Bringing the Patient Voice into Research and Innovation
As theranostics and radiopharmaceutical therapies continue to advance, collaboration between researchers, clinicians, industry and patients is becoming increasingly important.
Oncothera Advocacy’s Nicholas Trpezanovski will explore this relationship as part of the ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR) Seminar Series, hosted by The University of Queensland.
His presentation, “Patient Advocacy, Research and New Product Development: How a Not-For-Profit Can Help Bring Innovation to Patients” will examine the role patient advocacy organisations can play in supporting research, innovation and the development of new therapies.
Bringing Patients into the Conversation Earlier
Traditionally, patient advocacy organisations have played an important role in raising awareness, providing education and support, and advocating for the needs of specific patient communities. But advocacy can also contribute much earlier in the innovation journey.
By building appropriate relationships between patient communities, researchers and industry, advocacy organisations can help ensure the patient voice is considered while new treatments and technologies are still being researched and developed. For emerging fields such as theranostics, this collaboration can be particularly valuable.
Understanding patient experiences, unmet needs and barriers to access can help provide important context alongside the scientific, clinical and commercial considerations that shape new therapies.
Collaboration Without Compromising Independence
Industry partnerships can also provide funding and resources that enable not-for-profit organisations to deliver education, awareness, research and advocacy initiatives. However, these relationships need to be approached carefully.
For patient advocacy organisations, independence and trust are fundamental. Effective partnerships should therefore be transparent, sustainable and mutually beneficial, without compromising the organisation’s ability to represent patients and the broader community independently.
This is an important principle for Oncothera Advocacy as we continue to collaborate across the theranostics ecosystem. Our aim is to help connect patients, policy and practitioners – bringing together perspectives from patients, clinicians, researchers, industry, government and advocacy to help advance understanding and improve access to theranostics.
Continuing the Conversation
Nicholas will share insights from theranostics and Oncothera Advocacy’s own experience during the AMTAR Seminar Series.
🗣️ “Patient Advocacy, Research and New Product Development: How a Not-For-Profit Can Help Bring Innovation to Patients”
📅 Friday 9 October 2026
🕛 12:00pm AEST
📍 AIBN Seminar Room, The University of Queensland + Zoom
👉 For all details and registration, visit the AMTAR Hub.
The seminar provides an important opportunity to continue the conversation about how advocacy and innovation can work together – and how the patient voice can remain at the centre as new therapies move from research towards clinical care.
Innovation creates possibility. Advocacy helps connect that possibility with the patients it is ultimately intended to benefit.
