Australians in rural and remote areas may experience delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment of up to 53 days, compared to their metropolitan counterparts, contributing to poorer cancer survival.

“Quality cancer care cannot be dependent on postcode”, says A/Prof Anna Ugalde, Chief Investigator A on the 5-year Equitable Cancer Outcomes across Rural and Remote Australia (ECORRA) Trial. Launched in 2024, the ECORRA Trial will co-design and embed an implementation package to support rural and remote cancer services to align with the Optimal Care Pathways, as recommended in the 2023 Australian Cancer Plan.

The ECORRA Trial implementation package is hypothesised to improve adherence to the diagnosis- and treatment-related components of the Optimal Care Pathways in rural and remote cancer services, to be acceptable and feasible, and lead to reduced healthcare costs. Partnerships with stakeholder organisations, healthcare professionals, and people with the lived experience of cancer have been formalised and will facilitate nationwide scaling from 2029.

The ECORRA Trial represents a significant investment and commitment to develop a nationally scalable model that ensures rural and remote living Australians receive optimal cancer care to improve the survival and equity gap.

Contacts

Professor Anna Ugalde Chief Investigator A of the ECORRA Trial
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Associate Professor Skye Marshall Project Manager of the ECORRA Trial
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Phases

The ECORRA Trial will achieve its aim via three phases:

Funding

The ECORRA Trial was funded by the Commonwealth of Australia’s Medical Research Future Fund, funding identification number: MRF2030313 (Early to Mid-Career Researchers Scheme). The contents of the published material are solely the responsibility of the participating institutions and/or individual authors and do not reflect the views of the Commonwealth.

Investigators

Chief Investigators

Chief Investigators

Professor Anna Ugalde Deakin University
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Associate Professor
Serene Yoong
Deakin University
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Associate Professor
Camille Short
University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor
Nicolas Hart
University of Technology Sydney
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Associate Professor
Kate Gunn
University of South Australia
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Dr Rebecca Bergin Deakin University
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Associate Professor
Anna Wong Shee
Deakin Rural Health; Grampians Health
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Adjunct Professor
Anna Boltong
Monash University
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Associate Professor
Joel Rhee
University New South Wales
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Dr Deme Karikios University of Sydney
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Associate Professor
Nicole Kiss
Deakin University
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Dr Fiona Crawford-Williams Flinders University; McGrath Foundation
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Dr Lucy Leigh Hunter Medical Research Institute; University of Newcastle
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Dr Anna Chapman Deakin University
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Dr Lan Gao Deakin University
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Associate Investigators

Associate Investigators

Marilyn Dolling
Sophie Boffa
Professor Trish Livingston Deakin University
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Professor Vicki White Deakin University
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Drew Aras Western Alliance
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Professor Suzanne Robinson Deakin University
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Dr Laura Alston Deakin Rural Health; Colac Area Health
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Professor Sabe Sabesan James Cook University
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Dr Wasek Faisal Grampians Health
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Dr Carl de Wet South West Hospital and Health Service
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Dr Rebecca Perry Health Translation SA
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Arrin Wislang SA Regional Cancer Services, Rural Support Service
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Dr Harry Gasper Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Health Service
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Partnering organisations

The ECORRA Trial partners include leading health organisations committed to ensuring equitable cancer outcomes in rural and remote Australia. Together, these partners work with the Investigator team to drive research, maximise impact, and disseminate findings:

Governance

The ECORRA Trial governance operates in accordance with the ECORRA Trial Charter, established 1st October 2024, as coordinated by Chief Investigator A A/Prof Anna Ugalde and Project Manager A/Prof Skye Marshall.

Research Team

Our research team represent some of Australias most outstanding early and mid-career researchers who are responsible for conducting the research and delivering on the outcomes of the ECORRA Trial. The research team include members of the ECORRA Research Group, ECORRA Trial Chief or Associate Investigators, and representatives from collaborating organisations.

Dr Anna Chapman Deakin University, Chief Investigator
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Dr Hannah Beks Deakin University, Research Fellow
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Dr Rebecca Bergin Deakin University, Research Fellow
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Dr Fiona Crawford-Williams Flinders University, Chief Investigator
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Dr Lan Gao Deakin University, Chief Investigator
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Dr Lizzy Johnston Cancer Council Qld, Manager, Survivorship Research
Hannah Jongebloed Deakin University, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
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Dr Lucy Leigh Hunter Medical Research Institute, Chief Investigator
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Associate Professor Skye Marshall Deakin University, Project Manager
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Sharina Riva Deakin University, Research Assistant
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Helena Rodi Deakin University, Research Fellow
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Associate Professor Camille Short University of Melbourne, Chief Investigator
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Professor Anna Ugalde Deakin University, Chief Investigator
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Dr Charlene Wright Deakin University, Research Fellow
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Associate Professor Serene Yoong Deakin University, Chief Investigator
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Interested in working towards equitable cancer care by pursing a PhD?

The ECORRA Trial is offering multiple PhD stipends with scholarship top-ups to competitive candidates who have a demonstrated commitment to improving health outcomes in rural and remote Australia.

Publications

The ECORRA Trial investigators are currently conducting multiple reviews alongside Phase 1 of the ECORRA Trial, and look forward to sharing the findings in 2025.

Activities and Impacts