Funding for Australian-first alliance boosting access to life-saving clinical cancer trials

09 March 2026

The Minns Labor Government is providing a funding boost to an Australian-first alliance that’s fast-tracking cancer patients across NSW onto potentially life-saving early-stage clinical trials.

Coordinated by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research with funding support from the NSW Government’s Cancer Institute NSW, the NSW Early Phase Clinical Trials Alliance (NECTA) is a state-wide network of doctors, researchers, clinical trial specialists, and hospitals who are collaborating to boost access to early-stage clinical trials that are critical to successful treatment.

The NSW Government invested $450,000 into the Cancer Institute this year to fund NECTA for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years, taking total investment in the program to $975,000. The investment has helped bolster the annual number of trials available from 150 to more than 180 over the past three years

Since its establishment in 2017, NECTA has seen a steady increase in the number of people accessing early-stage clinical trials across an increasing number of cancer types. More than 800 patients have been able to access early-stage clinical trials through NECTA.

The trials are the first step in testing new therapies in humans, following extensive laboratory and pre-clinical testing to both accelerate research and offer hope and a treatment pathway to those with limited options.

NECTA accelerates patient access to world class trials through a streamlined screening and referral system, requiring only a blood test instead of the more invasive tumour DNA testing. 

One grateful recipient is Julian from Soldiers Point, north of Newcastle, who was diagnosed with stage four metastatic oesophageal cancer in 2019.

Julian’s prospects were not good until he secured a place on the NECTA program in 2022 giving him access to a ground-breaking trial and treatment not otherwise available in Australia.

Four years later he is enjoying a full and active life.

As well as opening doors to world-class clinical trials, the network provides access to trials at a wider array of hospitals, in regional and rural NSW, with around one in four patients who access these trials living outside of metropolitan areas.

Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:

“NECTA is a great example of our leading health agencies working together to improve outcomes for patients now and in the future.

“We are proud to support this approach that puts the patient at the centre of coordinated care to ensure more people benefit from advances in state-of-the-art cancer treatment, no matter whether they live in cities, regional towns or rural communities in our state.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien AM said:

"Access to early-phase clinical trials is not just about hope, it’s about progress. For individuals, these trials can open doors to innovative treatments when options are limited.

“By working together through a network of public and private hospitals in metro and regional NSW, we’re increasing access for all people in NSW and as a cancer system building on our commitment to equity, excellence, and leadership in cancer care.

“Every breakthrough that saves lives tomorrow begins with a trial today. Early-phase clinical trials are the critical first step in turning discoveries into treatments, generating the evidence that drives drug development and deepens our understanding of cancer. Through NECTA, we’re accelerating this process and expanding access for people across NSW.”

Lab Head at the Garvan Institute and Head of Medical Oncology at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. Professor Anthony Joshua said:

“Early phase trials can offer another chance for patients who have few options left. But these trials are complex, and access can depend on where a patient lives or whether their doctor is aware of suitable studies. NECTA helps remove those barriers.

“Clinical trial networks such as NECTA are an incredibly powerful resource, with transformative benefits to advance our research. The alliance has made it possible to translate our laboratory findings into clinical trials much more efficiently.”

Cancer survivor Julian said:

“Through the NECTA network, I found hope when the outlook wasn’t good. The trial gave me access to cutting-edge science that wouldn’t otherwise be available in Australia for years. My tumours shrank to less than a centimetre, so then I was a candidate for surgery.

“These trials have let me live life to the full, enjoying each extra day that I’m blessed with. I play pickleball three times a week, go paddling, travel and do things on my bucket list.”

​