Congratulations to clever researchers at the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Clinical Trials Centre at the University of Sydney who have won the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) HEAT Excellence in Trial-Based Health Economics Award.

Their study ‘The Melanoma Genomics Managing Your Risk Study’ is a randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of personal melanoma genomic risk information, compared to standard prevention advice, in motivating reduced exposure to ultraviolet radiation in the general population.

The health economics component of the study was led by Associate Professor Stephen Law and Professor Rachael Morton, two senior health economists from the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, alongside the Principal Investigator Professor Anne Cust and a multidisciplinary team.

The study found that a program providing individuals with a report on their genetic risk of melanoma was a cost-effective method to improve sun protection behaviours.

It’s incredibly important and innovative research. This approach is projected to significantly reduce sunburns and melanomas among Australians at high risk of skin cancer.

Excerpt from the University of Sydney media release:

Associate Professor Stephen Law said, “One-off genomic screening and provision of a personalised risk report was cost-effective for those people with a high traditional risk of melanoma, at around $35,000 to save one year of life in full health, which is considered to be excellent value for money by the Australian Government.”

Professor Rachael Morton says, “It is unlikely that providing personalised genomic risk information for people at low risk of melanoma is cost-effective. We therefore recommend a targeted screening approach whereby one-off genomic testing and a personalised risk profile report is given to Australians who are at high traditional risk of melanoma, rather than given to everyone in the population.”

This study has informed the new Australian Cancer Plan, which includes the development of a National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control, including the use of genomics for prevention. A targeted skin cancer screening program is now a focus of the Australian Cancer Plan, within which genomics/polygenic scores might be incorporated as part of the risk assessment processes and is endorsed by the College of Dermatologists and consumers.

The authors would like to acknowledge the trialists, clinicians and consumers involved in the Managing Your Risk Study, on which this economic evaluation was based

NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney

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