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NCIC’s Mission

The National Centre for Infections in Cancer was conceived in response to data on infections in cancer patients being a leading cause of death and a significant cost to the healthcare system.

To date, no group has systemically addressed this problem in Australia, nor is it addressed in national cancer strategies. 

 

The three pillars that make up NCIC:

  • Innovation - Establishing a national infrastructure for cancer specific infection surveillance, clinical trials, and clinical support.  

  • Implementation - Implementing lifesaving and harm minimising clinical care pathways for the management of infections in the immunocompromised individual.  

  • Surveillance - Introducing innovative technologies to support the detection of and improve care of infections in cancer. 


There is a critical lack of expertise to manage the issue of potentially fatal infections obtained during treatment for cancer on a national level.
— Prof Slavin, NCIC

What we do

The National Centre for Infections in Cancer (NCIC) was established in response to data that showed infections were a leading cause of death in people with cancer, exacting an unacceptable human toll while also resulting in significant cost to the Australian healthcare system.

The National Centre for Infections in cancer is the peak body that looks at the diagnosis and management of Infections in cancer patients. Cancer patients are extremely vulnerable to infection due to their immunocompromised status, either due to the cancer or its treatment.

Infections are very common in cancer patients and can adversely affect outcomes and can cause delays in receiving cancer therapy. Cancer treatments have expanded rapidly recently with many novel advances such as CART, however, research into the effects of these new cancer treatments on infection risk, diagnosis and management have not. The NCIC is a multidisciplinary, national network that harnesses the digital health technology age to improve outcomes for cancer patients.




Our Leaders

The National Centre for Infections in Cancer is led by Australia’s foremost experts in infections in cancer, providing evidence-based guidance and research for all health practitioners across the nation.

Prof Monica Slavin

Centre and Innovations lead

Immunocompromised Host Infection Service, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital

Monica is highly productive in clinical research and knowledge translation and views improving safety and quality of services to be an integral part of her role.

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Prof Karin Tursky

Implementation lead

Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital

Karin is a national leader in Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) with over 15 years experience in health services research and implementation science. She is internationally recognised as an expert in the area of AMS, particularly in relation to computerised systems.

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A Prof Leon Worth

Surveillance lead

Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Royal Melbourne Hospital

Leon works to inform and evaluate surveillance for healthcare-associated infections across all Victorian hospitals, ensuring that state government health priorities are supported and education is provided to all hospital staff responsible for surveillance.

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Our Partners

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