The NCRIS Health Group will support Australian brain cancer research through Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia’s project to develop an integrated network of research platforms to improve patient outcomes, test new treatments and work toward a cure, with the announcement of a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant worth just under $6M.
The project brings together clinicians, researchers and healthcare specialists from institutions across Australia to establish three essential interlinked platforms:
- An Australian Brain Cancer Registry to systematically collect treatment and outcome data of Australians living with brain cancer, enabling researchers to identify and address variations in clinical practice and outcomes, immediately increasing the quality of care that every patient experiences.
- Registry Clinical Trials and Patient Enrolment Platform to connect researchers with people living with brain cancer and enable rapid, cost-effective clinical trials and patient donations of data and specimens of research for testing novel ideas designed to improve patient survival.
- Biobanking and Organoid Platform to establish national standards and protocols for brain cancer biobanking and the creation of Australian brain cancer organoids (cutting-edge brain tumour models). This will assist in providing the resources Australia needs to drive the innovative genomic research that will deliver new treatments in brain cancer.
The NCRIS Health Group’s research infrastructure will enhance collaborative opportunities for this important national initiative through the support of critical capabilities in biobanking, imaging, modeling and providing access to linked data.
Around 2,000 Australians develop brain cancer every year, and it takes the lives of more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, with no improvement in survival rate for over 40 years.
Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia Chair A/Prof Lindy Jeffree will lead the important national collaboration to improve the lives of Australians living with brain cancer.
“The significance of this grant cannot be overstated. These funds will enable our national team to establish an integrated network of research platforms that will not just be an Australian-first, but a world-first in brain cancer,” A/Prof Jeffree said.
The NCRIS Health Group includes Bioplatforms Australia (BPA), National Imaging Facility (NIF), Phenomics Australia (PA), Population Health Research Network (PHRN) and Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA), enabled by the Australian Government Department of Education’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
The NCRIS Health Group supports cross-disciplinary research, giving Australian researchers access to world-leading facilities for more impactful outcomes across the whole translation cycle. Contact any of the affiliated organisations for more information about open access to capabilities.