Since the launch in 2019, our Idea Generation Workshop has established itself as a premier platform to elevate embryonic ideas and encourage participants to offer constructive advice, as well as ways of improving the proposed ideas.
These workshops directly support our commitment to accelerate the pace of discovery and connect researchers, especially early career researchers. The Idea Generation Workshops provide researchers with a supportive environment to present embryonic concepts and receive valuable expert feedback to refine their ideas while contributing to our robust research pipeline.
Our eighth Workshop, held virtually on 16 May 2025, was facilitated seamlessly by medical oncologists, Dr Charlotte Lemech and Dr Abhijit Pal. The Workshop showcased five exciting ideas centred on Early-Phase Study Designs, each addressing critical unmet needs in the field.
Almost 90 participants registered to join the Workshop, including AGITG members from all disciplines, and representatives from other collaborative trial groups, patient advocacy organisations and the pharmaceutical industry.
Participants were invited to consider the many aspects of the ideas presented, including potential impact, requirements to ensure its success, potential to become AGITG studies and more. Each presenter received immediate, actionable feedback from AGITG leaders and experts.
Following Q&A, feedback, and discussion, participants voted based on interest and enthusiasm level for each concept, helping to prioritise ideas with the greatest potential for further development.
Thank you to the convenors, presenters and all participants whose insights and expertise made this another successful workshop.
A summary of the presenters and their proposed ideas:
Idea 1: Presented by Dr Claudia Leslie
FAPI PET in Early GCa
Idea 2: Presented by Dr Jessie Nguyen
COALESCE: Anti-EGFR agent in mCRC patient with KRAS mutation with low varient allele frequency
Idea 3: Presented by Dr John Mak
DePART: DNA-PK inhibitor to Augment Radionuclide Therapy in GEP-NET
Idea 4: Presented by Dr Samuel Smith
Appendix Ca Window Trial: A single arm phase II window of opportunity study of abemaciclib prior to surgical resection in patients with appendiceal cancer
Idea 5: Presented by Dr Jessie Nguyen
All details regarding this idea are confidential and restricted from public distribution.
Progressing workshop ideas
The hope is that ideas presented will now be developed further with the support of the Concept Development groups, before being presented to the Upper or Lower GI Working Party.
Upcoming workshops
We look forward to hosting our next Idea Generation Workshop at 9am AEST, Friday 15 May 2026, focused on early-age-onset GI cancer. More information to come soon.
Interested in participating in future workshops? Contact research@gicancer.org.au for more information on upcoming opportunities.