PaCCSC & CST Concept Development Workshops 2026

Facilitated by Professors Melanie Lovell (Pain) and Haryana Dhillon (Fatigue), the workshops were an opportunity for researchers to receive feedback and advice from a range of experts including senior researchers, biostatisticians, and representatives from the:

• IMPACCT Consumer Advisory Group (CAG),
• Cancer Research Economics Support Team (CREST), and the
• Cancer Quality of Life Expert Services Team (CQUEST).

Fascinating and informative presentations from our experts provided some key takeaways on:

• The increasing importance of flexible trial delivery, removing barriers and helping researchers apply results across locations, and
• alternative recruitment strategies and the advantages they offer compared with traditional methods.

We also heard from two members who shared their research, conducted with PaCCSC and CST support:

• Philip Austin: Virtual reality for cancer-related pain: lessons from evidence, and
• Megan Ritchie: Topical Testosterone treatment for fatigue in advanced cancer - a feasibility randomised control trial.

Consumer engagement

The CAG is a diverse group of Consumer Advisors whose insights extend beyond traditional academic feedback, offering a more holistic viewpoint from personal experience as a patient or support person. 

This diverse input helps researchers gain a broader understanding of the potential impact and challenges of their work as well as the real-world experiences of those affected by various health issues. Consumers shed light on the practical needs and perspectives of people with life-limiting illnesses and cancer.

Health Economics

Health economics advice from the Cancer Research Economics Support Team (CREST) early in a study design is critical to ensure relevant information is collected from the outset in clinical trials. This can then inform policy and practice recommendations resulting from clinical trial outcomes.

Quality-of-Life measures
Similarly, Quality-of-Life measures can be challenging to implement but are crucial to correct interpretation of clinical trial results. The Cancer Quality of Life Expert Service Team (CQUEST) provided expert advice on how to choose the best quality of life measures for a study.

Biostatisticians

We were fortunate to have Dr Belinda Butcher contributing biostatistical expertise and advice on trial design, planning for analysis and interpretation of study data. 

Next steps

Presenters were encouraged to create an action plan based on their workshopping sessions. We look forward to working with them as they develop the next stage of their concepts.

Thank you

The workshops were an opportunity for effective discussion, relationship‑building, shared understanding and strengthened collaborations.

“I really enjoyed it. It was very worthwhile.”

– Early Career Researcher

Thank you to the experts who gave their time to support our workshops and advise our researchers, and to those who shared their research and expertise with us.