Quick Update: Membership: 786 Members 13th COGNO ASM Update Trials Update Member Newsletter I s s u e 3 2 Autumn 2020 Message from our Chair Dear COGNO members, As I sit writing the Chair’s message today, we are in a very different world to that we were thriving in just a few short months ago. For now, Australia seems to be ‘flattening the curve’ of COVID-19 with aggressive social distancing measures, but those measures are changing the way we live, work, research, and care for our patients. I sincerely hope none of you have been personally affected by COVID-19 illness and loss, but it is possible that will come to some of us. Most COGNO members are in healthcare or medical research, so we are fortunate to have jobs Inside this issue: that are still needed during COVID-19. However, life as we knew it has changed – at least for the moment. Chairman’s Message Many of us will be changing how we care for our patients, losing the face to face 1 interactions that engender trust in people with life threatening illnesses. Some of us may th be redeployed to assist in medical care outside our area of expertise. Some will be worried 13 COGNO ASM 2 about bringing illness home from work. Some will be struggling with new funding timelines, Update a lab shutdown, the worries of our graduate students, and with keeping research staff employed. Others will be worried about elderly parents, an immunocompromised partner, Asian Society of 2 Neuro-Oncology an unwell child, or a close friend who is struggling. Our own mental health may suffer as (ASNO) & World our social and work networks close down, or as we adjust to changes in how we and our Federation of Neuro families live and work. Even working from home, which at first seems like a luxury, can be -Oncology Societies difficult, unproductive, uncomfortable, and lonely. (WFNOS) 2021 Getting to Know 3 While we move through this worrying time, it is more important than ever that COGNO does COGNO’s MC not lose its focus on improving outcomes for people with brain cancer. We still have clinical Member: trials open, and importantly, we still have patients who are looking for the opportunity that Dr Sanjeev Gill clinical trial participation provides. We may have to do things a little differently, and fortunately we are guided by the teams at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre as well as Study & Trial 3-6 national and international bodies as we find ways to continue recruitment and participation Updates in clinical research. New Concepts/ 7 Trials in This will end, and when it does, we need to position COGNO activities and COGNO trials to Development hit the ground running. We need to do this for our patients and their families. While there is much we cannot do at the moment – I for one am ‘trapped’ in Western Australia with our Membership Update 7 borders closed – there is still much we can do. We can continue to develop ideas, propose trials, seek funding, operationalise studies, and progress ethics review. Let’s continue the incredible momentum we have gained from the Australian Brain Cancer Mission. We can still COGNO Staff Update 7 meet through Zoom and MSTeams, we can still phone and email, we can still think and write. We can do all these things from wherever we are. Additional 7-8 Information In the words of Charles Darwin: It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change. Shitbox Spring 2019 8-9 Rally Professor Anna Nowak MBBS FRACP PhD Reminders 9 Group Chair COGNO Committees 10 and Contacts Member Newsletter P a g e 2 13th COGNO ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING The 13th COGNO Annual Scientific Meeting has been rescheduled from October 2020 to Monday — Tuesday, 25 - 26 October 2021 (pre and post business/satellite meetings on 24 and 27 October), in Melbourne, Australia. Further details when available will be posted on the COGNO website (www.cogno.org.au), and emailed to those on our ASM mailing list (email [email protected] to join the mailing list). ASIAN SOCIETY OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY (ASNO) WORLD FEDERATION OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES (WFNOS) 2021 COGNO members may not be aware that we have a long-standing and important relationship with the Asian Society of Neuro-Oncology (ASNO). ASNO was established in 2002 to “promote development of the field of neuro-oncology in the Asian region”. The aims of the society are: To establish and promote high standards for the treatment of patients with cancer affecting the nervous system To elevate and sustain the education of all involved in neuro-oncology To encourage mutual fellowship, goodwill, and scientific collaboration among physicians and scientists actively involved in the field of neuro-oncology. The organisation represents over 10 countries including Australia and has widened its coverage to become a multi- disciplinary group, by welcoming neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, paediatric and adult oncologists, neurologists, neuropathologists, neuro-radiologists, neuro-scientists, neuropsychologists, neuropsychiatrists, and allied health professionals. The ASNO website is: http://www.asn-o.com COGNO members have been regular attendees at the annual ASNO scientific meeting and have played key roles on ASNO committees. COGNO has been a member of ASNO since 2013 and is represented on the ASNO Reform Task Force by Mark Rosenthal and Zarnie Lwin. Zarnie will also be a member of the future ASNO Outreach Committee. Mark was President of ASNO in 2016 and COGNO hosted the 13th ASNO scientific meeting in Sydney (2015). In addition, ASNO is a member of the World Federation of Neuro-oncology Societies (WFNOS), established in 2012. WFNOS is a unique collaboration of three International societies: the Asian Society of Neuro-Oncology (ASNO), the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) and the Society of Neuro- Oncology (SNO). The recent quadrennial WFNOS Scientific meetings have been held in Yokohama (2009), San Francisco (2013) and Zurich (2017). The 6th Quadrennial WFNOS Meeting will be convened by ASNO and is to be held May 6 -9, 2021, in Seoul, Korea. Mark and Zarnie are on the WFNOS Scientific Committee, ensuring the full support of COGNO at this prestigious meeting. We encourage all COGNO members to attend and actively participate in the WFNOS 2021 scientific and social programs. See link http://www.wfnos2021.org COGNO is also delighted to announce that Zarnie Lwin has been appointed as Co-Chair of the SNO International Outreach Committee. This is a prestigious appointment and recognises Zarnie’s long standing interest and commitment to outreach programs that started with her involvement in COGNO’s very own outreach program. Member Newsletter Issue 32, Autumn 2020 P a g e 3 GETTING TO KNOW COGNO’S MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dr Sanjeev Gill is on COGNO’s Management Committee and co-convenor of COGNO’s 2021 ASM in Melbourne. Why did you become a Medical Oncologist and what triggered your interest in Neuro- Oncology research? I think Medical Oncology chose me. When rotating through all the various medical specialities as part of my basic physician training, I found Medical Oncology the most challenging. The science and new therapies were very exciting but the most appealing aspect was the nature of the close relationship you develop with your patients as you journey with them. I developed an interest in Neuro-Oncology as I started to see more patients with brain tumours, particularly younger patients and the huge impact this diagnosis had on them & their families. What do you find most challenging about your work and most rewarding? The emergence of new therapies in recent years and the science behind the rapidly evolving options available for many malignancies is very challenging. The most rewarding aspect of my work is the relationship one develops with patients who are often experiencing the most challenging time in their lives and the opportunity to witness how the human spirit is able to continue to shine. How do you stay motivated to continue in your role? I look forward to every day. I think my patients keep me motivated to be there for them. The opportunity to serve our fellow human beings is a rare gift and we should be grateful for it in our lives. What is a typical day for you? I have clinics every morning where I see a variety of oncology patients. Some having treatment and others for a follow up. Afternoons often involve inpatients, clinical trials or teaching. What do you do in your ‘spare’ time? I love walking especially out in nature. Exercise is also a great way to unwind after a tough day. I also enjoy reading – especially philosophical & spiritual topics – as our understanding of consciousness is so limited yet it is the most fundamental force in the universe. STUDY & TRIAL UPDATES COVID-19 and Trial Operations at CTC We understand that the response to COVID-19 may be resulting in changes to the usual operations at your organisation. We ask that you keep us up to date on changes to local policies or procedures that may impact the conduct of clinical trials as soon as possible. These include the ability to recruit participants, and the access to protocol interventions, follow up visit schedules, or other protocol requirements for existing participants. The CTC trial teams are currently in discussions with study chairs/trial management committees (TMCs) for their clinical input on any specific changes that may be required for their respective trials – this TMC feedback will follow in due course and will address trial-specific matters such as alternate IP supply methods, off-site protocol assessments & visits, etc.