COMET | Palliative Medicine

COMET: Community Supportive Care Trials Program

Community Supportive Care Trials program: enhancing supportive care trials for community dwelling people with cancer

Outcome 1

The COMET program works to reduce the gaps in evidence for providing best care to community dwelling people with cancer. All people with cancer deserve access to care that is high quality and underpinned by evidence, including those who are frequently ineligible for existing trials, and including, or perhaps especially, those with advanced disease.

Outcome 2

Available trials designed and tailored to answer important clinical gaps in care

Outcome 3

Community dwelling people with cancer who find attendance at hospital centres burdensome will be facilitated to participate in supportive care clinical trials

Outcome 4

Through linking clinicians, local providers, cancer trials centres and collaborative trial groups the COMET program will create an active professional network of trialists and clinical providers

Expanding access to supportive care trials for people with cancer living in the community

About COMET

The COMET program is dedicated to improving access to supportive care clinical trials for people with cancer who live in the community—especially those with advanced disease or who are often excluded from traditional research. By leveraging local solutions, telehealth platforms, and the expertise of experienced trial collaborators, COMET aims to close critical gaps in care.

We believe every person with cancer deserves high-quality, evidence-based care—regardless of where they live or their eligibility for conventional trials.

Program Outcomes

1. Bridging the Evidence Gap Improving the evidence base for supportive care in community settings, especially for those with advanced disease.

2. Purpose-Built Trials Designing trials that address key clinical gaps and unmet needs.

3. Accessible Trials for Community-Dwelling People Supporting patients who find hospital visits challenging by offering flexible trial access.

4. Building a Connected Network Linking clinicians, local providers, cancer trial centres, and research groups to foster a strong professional community

Current Trials

Explore ongoing studies:

GENOS - A Pragmatic Registry Trial Investigating PharmacoGenomics In Opioid Switching for Cancer Pain
RESONANCE – Investigating cannabis oil for symptom management and quality of life
FOCUSau - Online support program for people living with advanced cancer and their family carers
Cancer PAIN – An Open Label Single-arm Feasibility Study of Acupuncture for Treatment of Pain in Patients with Advanced Cancer Disease

Trial Locations

Trials are currently available at:

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Austin Hospital

Education & Support for Clinicians

We offer tailored education sessions to support clinicians facing workforce shortages in community palliative care. These include:

On-the-road sessions
Small group workshops
Formal large-group education events

Education is available on request.

Ms Angela Chia (COMET Program Coordinator) and Dr Lucy Demediuk (COMET Program Fellow)

CONTACT: 0403 210 478 (during business hours)