In the last edition of ISOPP’s Enewsletter, I proudly reported that our volunteer force was hard at work pursuing the goals of our ambitious three year strategy. I am equally proud to say that the progress continues as our volunteers are engaging in interesting and relevant projects.
The Education Committee has several initiatives in development, including new webinars and masterclasses and improving our online education resources through the website revamp project.
Meanwhile, the Advocacy Committee continues to work with the WHO on a Cancer Manual that will have resource adapted treatment regimens for low and middle income countries (LMICs) that are linked to the WHO essential medicines list for cancer (EMLcancer). Read the update article in the newsletter to find out about this and other important initiatives the Committee is pursuing.
A key focus of the Research Committee has been establishing a Mentorship Network, along with creation of a Research Repository on the ISOPP website. See more information on these projects and the ISOPP Symposium abstract submission and review process in the Research Committee feedback in this newsletter.
Planning of our 2023 International Symposium is in full swing. It’s just five months until we will be able to see each other in person in Seville! An engaging and inspiring program is taking shape and two masterclasses on Immunotherapy and Biosimilars are planned. Save the dates of March 2 - 5, 2023! The abstract deadline is approaching and we have had many impressive submissions. Be sure to register once it's open and pay by December 7th to qualify for the early bird discount!
Why not join our amazing team of volunteers? It’s a great way to network with global peers and boost your practice and knowledge. Have a look at the About page of the website for a list of Committees and Task Forces to find the right one for you. Right now, we are seeking volunteers to join the ISOPP Nominations Task Force for the 2023 elections. There will be four positions open including the position of President-Elect. Read within the newsletter to learn more.
Big news! We are changing the membership period from a calendar year (Jan to Dec) to twelve months from date of joining. This will take effect in 2023. Watch for membership renewal notices. We hope you will renew and continue to invest in the acquisition of leading edge knowledge and best practice through opportunities that ISOPP provides. These opportunities are not only offered through the Society’s educational events, but also through its Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (JOPP), this newsletter, the Virtual Library and the Virtual Journal Club.
So, please read on to learn more about oncology pharmacy around the world as well as the work and achievements of our members. There is a focus on Africa, with preliminary results of the survey on Biosimilars implementation in Africa shared below as well as some member news from Kenya.
Also, continue to spread the word about the value of ISOPP and encourage others to become members. Look for Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter posts and be sure to log in to the website for news and events.
See you online and at ISOPP 2023 in Seville, Spain!
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Evelyn Handel
ISOPP President
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Call for volunteers for
Nominations Task Force 2023
Express your interest by Monday, October 24, 2022
We are seeking ISOPP members who are interested in volunteering for the 2023 Election Nominations Task Force (NTF).
This year, the Task Force is chaired by Shaun O’Connor, ISOPP’s Past President and, as is customary, overseen by the Governance Committee. The work of this Task Force is outlined below, and will take place from November to January.
As a member of the NTF, ISOPP will ask you to:
- Identify possible ISOPP members to be candidates for open Secretariat positions;
- Contact potential candidates to speak about the opportunities of serving on the Secretariat; and
- Review the curriculum vitae of potential candidates.
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ISOPP Biosimilars Task Force - Preliminary Results from the Biosimilars Implementation Survey
By Emma Foreman, ISOPP Biosimilars Task Force Chair & Winnie Mwangi, Oncology Pharmacist, Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital
In 2019, an ISOPP survey identified several barriers to biosimilar implementation faced by oncology pharmacists internationally. The African region was identified as facing several challenges to implementation that were different from those experienced in higher income settings. This was also raised by participants at the ISOPP Biosimilars workshop which took place at the conference that year. With the help of a focus group of African oncology pharmacists, we designed a survey to explore these challenges further, with a view to designing educational materials and resources to meet the specific needs of oncology professionals in Africa.
Here are the main results:
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ISOPP’s Strategic Plan 2022 to 2024
ISOPP has a bold and far-reaching strategic plan for the next 3 years. ISOPP’s vision is to enhance oncology pharmacy care for patients around the world.
Three strategic initiatives will form the focus of the ISOPP Strategic Plan for 2022 to 2024:
- Engage and mobilize the global oncology pharmacy community
- Deliver enhanced professional development resources in oncology pharmacy
- Lead collaborative advocacy initiatives in oncology pharmacy
A 1-page synopsis of ISOPP’s 3 strategic initiatives, and associated objectives and actions, is available on the ISOPP website.
ISOPP Committees and Task Forces are vigorously pursuing these goals as we speak! See the updates on some of these strategy-led actions in this newsletter and look out for more in the coming months.
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JASPO translates ISOPP Standards of Practice
The Japan Clinical Oncology and Pharmacology Society (JASPO) will translate the ISOPP Standards of Practice, expanding its reach to over 5,000 oncology pharmacy practitioners in Japan. We are grateful to Hisanaga Nomura, ISOPP Secretariat member, for organising funding and translation, making the information even more accessible.
Contact services@isopp.org if you would like to do the same for another language of your choosing.
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News from the ISOPP Advocacy Committee
By John Wiernikowski, Co-chair
The Advocacy Committee remains engaged on a number of fronts in conjunction with other organizations and independently.
Ongoing work includes work with the WHO on a Cancer Manual that will have resource adapted treatment regimens for low and middle income countries (LMICs) that are linked to the WHO essential medicines list for cancer (EMLcancer). The manual will have chapters devoted to specific disease sites and ISOPP advocacy members will be assigned to each chapter working/writing group. ISOPP will also be providing recommendations on anti-emetic regimens to be utilized with each of the regimens in the manual, which are also linked to medications on the EML. With the COVID pandemic now in 6-7th wave globally, work on the manual has been disappointingly and frustratingly slow. On a positive note, ...
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Apply or nominate for an
ISOPP Award or Grant – now open!
Every day oncology pharmacists make a difference in the lives of cancer patients around the world. Part of ISOPP’s mission is to support and reward this vital work. We do this through our Grants & Awards program.
The deadlines to nominate yourself and/or an ISOPP member for an award or to apply for a Research Grant or Travel Grant are listed below. Membership renewal for 2023 will begin in November.
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ISOPP Research Mentorship Network – Call for Mentors
By Jennifer Jupp, Chair, Research Committee
ISOPP’s Research Committee is developing a Research Mentorship Network! We are seeking individuals to become research mentors to support member directed research and foster ISOPP’s commitment to oncology pharmacy research. As a mentor, your role will include sharing your knowledge to ensure research is conducted in a methodologically sound and ethical manner. You will support members who may be new to the research process or those who may be exploring other methodologies, such as quality assurance or program evaluation. This would be an opportunity for you to contribute to member research that is knowledge generating to advance oncology pharmacy practice.
Would you like to join ISOPP’s roster of mentors? The Research Committee is seeking mentors who have the capacity for a 1 to 2 hour commitment per month and possess skills and expertise in leading or supporting research projects. We aim to achieve a diverse international representation in our pool of mentors.
Apply by October 5, 2022!
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Research Committee –
all hands on deck!
By Jennifer Jupp, Chair and Tiene Bauters, Secretariat Liaison, Research Committee
The Research Committee is pursuing various projects in fulfilment of the Strategic Plan initiative of Delivering Enhanced Professional Development Resources in Oncology Pharmacy. Within this initiative, the Committee has been tasked with developing a research framework that includes a mentorship program and a resource initiative by 2024.
Accordingly, a key focus has been establishing a Mentorship Network. The Committee has reached out to other oncology pharmacy associations to find ways to collaborate, including adding each association’s link to the ISOPP Research webpage. Research Chairs from each association would also connect when opportunities arise. For example, if an ISOPP research mentor identifies that a project may benefit from additional support from other countries or there are opportunities to expand the project to other areas of the world. A Call for Mentors went out this month with a deadline of October 5, 2022. The full launch of the mentorship network will take place at the ISOPP 2023 Symposium in March next year.
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Oncology Pharmacy Around the World |
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A day in the life of a Kenyan Oncology Pharmacist
By Dr. Collins Saina, Oncology Pharmacist, International Cancer Institute - Eldoret, Kenya
Oncology Pharmacy in Kenya was recognized as a specialty in Pharmacy a year ago, although we still do not have a master’s program in Oncology Pharmacy in Kenya.
Having graduated from the school of pharmacy in the year 2016, I was posted for my internship for one year and during my rotation at the oncology unit, there were a lot of challenges and opportunities as well.
Immediately after my internship I went back to the Oncology Centre to request if they could allow me to volunteer my work there and I was given a job as an oncology pharmacist to work under a senior pharmacist.
As a junior pharmacist in an oncology unit, I was an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team acting as a safety mechanism making sure to go through the patients’ notes to pick up any mistakes, in case the pharmacist and the oncologist misses the mistake. The oncology nurse would also check for mistakes before the patient gets the wrong drug or wrong dose and since oncology drugs has a narrow therapeutic window, a small mistake can have serious negative effects on the patient.
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Symposium: Introducing a novel CSTD to protect healthcare workers and reduce contamination across preparation and administration areas in a multi-site health-system
By BD, ISOPP 2022 Virtual Symposium Sponsor
During ISOPP’s 2022 Virtual Symposium in March, BD sponsored a program entitled “Introducing a novel CSTD to protect healthcare workers and reduce contamination across preparation and administration areas in a multi-site health-system.” The purpose of this symposium was to describe the process by which a large, multi-site health-system selected and implemented a new closed system drug-transfer device (CSTD) across their facilities in both preparation and administration areas. The speaker was Erich Brechtelsbauer, PharmD, MS, Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Emory Healthcare and the Winship Cancer Institute in the US.
Dr. Brechtelsbauer began by sharing the ISOPP and US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) definition of a CSTD. According to NIOSH, a CSTD is a drug transfer device which mechanically prohibits the transfer of environmental contaminants into the system, and the escape of hazardous drug (HD) or vapor concentration outside of the system.1 The 2007 ISOPP Standards of Practice expanded on the NIOSH definition and state that a closed system is leakproof and airtight and advised that a system cannot be “semi-closed.”2 He elaborated on the design concepts for the CSTDs ...
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The Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Annual Meeting 2022 in Toronto Canada
By Chia Jie Tan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Utah
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Annual Meeting in June 2022, which was the first in-person conference held by the organization since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dedicated to expanding the practice, education and research in supportive care in cancer, MASCC consists of clinicians and researchers, including pharmacists, from over 70 countries. The annual meeting this year was held at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre, Toronto, which is situated at the downtown waterfront area of the city.
One of the main themes of this year’s annual meeting was healthcare disparities among cancer patients and potential solutions. One of the speakers at the plenary session focused on this theme was Dr Farhad Islami, the Scientific Director who leads the Cancer Disparity Research team at the American Cancer Society. Dr Islami presented data that illustrated the disparities among cancer patients in the United States along the entire cancer treatment trajectory, from the receipt of treatment, ...
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Invitation to contribute towards a research topic entitled ‘Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care and Rehabilitation’
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, healthcare organisations around the world have implemented and utilised changes in cancer care including a wide variety of technologies. The purpose of this collection of papers is to showcase and share learning from those who have had experience of these changes including implementing the use of IT solutions and/or IT science to assist and improve clinical outcomes for patients.
The overarching theme for the research topic is impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care. We welcome the submission of manuscripts including, but not limited to, the following four sub-themes:
1) To analyse the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on cancer care and rehabilitation.
2) To investigate the impact of Long-COVID on cancer patients and to look at similarities and differences of CRF and Long-COVID.
3) To investigate to what extent technology can be used to compensate deficits in cancer care and rehabilitation.
4) To describe the use of technology in cancer care and rehabilitation and to evaluate the outcomes.
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Handling of cytotoxic drugs and related waste in low and middle-income countries: A toolkit to promote safe handling practices
By Sandrine von Grünigen, Pharmacist MSc, MIH
ISOPP member, Dr. Sandrine von Grünigen obtained a doctoral degree at the University of Genève (Switzerland) for her thesis on ”Handling of cytotoxic drugs and related waste in low and middle-income countries: A toolkit to promote safe handling practices”. Many ISOPP members contributed to the survey. A summary of her research can be found below.
Cancer is a global burden, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cancer prevention and control have been part of the global agenda for some years. Many efforts were made to improve access to chemotherapies. Due to their intrinsic toxicity, cytotoxic drugs must be handled with great caution to ensure the safety of the patients and the personnel handling them. However, safe handling aspects still seem to be neglected in many LMIC cancer programs, where the increasing use of anti-cancer drugs is only recent.
This PhD focused on the safe handling of chemotherapy drugs in LMICs. The primary objective was to promote the improvement of handling practices, wherever cytotoxic drugs are transported, received, stored, prepared, administered, and disposed of, to ensure the quality of services and the patient and staff safety.
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Let’s Communicate Cancer
By Jackie Lewis , Community Pharmacy Sub-Committee, BOPA
Hello I am Jackie Lewis, a community pharmacist and founder of the Community Pharmacy sub- committee for the British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA). I have been privileged to create and launch the Let’s Communicate Cancer Series for BOPA.
'Let’s Communicate Cancer’ is free and easily accessible e-learning where you can learn about cancer from basics to detail. It is presented as bite-sized videos, animation, quizzes and slide shows. The e-learning will give you confidence and knowledge to help your cancer patients – from early diagnosis through treatment. Let’s Communicate Cancer is aimed at ALL staff working in the pharmacy and beyond. Go to www.bopa.org.uk/courses and click on the logo or access via the education section. Financial support was provided for Let’s Communicate Cancer by Pfizer Limited as a Medical and Educational Goods Grant. To date nearly 4,000 people have accessed the e-learning and it has been very well received, particularly by the NHS in England.
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Oncology Pharmacotherapy and Applications of Biosimilars Program |
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All 10 modules (25 hours) are now available!
You can choose to take the accredited program, earning you a Certificate of Completion with 25 CEUs, or the non-accredited program, receiving a Letter of Participation with no CEUs awarded.
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The OPAB Program is complimentary for ISOPP members and geared towards oncology pharmacists who have practiced for at least one year in the area of oncology pharmacy.
If you haven’t already, be sure to register to receive access to the program and begin your training!
Share the OPAB Program information with your colleagues!
You can share knowledge by promoting the OPAB Program to oncology pharmacists in your region! Download an OPAB poster for display at your institution or for emailing on to your local association’s membership. There are two formats: 8.5 x 11 for North America and A4 for the rest of the world. Download 8.5 x 11 OPAB Poster Download A4 OPAB Poster
If the poster size does not work for the paper size of your country, please let us know and we will send you a version with the correct dimensions.
See other ways to promote OPAB here – from adverts to slides to marketing emails and more, including PPT slides to add in to any presentations you might be making in the near future.
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Faculty - Joseph Bubalo, Tegan Bilse, Aygin Bayraktar, Kellie Jones Weddle, Lisa Holle, Islam Konaissi, Judith Smith, Lillian Cortez, Emma Foreman, Alex Chan, Emma Foreman
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Reviewers - Joseph Bubalo, Bruce Burnett, Carole Chambers, Melanie Danilak, Evelyn Handel, Lisa Holle, Tom McFarlane, Maggie Patterson, Rowena Schwartz, Aygin Bayraktar, Netty Cracknell, CheaXin Lim, May Oh, Himanshu Patel, Chiajie Tan
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Task Force - Aygin Bayraktar, Alex Chan, Netty Cracknell, Emma Foreman, CheaXin Lim, May Oh, Himanshu Patel, Chiajie Tan
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The OPAB Program is supported by an educational grant from Pfizer.
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Submit your abstract by October 13 and come to Seville, Spain to present at the ISOPP 2023 Symposium on March 2 - 4. Also, plan to attend ISOPP's one day Biosimilars and Immunotherapy Masterclasses on March 5 to enhance your practice.
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Transform your oncology pharmacy practice -
leave ISOPP 2023 equipped with the latest insights, tools and ideas
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ISOPP 2023 promises to be an engaging, wide ranging and impactful program of technical, clinical and practice updates. You will:
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compare practice with colleagues from around the world
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explore strategies to enhance practice and patient outcomes
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collaborate, create and innovate in hot topic discussions
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gain specific, targeted knowledge in 6 concurrent sessions
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be inspired!
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Visit isopp2023.org
REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!
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We look forward to welcoming you to Seville. Get ready to be challenged, to share and grow!
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Estela Moreno
Planning Task Force Chair &
Scientific Program Task Force Co-Chair
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Jennifer Jupp
Scientific Program Task Force Co-Chair
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Highlighted Education Resources |
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ISOPP offers online educational opportunities specific to the needs of oncology pharmacy practitioners, facilitated by ISOPP leaders and oncology pharmacy experts.
Log in as a member to learn from ISOPP’s previously recorded webinars. Members have complimentary access for one year from the date of the webinar:
Interested in presenting a webinar? Please contact the Education Committee Chair, Himanshu Patel, at education@isopp.org.
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The Virtual Library serves as a hub for oncology pharmacy practitioners from around the world to access the breadth and depth of knowledge of ISOPP members and others on a 24-hour basis.
Members and non-members have access to certain resources complimentary and others through a paid subscription.
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After completing the questionnaire, a certificate will be available. Although not formally accredited for continuing medical education (CME) points, participation is equal to one hour of CME activity.
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JOPP is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is free for ISOPP members.
You can access JOPP issues online anytime via ISOPP website (log in as a member). Please note that a hard copy of the Journal is no longer available.
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ISOPP members have access to Sosido, an online knowledge sharing platform designed to speed clinical knowledge transfer between healthcare professionals.
Are you a new ISOPP member? Then, you will receive an email to set up access to Sosido!
Through Sosido, ISOPP members will receive a weekly email digest summarizing all activity in the ISOPP community. You don’t have to log in to participate, and anything that’s important will come to your inbox, including:
- Updates on all publications authored by ISOPP members that week. Sosido automatically delivers a current and complete snapshot of the work of our ISOPP community.
- A summary of new articles released that week from journals chosen by you.
- Access to a secure ISOPP members-only forum to ask and answer questions.
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You can Follow us on ISOPP’s
Social Media
ISOPP is the world’s gateway to oncology pharmacy research and practice. This is the place you come to learn about the latest developments in oncology pharmacy, to connect with pioneers in cancer treatment, and to expand your knowledge of oncology pharmacy practice worldwide.
Follow us on the following ISOPP’s Social Media to stay informed of upcoming ISOPP activities and conversations.
Share our posts with your network and encourage others to join ISOPP!
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You too can be an ISOPP
Quarterly Newsletter Author
We would love to hear about: conferences (virtual or in person) and/or education events / program you may have attended, or a ‘Day in the life of a <name country> oncology pharmacist’ or anything else you would like to share with ISOPP members in oncology pharmacy and your practice.
ISOPP’s Newsletter, published quarterly and sent via email directly to members, is the home of international discussion on oncology pharmacy research and practice and ISOPP news and business. We are always looking for contributions.
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Netty Cracknell, Editor
ISOPP Newsletter
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Are you or your national organization looking for a way to reach ISOPP members for a research study, to share information or other related oncology pharmacy matters?
There are several ways to reach ISOPP members:
ISOPP will distribute your survey, if it meets set criteria. This service is free if the principal investigator or co-investigator is an ISOPP member, and is available to non-members for a fee of $750 CAD.
Many ISOPP members are part of healthcare teams involved in cancer prevention, treatment, supportive care, and symptom management. If you would like to reach them to share information about a job posting, a product launch, a conference or other related oncology pharmacy matters, ISOPP will distribute an email on your behalf and post the information to the ISOPP website. Check out the cost for a one-time email distribution!
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ISOPP's Society and Symposium Management Office
Sea to Sky Meeting and Association Management is ISOPP's Society and Symposium Management Office. We support ISOPP’s volunteer leadership (Secretariat, its Committees, Task Forces and Work Groups), its members and other stakeholders to help achieve ISOPP’s mission to advance oncology pharmacy care for patients around the world. If you have any questions about membership, services, Symposium or the Society, please contact the ISOPP Office directly as follows:
Direct: +1-604-984-6455
Suite 206, 201 Bewicke Avenue
North Vancouver, BC Canada V7M 3M7
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