Cancer research in NSW 2001-2006

Program evaluation
01 Mar 2008
Share this page Email this page to a friend Share this page via Twitter Share this page via Facebook Share this page via LinkedIn

Investment in cancer research has become a priority across the world, acknowledging the rising burden of cancer on society and in particular on healthcare budgets. There are compelling reasons for New South Wales to continue to be an active participant in world-class biomedical and health research and particularly in areas such as cancer.

This report provides an overview of cancer research in New South Wales. The report is presented in two sections. Part One draws on information gathered in two separate surveys of cancer research in NSW covering the periods 2001-2003 and 2004-2006. Part Two of the report provides an alternate view of the impact of the cancer research activity by assessing the research publications between 1999 and 2006.

Total funding from all sources for cancer related research in NSW was $134.5 million in 2004-2006, up 47% from $91.6 million in 2001-2003.

Part One: Surveys of cancer research activity

Two surveys of Cancer Research Activity in NSW were commissioned covering the periods 2001-2003 and 2004-2006.

The primary aim of both surveys was to provide a longitudinal overview of cancer research in the State and to identify what cancer research was being conducted and by whom. The surveys were conducted using a "bottom up" approach of surveying research groups directly. In addition the grant records of the NHMRC were searched to provide an indication of the comparative cancer research funding in NSW relative to other states over time.

Increases in funding for cancer research in NSW were observed between the two surveys.

Part Two: Systematic review of the quantity and quality of cancer research publications

Analyses of publication output in this report are based on two censuses of the cancer literature, from SCI-SSCI and from Medline, with primary focus on SCI-SSCI. The Medline database also provided a census of the medical literature.

NSW produced the largest number of publications on cancer of any Australian state

For the period 1999-2006, Australia's share of the World output of publications on cancer is estimated as 2.2% with a high of 2.4% in 2006. For this period, NSW produced the largest number of publications on cancer of any Australian state, with slightly over 31% of the national output. It was marginally ahead of Victoria with slightly over 30%, but well ahead of the other states. From 1999 to 2006 the annual outputs of publications on cancer grew for both NSW and Victoria and for Australia generally, with considerable growth from 2004 to 2006.

Top of page