Need professional support for your research?
You can submit a request online and our team will contact you as quickly as possible.
The NSW Regional Cancer Research Network has appointed a team of Senior Research Partners (SRPs) to provide specialised, high-quality research support to Network members across our regional footprint.
Dr Erin Fuller, Dr Alexandra (Alex) Smith and Dr Allison Boyes play a central role in strengthening the Network’s clinical research activity. Working closely with our Program Team, Network members and partner organisations, they provide tailored research expertise based on local clinical needs and priorities.
How our Senior Research Partners can support you
- High-level, client-focused support across a wide range of research projects and initiatives, including proposal development, protocols, budgets, funding applications, ethics submissions and study materials.
- Expert guidance in designing, implementing and delivering high-quality, locally driven translational research projects.
- Facilitation of collaborative relationships with clinicians, researchers and stakeholders to identify and progress meaningful research and capacity-building initiatives.
- Individualised research capacity building, including support to develop scientific, technical and research management skills, and to strengthen researcher profiles in regional communities.
Dr Erin Fuller and Dr Allison Boyes are based at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) in Newcastle. Dr Alex Smith is based at the North West Cancer Centre at Tamworth Hospital, supporting the northern parts of the HNE footprint, the Mid-North Coast and Northern NSW.
To request research support, submit an online request and our team will be in touch as soon as possible.
About our Senior Research Partners
Dr Erin Fuller
Dr Erin Fuller joins the Network with a strong background in health and medical research, completing her PhD in Psychoneuroimmunology at the University of Newcastle. She has extensive experience in strategic research management, governance and stakeholder engagement, most recently as Manager, Research & Engagement for HMRI’s Mental Health Research Program. Erin is passionate about fostering collaborative relationships and building research and clinician capacity to drive meaningful research impact.
Regions supported: Metro HNELHD (Newcastle) and CCLHD
Contact: erin.fuller@newcastle.edu.au
Dr Alexandra (Alex) Smith
Dr Alex Smith is a medical anthropologist working across academic and clinical research settings. She has managed the Oncology Clinical Trials & Research Team at the North West Cancer Centre, supporting clinical and investigator-initiated cancer and palliative care research. Through her concurrent Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Queensland, she leads qualitative research focused on advanced cancer, palliative care, and patient and caregiver experiences.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across universities, government and health services, Alex supports clinical and academic research from concept through to implementation.
Regions supported: Non-metro HNELHD (including Maitland northwards), MNCLHD, NNSWLHD
Contact: alex.smith10@newcastle.edu.au
Dr Allison Boyes
Dr Allison Boyes is a behavioural scientist and former Program Leader of HMRI’s Equity in Health and Wellbeing Program. She has held competitive fellowships from the NHMRC and Cancer Institute NSW, and has more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, 50 research grants and over 3,700 citations. Her work focuses on improving wellbeing for people affected by chronic diseases, particularly cancer, dementia and mental health conditions.
Allison provides expert support to Network members to develop, implement and deliver high-quality translational research projects and capacity-building initiatives in regional settings.
Contact: NSWRCRN@newcastle.edu.au
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