26 November 2018

A $234,000 partnership between the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute’s (AMSI) APR.Intern program and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) is set to place Victorian PhDs at the frontline of cutting-edge translational cancer research.

Commencing in March 2019, six PhD students will apply their specialist research skills to amplify cancer research while gaining valuable industry experience in Victoria’s leading clinical trial units. Applications for the internships are now open.

In addition to funding VCCC, industry partners will receive a 50 per cent rebate on project costs through APR.Intern under its Australian Government funded National Research Internship (NRIP) program.

AMSI Director, Professor Geoff Prince, said APR.Intern was delighted to partner on opportunities that would equip a new generation to drive clinical innovation.

“We are excited to be helping deliver real opportunities for Australian postgraduates to build essential skills and experience in Australia’s growing clinical trials sector,” said Professor Prince.

The VCCC is committed to providing comprehensive training opportunities to equip the future clinical trial workforce, Marian Lieschke, VCCC program champion and Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit Manager, said the internships opened an exciting avenue for skilled PhDs to complement their expertise with the skills needed to support the growing clinical trials sector.

“These placements offer Victorian PhD students the opportunity to engage with and contribute to every stage of the clinical trial process. Skills and knowledge needed to support advancement of Victorian cancer research translation as clinical study coordinators,” said Ms Lieschke.

These internships are supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internship Program’.

The VCCC Development of Clinical Trials Workforce Capacity and Capability Program is supported by the Victorian Government.

Media Contact: Laura Watson
E: media@amsi.org.au
P: 0421 518 733

About the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC)
The VCCC is a powerful alliance of 10 leading research, academic and clinical institutions working together to accelerate and amplify leading-edge cancer research, knowledge and expertise to benefit the Victorian community.

The multi-site, multi-disciplinary joint venture partnership with a shared goal of improving outcomes for Victorian cancer patients. The VCCC alliance partners are Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Health (including The Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, The Royal Women’s Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Western Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (including St Vincent’s Institute), Austin Health (including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and Austin Lifesciences) and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

About APR.Intern
Australia’s only all sector—all discipline not-for-profit postgraduate internship program, APR.Intern is transforming Australian businesses through university research collaborations. The program provides a platform for industry to further develop and innovate through short-term 3-5 month tightly focused research projects, and gives postgraduate students the opportunity to apply highly analytical research expertise to the project while gaining invaluable experience in an industry setting.

APPLY NOW: VCCC INTERNSHIPS