office

Fees

Site specific assessment approval fees are governed as per the MNCLHD Research and Governance Fees. 

Clinical trial research agreement information

Site Details

  • Institution: Mid North Coast Local Health District trading as Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
  • Name: (Principal Investigator).
  • Address: Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, 345 Pacific Hwy Coffs Harbour NSW, Australia 2450.
  • ABN: 57 946 356 658.
  • Contact for notices: HSM 1.
  • Fax for notices: +61 2 6656 5693.
  • Phone for notices: as per HSM 1’s contact details.

It is NSW Health Policy that clinical trials conducted at NSW Public Health Organisations use the standard clinical trial research agreements which can be found on the Medicines Australia website. The governing policies can be found at the NSW Health website.

Medicines Australia

Pharmaceutical and contract research organisations

Any changes to the standard agreement (except NSW Health pre-approved Schedule 7 additions) will be required to undergo legal review at the expense of the sponsor.

Collaborative or cooperative groups

The public health organisation will need to consider legal review for non-trivial changes to the standard agreement, or if the group elects to use their own contract. In this case the sponsor will be informed as it is acknowledged that not all groups will be in a position to meet legal costs.

It is mandated that the CRTA be signed by the sponsor prior to site approval and signature as this will be submitted concurrently with the Site Specific Assessment (SSA) Application to the Research Governance Office.

Clinical Trial Notification (CTN) site details

Mid North Coast Local Health District trading as Coffs Harbour Health Campus, 345 Pacific Hwy Coffs Harbour NSW, Australia 2450

Certificate of currency

Must contain the following:

  • the name of the local sponsor
  • the name of the particular trial, or, state that it covers all trials conducted in Australia by the sponsor
  • Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) approved or a foreign insurer with a minimum credit rating by Standard and Poors (or equivalent) of -A or higher
  • current for the duration of the trial
  • minimum coverage of AUD20M per occurrence.

Form of indemnity

Medicines Australia Form of Indemnity must be used. Site details as per the CTRA.

Form of Indemnity

Administrative Fees

Please contact the Clinical Trial Unit on +61 2 6656 5053.

Clinical trial payments (exc. RGO fees)

Invoice details are to be emailed to the study coordinator with appropriate details as an attachment.

Electronic funds transfer preferred.

If payment is by cheque, please make payment to:

  • Mid North Coast Local Health District
  • Clinical trials account 780030-3481.

Post cheque to:

Clinical Trials Unit
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

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 two 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.
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