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.
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.