Our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) undertakes the critical review of clinical research, trials, and fellowships which GCF considers funding. When medical specialists and other health researchers submit funding proposals to GCF, SAC reviews the importance of the question posed in the trial, the design of the trial, and the ability of the trial to yield results that will have a positive impact on cancer treatments and the relationship between the study and GCF's research priorities:

• improving access for New Zealanders to clinical trials

• supporting clinicians to combine their clinical work with research projects

• the development of a dedicated clinical research workforce for upper and lower GI cancers, with a focus on increasing Māori participation

• supporting research and trials that increase equitable outcomes and access for Māori, and other underserved populations in Aotearoa New Zealand. SAC makes recommendations to the GCF Board of Directors, who have the final vote. They approve a sum for the institution running the research, trial or fellowship based on its costs and benefits.

From there, the Principal Investigator (the doctor running the research or trial) or the Fellow seeks approval from the institution’s health research ethics committee. The doctor’s team sets up the infrastructure to run the research or trial and recruit patients who meet the criteria. They monitor the patients and document, analyse and evaluate the results. Many research projects and trials are performed in collaboration with colleagues in Australia or other countries. Finally, the results are published in medical journals to help guide specialists to make the best treatment decisions. 

For more information on clinical research and trials, download the REVIEW document here.