A $3 million grant from the Medical Research Future Fund has been secured for a project aimed at improving skin cancer detection in regional and rural Australia. Led by the University of Queensland, the initiative seeks to develop a national targeted melanoma screening program that will provide equal access to skin imaging services for patients in these areas.
Skin cancer rates are higher in regional areas, but only around 10 percent of dermatologists practice outside of capital cities. This project aims to address this issue by utilizing 3D total body photography combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to assist clinicians in detecting skin cancer at an early stage. The study will involve training regional staff to enhance their skills in this area and testing the technology at nine healthcare centers across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, with a 3D total body imaging trial hub set up at Mildura Base Public Hospital.
The project’s direction has been shaped through conversations with consumers in regional communities who face challenges such as geographical isolation and limited access to healthcare facilities. By utilizing technology, this initiative aims to address these obstacles and make services more accessible in rural areas. In addition to enhancing research and clinical trial opportunities for patients in regional areas, the project will contribute to the Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis involving researchers from UQ, Monash University, and the University of Sydney. Overall, this project aims to save lives by improving early detection of potentially fatal skin cancers in patients in regional and rural Australia.
