The Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CCORE), established in 1999, is affiliated with the Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research. The Liverpool Hospital Cancer Therapy Centre is a tertiary referral centre for the treatment of cancer patients in south western Sydney.

CCORE aims to improve cancer outcomes through research and the implementation of best practice measures into routine clinical practice in the treatment of cancer. CCORE has particular expertise in radiotherapy but also has broad interests in all areas of cancer management. Staff members include radiation oncologists, a medical oncologist, epidemiologist, data managers and project officers.

CCORE has a wide range of activities that extend from the individual cancer patient to the organisation of cancer services at state, national and international levels. Our research covers the broad spectrum of clinical cancer including surgery, medical and radiation oncology, and is achieving these aims through the following strategies:

• establishment, implementation and evaluation of best practice guidelines and evidence summaries;

• exploration of methods by which best practice guidelines may be implemented locally;

• cancer clinical outcomes research;

• refining of methodologies of clinical research including quality of life, economic and qualitative programs; and

• establishment of partnerships and linkages between clinicians, universities and other clinical research groups locally and internationally.

Many members of CCORE hold conjoint appointments at UNSW and four staff are currently enrolled in PhDs under the supervision of Professor Michael Barton OAM. Three PhDs have been awarded in the last year.

CCORE has been very productive with many peer-reviewed publications, contributions to National Tumour Guidelines and commissioned reports. Following the publication of a report on the optimal utilisation of radiotherapy as a series of papers in Cancer the benchmark developed is currently being used and acknowledged worldwide.

Led by Professor Barton, a number of large collaborative studies that have had a major impact on policy and practice in relation to state, national and international strategic planning projects for cancer services have been completed, including:

• Victorian Cancer Services Framework Report

• Applied Sciences of Oncology Course

• Papua New Guinea Cancer Services Report

• New South Wales Cancer Council’s Radiotherapy Summit and Working Party

• Overview of Cancer Treatment Services in Western Australia

• Optimum radiotherapy utilisation

• A feasibility study of radiotherapy in the Northern Territory

• Radiotherapy in low and middle income countries

• Southern NSW Radiation Oncology Training Network for Registrars

• Optimal chemotherapy utilisation in cancer

• Adult Glioma guidelines