Institute of Haematology Nurse Practitioner (NP) Katrina Debosz Awarded Competitive Gilead Australia Fellowship Grant

 

Congratulations to Katrina Debosz, CAR-T Nurse Practitioner within the Institute of Haematology, RPA, who has been awarded the Gilead Australia Fellowship Research Grant of $60,000. She will work in collaboration with Professor Kate White and Claudia Rutherford from the Cancer Care Research Unit (CCRU) at University of Sydney, and with Dr Vinay Vanguru, Haematologist, and Dr Anthony Jeffrey, Cellular Therapies Fellow, from the Institute of Haematology RPA.

Research Study: Close to Home: Establishing a Shared Care Model with Rural and Regional Clinicians post-CAR T at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has advanced the treatment of haematologic malignancies, offering significant clinical benefits for patients with relapsed or refractory diseases. The therapy is associated with a range of potential complications, both acute and long-term, necessitating comprehensive follow-up care. Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) is one of the two adult commercial CAR-T sites in NSW, providing treatment for individuals from across NSW.  To date, approximately 50% of over 200 individuals who have received CAR-T live outside of the metropolitan region and currently either return to the city for follow up or be followed by a haematologist in regional centres.

Long-term follow-up (LTFU) following CAR-T cell therapy, including monitoring for late

toxicities (e.g., B-cell aplasia, cytopenias, neurotoxicity) and disease relapse, can feasibly be conducted closer to patients’ homes. Regional specialist cancer services are located across NSW provide an opportunity to improve follow-up care for rural patients and their families, through a shared care model.  The potential benefits in establishing a shared care model ensures:

  • Continuity of care

  • Reduced out of pocket expenses for the patient and family

  • Reduced burden on family carers

  • Reduced travel burden and time toxicity

  • Improved patient access and adherence

  • Reduced burden on tertiary centres

  • Enhanced professional collaboration

  • Increase knowledge and skills related to CAR-T follow-up in regional centres

 

This project aims to

1. Explore the perspective of patients and their families of follow up care post CAR-T

2. Identify the information needs of clinicians in regional cancer centres specific to CAR-T

3. With regional clinicians, map availability of local services and identify processes that would inform a shared care model for follow-up care, including urgent care.

4. With regional clinicians, identify workforce implications, including professional development needs

5. Drawing on the outcomes of objectives 1-4, develop a shared model of care for routine follow-up and emergency post CAR-T.

Harith Wickramasingha