PoCoG was conceived in response to a recognised need to develop the capacity and co-ordinated collaboration to conduct large-scale, multi-centre psycho-oncology and supportive care research. PoCoG is formally constituted as an Australian and New Zealand Co-operative Research Group . A Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has been formed including representatives from around Australia and New Zealand. An Executive Committee oversees the administrative functions of the group.

PoCoG has been successful in securing funding from the following organisations:

• The Cancer Institute NSW: Infrastructure grant
• Cancer Australia: Infrastructure support for clinical trials program
• COSA: Cooperative groups enabling grant

We are excited to announce that we have been successful in obtaining funding for our first national collaborative study. We have received NHMRC funding for 2007 and 2008 of $401,000 for our project about the unmet psychological needs of cancer patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Aims

The aims of PoCoG are improve the outcomes of patients experiencing a diagnosis of cancer, their families and carers through evaluation and implementation of psychosocial and supportive care interventions for patients, carers, health professionals and the health care system by:

• Bringing together researchers, clinicians and health care professionals with an interest in Psycho-oncology and foster collaboration
• Developing large-scale, multi-centre Psycho-oncology studies of clinical relevance and importance
• Developing more formal links with cancer clinical trial groups to facilitate psychosocial sub-studies
• Promoting Psycho-oncology research
• Supporting emerging new researchers in this area

Current activities:

• Identifying individuals and groups working in this area and promoting membership of PoCoG.
• Developing a list of current and planned psycho-oncology research in Australia.
• Developing major collaborative projects and seeking funding for example, exploring the unmet needs of cancer patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

If you are a clinician, allied health professional, or researcher with an interest in psycho-oncology research, you are eligible to join the group. There is no cost to join.

For more information or to become a member, email or visit our website: www.pocog.org.au or contact us:

Chair: Professor Phyllis Butow

Brennan MacCallum (A18)
University of Sydney NSW 2006
Ph: +61 2 9351 2859
Fax: +61 2 9036 5292
Email:

Executive Director: Dr Nicole Rankin

Brennan MacCallum (A18)
University of Sydney NSW 2006
Ph: +61 2 9036 6114
Fax: +61 2 9036 5292
Email: