Celebrations as the winners of the Moondance Cancer Awards 2022 are announced

The Moondance Cancer Awards 2022 were held on June 16th in Cardiff to celebrate ‘brilliant people across NHS Wales and its partners who maintained, and innovated, cancer services despite the extraordinary circumstances of the last two years’.

The awards were compiled into several themes including ‘Achievement’, ‘Emerging Leaders’, ‘Outstanding Achievement’, ‘and ‘Pioneering Innovation’. Among the lucky shortlist of delegates eagerly awaiting the results were colleagues from the All Wales Genomics Oncology Group (AWGOG), All Wales Medical Genomics Services (AWMGS) and Velindre who were respectively competing in the ‘Innovation in Treatment’ category.

The All Wales Paediatric Cancer Predisposition Clinic were one of 4 hopefuls nominated for the ‘Workforce’ Award.

AWGOG is a multidisciplinary group with representation from adult and paediatric oncologists, haematologists, histopathology, pharmacy, the All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS), Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC), All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre (AWTTC) and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG).

The All Wales Paediatric Cancer Predisposition clinic was established in 2019 to improve the care of children with genetic predisposition to cancer in Wales. The AWPCPC is unique in the UK, comprising of a clinical geneticist, general paediatrician, paediatric oncologist and genetic counsellor whom attend every consultation, facilitating a holistic and coordinated approach to, the often complex, care needs of patients. The clinic operates on a hub and spoke model to establish a diagnosis and create a care plan before working closely with, and supporting, healthcare professionals who deliver this care locally.

Presiding over judging of the innovation category were an esteemed panel of judges including UK Medical Director of the Telemedicine Clinic, Cancer Clinical Director for Wales Prof Tom Crosby, CEO of Tenovus Judi Rhys MBE and Prof Neil Mortensen, President of the Royal College of Surgeons. The judges were reportedly “delighted and humbled by the number and quality of submissions received".

 Pictured: colleagues from AWGOG, AWMGS and Velindre (pictured) who jointly won the award for ‘Innovation and Treatment’. 

Upon declaring the winning result, the judges noted the formidable achievements of each of these three initiatives:

The DPYD testing pilot team in collaboration with Velindre delivered ‘a project which saw Wales become the first UK nation to routinely offer pharmacogenetic screening to cancer patients in receipt of certain types of chemotherapy. Low levels of the DPD enzyme (predicted by the genetic test) can result in a build-up of these chemotherapy drugs, thereby making the side effects more severe and occasionally fatal.

The DPYD test will be offered prior to the start of chemotherapy with results available in as little as 3 working days. With such quick turnaround times, treatments can be adjusted accordingly leading to significantly improved patient outcomes.

AWGOG has implemented, horizon-scanning to identify novel targeted therapies currently under NICE appraisal which has facilitated NHS Wales to accurately predict future requirements for precision medicine services and facilitate timely implementation. Since its formation the group has also published guidance on NTRK and FGFR2 gene fusion testing services, an ‘all Wales’ audit of the lung cancer genomics pathway has shaped the creation of a 'biomarker testing pathway for lung cancer, a model which we hope will be replicated in future SCP projects and supported a collaborative project enabling results to be uploaded on the Welsh Clinical Portal improving accessibility of vital clinical information.

The All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS) developed the Cymru Service for Genomic Oncology Diagnoses (CYSGODI). Launched in 2021, CYSGODI offers high-quality oncology precision medicine services using next generation sequencing technology to screen for targeted genes in a tumour or haematological malignancy.

Since it’s conception, this flagship service continues to provide clinicians with crucial information as to the patients diagnosis, prognosis and which treatment are most likely to be effective, therefore ensuring the best outcome for the patient.

Pictured: AWMGS colleagues with Welsh radio and television personality and Host, Jason Mohammad.

Congratulations to all of the winners and shortlisted entrants!

For more information on the Moondance Awards, including the comprehensive list of shortlisted initiatives and winners, please click here.