Scientific Advisory Committee
ANNUAL
REPORT 2024
Scientific Advisory Committee
ANNUAL
REPORT 2024
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Scientific Advisory Committee
Scientific Advisory Committee
Ian Davis
CHAIR
Scott Williams
DEPUTY CHAIR
The ANZUP Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is set up to provide strategic scientific direction to ANZUP. The SAC’s members are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, bringing their unique expertise and perspectives on a range of topics. This diversity optimises our ability to think creatively and inclusively, and ensures we do not continually wander down the same well-worn paths, but instead are open to new ideas and approaches. The discussions include a range of issues, such as strategic relationships, applications for grant or other funding, setting up systems for development of concepts, assistance with ranking of applications for ANZUP fellowships or other ANZUP funding, prioritisation of projects when necessary, and recommendations to the Board for discretionary funding.
SAC membership includes medical disciplines (urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, nuclear medicine), nursing, quality of life expertise, statistics, basic science, translational research, epidemiology, and consumer representation. New Zealand is specifically represented, as well as other international members, chairs and deputy chairs of the various subcommittees, and with representation ex officio of the ANZUP secretariat and deputy committee chairs. Trial principal investigators are also invited to attend. The SAC membership is reviewed annually by the Board.
The SAC has four disease-specific subcommittees: Prostate, Renal, Germ Cell, and Bladder / Urothelial / Penile. There are also three non-disease-specific subcommittees: Quality of Life and Supportive Care, Translational Research, and the Imaging and Theranostics committee established in 2023 in recognition of the growing importance of these technologies. The committees oversee the strategic directions in their areas and act as incubators for trial idea development, linked to the Ideas Generation Workshops run annually by each subcommittee.
The SAC meets three times per year virtually, and runs an extended face to face meeting at the Annual Scientific Meeting It would be easy for the SAC meeting agendas to concentrate simply on reporting of trial and workshop activities, but this would miss the point and devalue the SAC and its members. Instead, we aim to devote most of each meeting to discussion of strategic matters, and to be actively thinking about how our respective fields are developing, what the relevant questions are at the moment, and (perhaps most importantly), what will be the relevant questions when a trial comes to a conclusion. It is remarkable in the current state of rapid scientific development that the questions underpinning many ANZUP trials remain as fresh and relevant at their conclusion as they were when the questions were first devised. This is a testament to the quality of the scientific input provided by the SAC, its subcommittees, and all who contribute to the processes.
Occasionally situations arise that require a rapid response from ANZUP, such as a decision as to whether we will endorse a position statement, or commit resources to a particular time-constrained project. The SAC executive comprises the ANZUP Board chair, Board deputy chair, SAC chair, subcommittee and Consumer Advisory panel chairs, ANZUP CEO, and ANZUP clinical trials project manager. This group is able to respond quickly and efficiently when a rapid response is required.
Any ANZUP member is welcome to participate in its scientific activities. This can be as simple as attending a committee meeting or a workshop, or being part of a mailing list to receive updates; or may be as active as leadership of a committee, a trial, or some other ANZUP initiative. We are continually looking for opportunities to engage our members more productively, and would welcome your interest, participation, and suggestions. If you are not currently part of a subcommittee and would like to join, please let the ANZUP team know.
Ian Davis
Chair, ANZUP Scientific Advisory Committee