Principles to guide transdisciplinary health services research informed by a national rural cancer equity program

Despite advances in cancer control, significant inequities persist for people living in rural and remote areas. The Equitable Cancer Outcomes across Rural and Remote Australia (ECORRA) program represents a national, transdisciplinary effort to understand and reduce inequities in cancer outcomes across rural and remote regions. ECORRA brings together researchers, clinicians, consumers, and health policy partners to deliver large-scale initiatives underpinned by co-design, implementation, and health services research frameworks. This perspective highlights three flagship projects that exemplify its methodology to inform future initiatives that aim to address health inequity. Five key principles underpin ECORRA’s approach: (1) fit-for-purpose governance to ensure transparency and effective coordination; (2) embedded consumer involvement as a non-negotiable foundation; (3) a genuine rural and remote focus; (4) cross-sector partnerships extending beyond academia; and (5) place-based engagement that builds enduring trust. ECORRA demonstrates an innovative, principle-driven model for equity-focused health services research to improve cancer outcomes.

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Publication Details

Published
2026-06-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44528-026-00001-w
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Global Health Workforce Issues
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
18.69

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article

Principles to guide transdisciplinary health services research informed by a national rural cancer equity program

Laura Alston, Sharina Riva, Anna Wong Shee, Drew Aras et al.
1 citations
Global Health Workforce Issues
18.69
article

Principles to guide transdisciplinary health services research informed by a national rural cancer equity program

Laura Alston, Sharina Riva, Anna Wong Shee, Drew Aras, Patricia M. Livingston, Anna Ugalde, Skye Marshall, Harry Gasper, Helena Rodi, Charlene Wright, Joel Rhee, Lan Gao, Xueying Tang, Hannah Jongebloed, Anna Chapman, Sze Lin Yoong, Nicole Kiss, Kate M. Gunn, Fiona M. Crawford-Williams, Rebecca J. Bergin, Camille E. Short, Anna Boltong, Deme Karikios, Lucy Leigh, Megan Varlow, Kate Whittaker, Nicolas H. Hart, Sophie Boffa, Victoria Turner
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Despite advances in cancer control, significant inequities persist for people living in rural and remote areas. The Equitable Cancer Outcomes across Rural and Remote Australia (ECORRA) program represents a national, transdisciplinary effort to understand and reduce inequities in cancer outcomes across rural and remote regions. ECORRA brings together researchers, clinicians, consumers, and health policy partners to deliver large-scale initiatives underpinned by co-design, implementation, and health services research frameworks. This perspective highlights three flagship projects that exemplify its methodology to inform future initiatives that aim to address health inequity. Five key principles underpin ECORRA’s approach: (1) fit-for-purpose governance to ensure transparency and effective coordination; (2) embedded consumer involvement as a non-negotiable foundation; (3) a genuine rural and remote focus; (4) cross-sector partnerships extending beyond academia; and (5) place-based engagement that builds enduring trust. ECORRA demonstrates an innovative, principle-driven model for equity-focused health services research to improve cancer outcomes.

Vol. 1(1)
University of Technology Sydney (AU), Edith Cowan University (AU), The University of Sydney (AU), Deakin University (AU), Queensland University of Technology (AU), The University of Queensland (AU), The University of Melbourne (AU), Flinders University (AU), University of South Australia (AU), University of Southern Queensland (AU), Cancer Council Queensland (AU), Nepean Hospital (AU), UNSW Sydney (AU), Hunter Medical Research Institute (AU), Noosa Hospital (AU), Sunshine Coast University Hospital (AU), Ballarat Health Services (AU), SA Health (AU), Monash Health (AU), Melbourne Health (AU), Grampians Health, Monash University (AU), University of Newcastle Australia (AU), The University of Notre Dame Australia (AU), Cancer Council Australia (AU)
Australian Government, Cancer Australia, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, Western Alliance Health Research, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Council Victoria, Cancer Council Queensland
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Global Health Workforce Issues
18.69
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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