Our vision: World without melanoma
Melanoma is Australia’s national cancer, due to a high UV-radiation environment and susceptible population. The incidence of melanoma in Australia is 12 times the global average, with 28,000 cases diagnosed each year.
It is the most common cancer in Australians aged 15-39 years.
More than 1,700 people lose their lives to melanoma each year, a burden which will be prevented with better screening and early detection programs.
Transformation of early detection is the key to reduce the burden on patients, families and the healthcare system and deliver on our vision of a “World Without Melanoma”.
Equity to healthcare for all Australians
ACRF ACEMID will operate via an integrated telemedicine network, which will link urban, regional and rural hospitals, to deliver 15 interconnected dermatology research nodes across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, with future plans for a staged implementation across other States and Territories.
Our initiative will reduce the overarching burden, morbidity and mortality associated with melanoma in Australia by ensuring healthcare services are distributed effectively and equitably to Australians most in need.
Channelling people into risk stratified screening programs is expected to enable significant personal and healthcare system cost-savings.
This will overcome the current high degree of variability in diagnostic accuracy of melanoma and other skin cancers, largely dependent on the experience and training of the doctor.
The number of benign excisions for every melanoma diagnosis ranges from 3:1 to over 30:1. The cost burden increases for the healthcare system and the patient with each additional biopsy or excision.
In bringing smart imaging to regional areas of Australia, ACRF ACEMID will not only enable better health outcomes, but also upskill the workforce, leading to new local job opportunities in the healthcare sector.