Western Health Foundation awarded $50,000 Telematics Trust grant for ChemoRight project

The Western Health Foundation is thrilled to announce receiving a $50,000 grant from Telematics Trust to support the development of an easy-to-use app, ChemoRight, as part of a groundbreaking project aimed at reducing chemotherapy overdosing and toxicity. This initiative seeks to transform chemotherapy treatment by ensuring safe dosages tailored to individuals, improving outcomes for patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in Australia, with 1 in every 19 Australians being diagnosed with colorectal cancer during their lifetime. Over 50% of these patients will require chemotherapy treatment, improving overall survival by more than 30%. Professor Justin Yeung, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Western Health along with his team, have developed a world first clinical tool called Predict that accurately predicts chemotherapy dosing requirements. To make this clinical tool accessible for patients and treating teams, Professor Yeung will use the Telematics Trust grant to help fund the creation of an easy-to-use app, ChemoRight. The app will translate chemotherapy dosage data for the clinician and patient and make this innovative AI technology of PredicTx easy to understand.

ChemoRight will translate the data into a guidance tool, clearly and simply indicating safe, understandable dosing regimens for patients and clinicians. Overdosing occurs because current chemotherapy dosing is based mainly on a patient's body surface area (BSA). Professor Yeung and his team’s published research confirms that patient's body composition measurements provide highly accurate predictions of who is likely to experience chemotherapy toxicity. This is a scalable initiative that can likely be applied to other cancer types, not only in Victoria but around the world.

The vision of Telematics Trust is to transform lives through technology, fostering education and training for cultural, social, and economic benefit. By funding projects that harness technology to address pressing community challenges, Telematics Trust aims to create a more equitable society. ChemoRight aligns perfectly with this mission, utilizing innovative technology to improve health outcomes for diverse and vulnerable populations.

The successful development of the ChemoRight app has the potential to:

• Enhance patient safety:
  Minimize chemotherapy toxicity through guiding clinicians on dosing based on individual body composition.
• Empower clinicians and patients:
  Deliver user-friendly, accessible and comprehensible dosage guidance.
• Expand beyond colorectal cancer:
  Provide a scalable model for other cancer treatments globally.

Published research conducted at Western Health demonstrates that body composition measurements offer a far more accurate prediction of chemotherapy toxicity compared to body surface area. By integrating this research with a practical app, ChemoRight represents a significant leap forward in personalized cancer care.

The $50,000 grant from Telematics Trust will fast-track the development of ChemoRight. By addressing a critical gap in cancer care, ChemoRight has the potential to alleviate suffering and enhance quality of life for patients undergoing chemotherapy—locally in Victoria and across the globe.

The Western Health Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to Telematics Trust for their support and shared vision of transforming healthcare through technology. Together, we are shaping a future where innovation meets compassion to deliver better health outcomes for all.