Australia has taken another significant step towards the future of cancer care with the official opening of the Early Phase Unit of the NORTH Sydney Trials and Research Van Norton Poche (NORTH STAR VNP) Cancer Clinical Trials Centre – Australia’s premier cancer clinical trials centre – today at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Established through the extraordinary generosity of Greg Poche AO and the late Kay Van Norton Poche AO, the new centre will expand access to world-leading cancer clinical trials for patients in Northern Sydney and across Australia, helping accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and bringing hope to patients sooner.
NORTH STAR VNP is a partnership between Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) and the world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York, positioning Australia at the forefront of international cancer research.
A landmark step forward for patients and research
The Early Phase Unit was officially opened by Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Health Officer of New South Wales and Deputy Secretary, Population and Public Health, alongside Adjunct Professor Anthony Schembri AM, Chief Executive of Northern Sydney Local Health District.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Chant highlighted the significance of the new facility for patients across the country.
“This dedicated facility will strengthen our ability to deliver specialised trials where new therapies are tested in patients for the first time,” Dr Chant said.
She also reinforced the importance of ensuring every Australian has equitable access to these advances.
“A person’s postcode should not determine whether they benefit from research and innovation.”
A vision made possible through philanthropy
The vision behind NORTH STAR VNP was made possible through a landmark $20 million gift from Greg Poche AO and Kay Van Norton Poche AO to the NORTH Foundation – the largest philanthropic donation in the Foundation’s history. Their ambition was to remove barriers preventing Australians, particularly those in rural and regional communities, from accessing potentially life-saving clinical trials.
“When Kay Van Norton Poche and Greg Poche made their extraordinary $20 million gift to the NORTH Foundation, it was the largest donation ever received in our charity’s history,” said NORTH Foundation CEO Gil Lorquet.
“A gift of that size is more than just generous – it’s visionary. It’s a legacy of compassion that will change the lives of cancer patients for generations to come, and we are incredibly grateful to them both.”
Hope for future generations
With the expertise of its multidisciplinary clinical and research teams, NORTH STAR VNP will deliver promising new therapies more quickly and efficiently while attracting the next generation of world-class oncologists, researchers and scientists through international fellowships and global collaborations. The centre will strengthen partnerships between hospitals, clinicians and allied health professionals across Australia, ensuring more patients can participate in clinical trials, including those living in rural, regional and remote communities and First Nations peoples.
The launch also featured a moving address from Michel, a current participant in a cancer clinical trial, who shared his personal experience of receiving treatment through the program. Diagnosed with throat cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes, Michel said joining a clinical trial was an easy decision.
“Whatever happens, I become part of the process that will help the next generation or the next person who has to go through something.”
He also praised the team at Royal North Shore Hospital for caring for him throughout his treatment.
“The whole team that looks after me have been absolutely brilliant. Their medical and emotional support has been unbelievable.”
As NORTH STAR VNP begins this next chapter, the centre stands as a powerful example of what philanthropy, global collaboration and medical innovation can achieve together – bringing cutting-edge cancer treatments to patients sooner and creating hope for countless people across Australia.
To help advance the future of cancer clinical trials, support NORTH STAR VNP by donating.
