How did it get started?

• The Welsh Government recognised that Wales should develop a Cancer Research Strategy. This was raised in their Cancer Delivery Plan

• Wales is the only UK nation that doesn’t yet have a cancer research strategy

• The Cancer Research Strategy development is being led by the Wales Cancer Alliance, Wales Cancer Network, and Wales Cancer Research Centre

Image from: https://www.patientsknowbest.com/wales.html

“NHS Wales should aim to develop a Welsh Cancer Research Strategy, reflecting the priorities and ambitions of patients, charities, NHS organisations, Universities, pharma and Welsh Government, which will provide a common goal for cancer researchers in Wales for the next 10 years”.

Cancer Delivery Plan Refresh 2016

How are we doing it?The Cancer Research Strategy has two groups to support and develop the cancer research strategy developments:

• The Strategic Oversight Board is overseeing the work to make sure the strategy is fit for purpose and forward thinking

• The strategy is being drafted by the Cancer Research Executive Writing group (CREW)

• Our members include NHS staff, academics, third sector representatives and members of the public from across Wales

• The work that we’re doing directly feeds into the National Cancer Implementation Group (CIG) who are accountable to the Chief Executive of NHS Wales

Chair of Strategic Oversight Board

Dr Ian Lewis, NCRI Head of Strategies and Initiatives

Co-chairs of Executive Writing Group

Dr Andy Champion, WHSSC Assistant Director, Evidence Evaluation

Prof Malcolm Mason, Cardiff University Clinical Oncologist

Chair of National Cancer Implementation Group

Tracey Cooper

Prof John Chester Wales Cancer Research Centre

Prof Tom CrosbyWales Cancer Network

Richard PughWales Cancer Alliance

The Cancer Research Strategy for Wales is being led as a tripartite collaboration involving Wales Cancer Alliance (WCA), Wales Cancer Network (WCN), and Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC)

Project Leads

Principal Strategy Development

Approach and drafts conceived and written by CREW Co-Chairs:

Dr Andy ChampionWHSSC Assistant Director Evidence Evaluation

Prof Malcolm Mason Professor of Cancer StudiesCardiff University

We want to use this document to guide and hold professionals to account…

…but to be ABLE to do that…

….we need to know what people in Wales think we should be focusing our cancer research on.

Why is research important?

91% of melanoma cases are

diagnosed early but only 28% of lung cancers are diagnosed early

38% of cancers in the UK are preventable –

this is about 7,200 cases in Wales

The number of people being diagnosed with cancer is increasing.

Patients are also living longer. What do they

need?

1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in

their lifetime

Research help us find better ways to

diagnose cancer

Research can identify new

treatments and improve

patient care

When research takes place patients have better

outcomes… … but only 25% of patients

are offered the opportunity to take part in

research.

Around 600 lives would be saved each year in Wales if survival rates

here were as good as the best performing

healthcare systems

Our Grand Challenges for Wales

“Within 10 years, Wales will:- Lead at least one high profile national or international research consortium as

Chief Investigator (and the lead application at the time of grant application), and- Treble the number of research consortia in which Wales is one of the named Principle Investigators at the time of the grant application

“Within 10 years, our research will deliver innovations that, when implemented, will reduce healthcare inequalities in Wales”

“All cancer patients in Wales will have the opportunity to take part in research and shape the research agenda”

“Within 10 years, our research will deliver at least one novel cancer intervention that will be implemented worldwide”

What are we suggesting?

We want to focus on research which will lead to patient benefit. We will use our research strengths in Wales to focus on:

• Laboratory and clinical scienceResearch in labs, hospitals or healthcare settings

• Population scienceResearch using large amounts of data to understand and improve healthcare

• Health services researchResearch looking at new ways to deliver healthcare or how research findings can be included as routine treatment

We want to look at areas where research can overlap as this is where we can make the most difference to patients in Wales.

But what does this actually mean…?

What are we suggesting?

There are several areas that will need developing to support the delivery of the research strategy

Changes needed to deliver research:

• Workforce development• Better support of the current workforce• Growth and development of research skills and time• Address the loss of key specialty roles which impacts the ability for research to be conducted

• Infrastructure and equipment

• IT and data capacity• Coordinate the collection of data for research purposes, including clinical and population data

What are we suggesting?

There are opportunities which we have identified to develop cancer research in Wales:

• Precision Medicine

• Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs)

• Biobanking

• Data Integration

• Population Health, cancer risk and prevention

• Partnership working

What are we suggesting?

Using research to understand how we can prevent more cancers and make sure that people are diagnosed earlier if they develop cancer.

We think we should focus on:

• Understanding how we can encourage more people to attend screening using population data and social sciences research

• Using research to develop novel forms and approaches to screening

• Using laboratory and clinical science, along with industry, to develop better early diagnosis and screening tools

• Using health services research to understand how findings can be integrated into routine care

What are we suggesting?

Using research that focuses on the patient with cancer

We think we should focus on:

• Using population data to understand trends of cancer when combined with lifestyle factors, social environment, and other diseases

• Understanding individual patient needs and preferences for treatment, cancer management options, and end of life care

• Using laboratory and clinical research to find new cancer treatments and understand cancer biology

• Using health services research to understand how Wales can embed research findings into routine care

What are we suggesting?There are several areas that will need developing to support the delivery of the research strategy

Changes needed to deliver research:

• Workforce development• Better support of the current workforce• Growth and development of research skills and time• Address the loss of key specialty roles which impacts the ability for research to be conducted

• Infrastructure and equipment

• IT and data capacity• Coordinate the collection of data for research purposes, including clinical and population data

Further information on CReSt can be found at www.walescancerresearchcentre.org/

Contacts:

Rachel Savery, Programme Manager

Eleanor Webber, Project Support Officer

Email: wcrc@Cardiff.ac.uk

Tel: 02921 848970

Information and Contact Details

http://www.walescancerresearchcentre.org/

Cancer Research Executive Writing Group membership

Area of interest Name Location

Clinical Oncologist

(CREW co-chair) Prof Malcolm Mason Cardiff

WHSSC Assistant

Director (CREW co-chair) Dr Andy Champion All Wales

Pre-clinical Lead Prof Steve Conlan Swansea

Clinical Leads Dr Sarah Gwynne ABMU

Clinical Leads Dr Mau-Don Phan ABMU

Early Phase Dr Rob Jones VCC

Palliative Prof Anthony Byrne Cardiff

PPI Sue Campbell

PPI Sarah Peddle

Organisations

WCRC Associate directors Prof Duncan Baird All Wales

WCRC Associate directors Dr Sunil Dolwani All Wales

WCRC Associate directors Prof John Staffurth All Wales

Discovery Science Prof Steve Conlan Swansea

Tenovus & Wales Cancer Alliance Tim Banks All Wales

Public Health Wales Carys Thomas /

Michael Bowdery All Wales

Wales Cancer Network (WCN) Dr Louise Carrington All Wales

WCN Theme leads Dyfed Huws Cardiff

WCN Theme leads Dr Gareth Davies Cwm Taf

WCN Theme leadsWendy Wilkinson /

Rachel Evans

WCN Theme leads Bethan Hawkes

WCN Theme leads Dr Cliff Jones

Strategic Oversight Board membershipArea of interest Name Location

NCRI Head of Strategies

& Initiatives (SOB Chair) Dr Ian Lewis London

SPED Prof Kate Brain Cardiff

Radiomics Dr Kieran Foley Cwm Taf

Palliative Prof Simon Noble Aneurin Bevan

Paediatrics Dr Meriel Jenney C&V UHB

Primary Care Dr Sally Lewis Aneurin Bevan

PPI Kathy Seddon

PPI Julie Hepburn

Social care Prof Fiona Verity Swansea

Early Phase Dr Steve Knapper Cardiff

Industry Dr Rick Greville All Wales

AHP & Nurses Prof Debbie Fenlon ABMU

Health economics Prof Deb Fitzsimons Swansea

N Wales Clinical

research centre Stephen Hughes Bangor

Powys Medical Director

(R&D) Dr Wyn Parry Powys

Digital & information Prof Ronan Lyons Swansea

Preclinical Dr Edgar Hartsuiker Bangor

CTU Prof Richard Adams Cardiff

Policy advisor (CRUK) Andy Glyde All Wales

Area of interest Name Location

Organisations

Life Sciences Hub Cari-Anne Quinn All Wales

MediWales Deborah Laubach All Wales

HealthWise Wales Prof Shantini Paranjothy All Wales

Public Health Wales (PHW) Alisha Davies All Wales

PHW Ardiana Gjini All Wales

Wales Cancer Network (WCN) Prof Tom Crosby All Wales

Wales Cancer Network Dr Louise Carrington All Wales

Wales Cancer Research Centre

(WCRC) Prof John Chester All Wales

WCRC Libby Batt All Wales

Macmillan & Wales Cancer

Alliance (WCA) Richard Pugh All Wales

Cancer Research Wales & WCA Lee Campbell All Wales

Tenovus & WCA Martin Fidler Jones All Wales

How are we doing it?

The work that we’re doing directly feeds into the Cancer Implementation Group (CIG) who are accountable to the Chief Executive of NHS Wales

Chair of National Cancer Implementation Group

Tracey Cooper

Cancer Implementation Group (CIG)

Strategic Oversight Board (SOB)

Executive Writing Group (CREW)

Project Team

Timeframes

7th August 2019 Public engagement event, Wrexham

15th August 2019 Public engagement event, Newport

10th September 2019 Public engagement event, Aberystwyth

18th October 2019 Professional engagement survey opens

7th November 2019 12 week consultation on strategy document. Accessible here

31st January 2020 Consultation closes

26th February 2020 Document launched

https://www.walescancerresearchcentre.org/strategy-consultation/

Why are we doing it?

This document is for professionals working within cancer to enable them to better use research to improve outcomes

• Wales doesn’t yet have a Cancer Research Strategy. It is the only UK nation to not yet develop a cancer research strategy

• We know that where research takes place, patients have better outcomes

• We want to respond to that need by making a document that will hold professionals accountable

Further information on CReSt can be found at www.walescancerresearchcentre.org/

Contacts:

Rachel Savery, Programme Manager

Eleanor Webber, Project Support Officer

Email: wcrc@Cardiff.ac.uk

Tel: 02921 848970

Information and Contact Details

http://www.walescancerresearchcentre.org/