GI Cancer Institute & Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG)

What GI Cancer Institute & Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG) does

GI Cancer Trials (formerly AGITG and GI Cancer Institute) is a not-for-profit clinical research organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Newtown, Sydney, Australia. It designs, coordinates, and conducts gastrointestinal (GI) cancer clinical trials spanning colorectal, pancreatic, oesophageal, liver, stomach, gallbladder, biliary tract, neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), GIST, anal, rectal, and small bowel cancers. Its research infrastructure encompasses a Coordinating Centre, working-party governance, idea generation workshops, translational sub-studies (patient-derived organoids, ctDNA, biomarker, and microbiome analyses), and a Sample Access Program for biospecimen management. Since 1991 it has run 90+ research studies enrolling more than 9,930 patients, with a 1,900+ medical professional member base and trial sites across all Australian states/territories, New Zealand, and at least 12 additional countries.

Core operations are run through named investigator-led trials including DYNAMIC-III (ctDNA-guided adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III colon cancer), PemOla (pembrolizumab plus olaparib in metastatic pancreatic cancer), BIL-PPP (durvalumab plus olaparib in cholangiocarcinoma), VADER (sodium valproate in colorectal cancer), IMPERIAL (anal cancer biomarker study), and ALT-TRACC (alternating doublet chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer). The organisation uses a Teletrial model to extend participation to regional and rural sites, and operates sub-programmes such as CommNETs for neuroendocrine tumours, a Preceptorship Program, an Annual Scientific Meeting, and translational research collaborations including ctDNA sample shipments to the Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins.

Revenue mechanics are three-stream and donation-led: (1) philanthropic giving (single gifts, monthly giving, workplace giving, bequests, Gutsy Challenge fundraising events) supported by Australian tax-deductibility for gifts of $2 and over; (2) competitive government research grants from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Cancer Australia, and NHMRC; and (3) pharmaceutical and medical-device industry grants for specific trials (e.g., Specialised Therapeutics Australia, Merck Serono, AstraZeneca). Clinical trial participation is free to patients; the organisation has no commercial product or service pricing, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue. The entity was rebranded from AGITG and GI Cancer Institute to "GI Cancer Trials" in 2026 with operational continuity.

Name

GI Cancer Institute & Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG)

Legal name

Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group ACN 093 854 267

Website

https://gicancer.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GI Cancer Trials is a Sydney-based not-for-profit clinical research organisation founded in 1991 that designs and coordinates gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials across Australia, New Zealand, and 12+ additional countries, serving patients, 1,900+ medical professional members, and 100+ hospital trial sites through donor- and grant-funded research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Liver & GI Clinical Research (Trials Centers) (HLAKAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digestive Oncology (GI Cancer Care) (HLAKAEAF), Gastrointestinal Oncology (HLAKAFAK), Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)

Keywords

• Clinical trial research
• Gastrointestinal oncology trials
• Translational cancer research
• Clinical research organization
• Biomarker research studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney, New South Wales

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic/Donor Funding: The organisation is a registered Australian charity (ACN 093 854 267) funded substantially by community donations, direct gifts, regular giving, workplace giving, and bequests. Donations are tax-deductible for contributions of $2 and over.
2. Government Research Grants: Funded through competitive grants including the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Cancer Australia, and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
3. Corporate/Industry Grants and Sponsorship: Pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies provide research grants and funding for specific clinical trials (e.g., Specialised Therapeutics Australia for GAP trial, Merck Serono for ICECREAM, AstraZeneca for BIL-PPP).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

GI Cancer Trials designs, coordinates, and conducts clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers, including therapeutic trials, biomarker-guided studies, and translational research sub-studies across colorectal, pancreatic, oesophageal, liver, stomach, gallbladder, NET, GIST, anal, rectal, and small bowel cancers. The organisation operates as a not-for-profit clinical research collaborative, enrolling patients through a network of over 100 trial centres and engaging more than 1,900 medical professional members. It also runs translational research infrastructure, the Sample Access Program, a Teletrial model, and the Annual Scientific Meeting for health professionals.

Product overview

GI Cancer Trials (formerly AGITG and GI Cancer Institute) operates as a not-for-profit clinical research organization conducting clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers. The organization offers a portfolio of clinical trials across multiple cancer types including colorectal, pancreatic, oesophageal, liver, stomach, gallbladder, NETs, GIST, anal, rectal, and small bowel cancers. The core product is the clinical trials program, which includes therapeutic trials, translational research studies, and biomarker studies. Notable trials include DYNAMIC-III (ctDNA-guided adjuvant therapy), PemOla (immunotherapy combination for pancreatic cancer), IMPERIAL (biomarker study for anal cancer), BIL-PPP (cholangiocarcinoma study), and various translational research programs including AI-based PD-L1 analysis and microbiome studies. Since 1991, the organization has conducted 90 research studies enrolling more than 9,930 patients across Australia and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DYNAMIC-III Clinical Trial Phase II/III randomised controlled study using circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) blood testing to guide adjuvant chemotherapy treatment decisions for patients with stage III colon cancer. Tumour samples are analysed at the Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins (Vogelstein laboratory) in Baltimore, USA.
• PemOla Clinical Trial Phase II study combining pembrolizumab with olaparib in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients with mismatch repair deficiency or tumour mutation burden greater than or equal to 4 mutations/Mb. Study Chair is Dr Dan Croagh.
• IMPERIAL Clinical Trial Prospective observational phase II study investigating FDG-PET and circulating tumour HPV DNA biomarkers during chemoradiotherapy for p16-positive anal squamous cell carcinoma, with the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Liverpool Hospital involved.
• BIL-PPP Clinical Trial Phase II study of durvalumab and olaparib combination in advanced cholangiocarcinoma after initial chemotherapy, supported by AstraZeneca and the Wayne Elphinstone Research Fund.
• ALT-TRACC Clinical Trial Study comparing alternating oxaliplatin and irinotecan doublet schedules versus continuous doublet chemotherapy in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.
• VADER Clinical Trial Phase II signal-seeking study testing sodium valproate (an HDAC inhibitor) combined with cetuximab in first-line treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.
• PRoSecCo Clinical Trial Study investigating prediction of chemoradiotherapy sensitivity in rectal cancer using patient-derived organoid models as part of the SPAR randomised phase II trial of simvastatin in addition to standard chemotherapy and radiation for preoperative rectal cancer treatment.
• Translational Research Studies Program A collection of translational research studies including AI-based image analysis for PD-L1 scoring, biomarker studies, microbiome studies, and circulating tumour DNA research embedded within clinical trials.
• ICEMELT Clinical Study Multicentre non-interventional prospective cohort study to identify potential RNA and DNA-based risk factors associated with immune-related adverse events.
• BIOMARCER-2 Clinical Study Biomarker informed optimal management of advanced RAS wild type colorectal cancer in right sided disease.
• MASTERPLAN MICROBIOME Clinical Study Study understanding the effect of chemotherapy on microbial composition of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients.
• NEO-IMPACT TR Clinical Study Translational substudy investigating the longitudinal evolution of the pancreas cancer microbiome when exposed to chemo-immunotherapy pre-operatively.
• GI Cancer Clinical Trials Program Clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers including colorectal, pancreatic, oesophageal, liver, stomach, gallbladder, NETs, GIST, anal, rectal, and small bowel cancers. Since 1991, the organisation has conducted 90 research studies giving more than 9,930 people access to promising new treatments.
• Sample Access Program Biospecimen management program enabling researchers to request access to clinical trial samples for translational research, including organoids, tumour tissue, and blood-derived materials.
• Teletrial Model Service A tele-trial model enabling broader geographic reach across Australia, allowing patients to participate in clinical trials closer to home under remote supervision from principal trial sites.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 1991, 90 research studies conducted; over 9,930 patients given access to new treatments
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cancer Society of New Zealand / CCNSW / Cancer AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partners for the PRoSecCo (SPAR) rectal cancer trial. These cancer societies provide grant funding to support the randomised phase II trial of simvastatin in addition to standard chemotherapy and radiation for preoperative rectal cancer treatment.
• Specialised Therapeutics AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialised Therapeutics Australia provided funding support for the GAP trial (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for resectable pancreatic cancer).
• Merck SeronocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerck Serono (a division of Merck KGaA) provided funding support for the ICECREAM trial investigating cetuximab alone or with irinotecan in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with KRAS G13D mutation.
• AstraZenecacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstraZeneca provided grant support for the BIL-PPP trial (durvalumab and olaparib combination for cholangiocarcinoma), alongside the Wayne Elphinstone Research Fund and GI Cancer Trials.
• Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCTG co-sponsored the CO.23 phase III trial of napabucasin (BBI608) cancer stem cell inhibitor in pretreated advanced colorectal cancer, conducted as an international multi-centre study.
• National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCIC CTG co-sponsored the CO.17 phase III trial of cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer alongside Bristol Myers Squibb and AGITG.
• European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEORTC led the international PETACC-6 phase III trial investigating oxaliplatin with capecitabine chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer, with AGITG as a major collaborative group.
• Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTROG collaborated with AGITG on the TROG 01.04 / IG0103R trial comparing short-course vs long-course preoperative radiotherapy for T3 rectal cancer.
• Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSSA collaborated as an intergroup partner on the TROG 01.04 rectal cancer trial.
• NHMRC Clinical Trials CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre at University of Sydney serves as the coordinating centre for many AGITG trials, including SCOT, GAP, VADER, and others, providing statistical and operational expertise.
• Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins (Vogelstein laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLudwig Center at Johns Hopkins performs ctDNA analysis for the DYNAMIC-III trial (stage III colon cancer). tumour samples are shipped from Australian sites to Baltimore, USA for mutation analysis.
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRANZCR collaborated on the IMPERIAL anal cancer study, specifically involving the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Liverpool Hospital.
• Bowel Cancer AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBowel Cancer Australia is listed as a supporting organisation for the ASCOLT trial (aspirin for Dukes C and high-risk Dukes B colorectal cancers) and SCOT trial.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NRG Oncology: US-based NCI-sponsored cooperative group conducting multimodality Phase II/III cancer trials including colorectal and other GI malignancies. Same not-for-profit, site-network cooperative trial model as AGITG.
• Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology: US NCI-sponsored cooperative group conducting cancer clinical trials across disease sites including gastrointestinal cancers. Same academic cooperative model with broad multi-centre Phase II/III trial design.
• Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG): Australasian cooperative cancer trials group focused on radiation oncology that has co-led rectal cancer trials with AGITG. Highly comparable as a regional, member-driven, academic trial sponsor in the same geography.
• Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG): Cooperative cancer clinical trials group that has co-sponsored international multi-centre GI cancer trials with AGITG (e.g., CO.23, CO.17). Operates a near-identical model of academic, site-network-based Phase II/III oncology trials across Canada and internationally.
• ANZUP Cancer Trials Group: Australian and New Zealand urological cancer trials group. Same Australasian, not-for-profit, cooperative-group structure as GI Cancer Trials, running multi-centre investigator-initiated oncology trials.
• Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG): Australian not-for-profit cooperative trials group running haematology trials across Australia and New Zealand. Same structure as GI Cancer Trials: Australian-based, charity-funded, member-driven academic trial sponsor.
• SWOG Cancer Research Network: Large US NCI-sponsored cooperative trials group running a broad oncology portfolio including GI cancers. Closely analogous structure: academic, member-driven, multi-site Phase II/III oncology research.
• European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): Europe's leading cooperative cancer trials group; co-led the PETACC-6 rectal cancer trial with AGITG. Directly comparable as a multinational academic sponsor of GI and other oncology trials across dozens of countries.

Emerging players

• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN): US non-profit focused on pancreatic cancer research funding and patient advocacy. Comparable as a disease-specific cancer charity that funds trials and translational research, though primarily a funder/advocate rather than a trial sponsor like AGITG.

Regional players

• Cancer Council: Australia's leading cancer charity and a major funding partner of AGITG trials (SCOT, TROG 01.04). Comparable as a large Australian cancer-focused non-profit but operates primarily as a research funder and public-health body rather than a trial sponsor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gi-cancer-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GI Cancer Institute & Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG)