Need professional support for your research?
The Regional Cancer Research Network NSW (RCRN NSW) provides specialised research expertise to help Network members develop, undertake and translate cancer research.
Our Senior Research Partners (SRPs) work with researchers and clinicians across the Network, providing tailored support across the research lifecycle — from developing an initial research idea through to study design, funding, governance, implementation and translation.
How we can support you
Develop
Research development and planning
Research questions, study design, protocols, project plans and research strategies
Funding and grant development
Funding applications, budgets and grant readiness
Undertake
Research governance
Ethics applications, governance requirements and study documentation
Project implementation
Clinical, translational and health services research
Connect & grow
Research collaboration
Connections with clinicians, researchers and other stakeholders
Researcher development
Build research, scientific, technical and research management skills
Whether you're developing a new research idea or progressing an existing project, our Senior Research Partners can tailor their support to your needs.
Our Senior Research Partners
The Network's Senior Research Partners bring expertise across health and medical research, clinical research, research management, qualitative research, behavioural science and research translation.
Dr Allison Boyes
Behavioural science, cancer research and research translation
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Dr Allison Boyes is a behavioural scientist with extensive experience in cancer, health services and population health research. She is a former Program Leader of HMRI's Equity in Health and Wellbeing Program and has held competitive fellowships from the NHMRC and Cancer Institute NSW.
With more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and extensive experience in research funding and translation, Allison provides research expertise to support Network members to develop, implement and translate research projects and capacity-building initiative.
Dr Erin Fuller
Research management, governance and stakeholder engagement
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Dr Erin Fuller has a strong background in health and medical research, strategic research management, governance and stakeholder engagement. She completed her PhD in Psychoneuroimmunology at the University of Newcastle and has extensive experience supporting research programs and building collaborative relationships across the health and research sectors.
Erin works with Network members to develop research capability, strengthen collaborations and progress research from concept through to implementation and impact.
Dr Alexandra (Alex) Smith
Clinical research, medical anthropology and qualitative research
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Dr Alex Smith is a medical anthropologist with more than 20 years' experience across academic, government and health service 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.
Alex also holds a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Queensland, where she leads qualitative research focused on advanced cancer, palliative care, and patient and caregiver experiences. She supports researchers across the development, implementation and translation of clinical and academic research.
You do not need to have a fully developed project to seek support. If you have a research idea, are developing a proposal, or need guidance with an existing project, we encourage you to get in touch.
Complete the online request form, and a member of the team will contact you to discuss how we can help.
Request research support
Dr Allison Boyes and Dr Erin Fuller 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 and supports researchers across non-metropolitan Hunter New England, the Mid North Coast , Western NSW and Northern NSW.
Senior Research Partners: An Innovative Model for Building and Sustaining Research Capacity for Regional Cancer Research
ARMS 2025 Conference Presentation
Presented by Dr Erin Fuller and Dr Alexandra Smith
Recognising excellence in research support
Awarded to Dr Allison Boyes, Dr Erin Fuller and Dr Alexandra Smith for their dedicated efforts strengthening cancer research across regional NSW. Since forming in mid-2023, the team has provided hands-on support to clinicians, academics and students to shape research ideas, prepare ethics submissions, refine study plans and secure funding. In their first year, they supported 90+ requests and helped secure more than $1.3M+ in funding.