WHAT IS A BIOBANK?

Biobanks collect and store various types of clinical samples such as blood and tissue and associated data from consenting donors for use in research. 

Clinical samples are collected from patients during surgery for diagnosis and treatment. Any material not required for diagnosis can be stored in a biobank. Researchers with ethically approved projects can then apply to access samples and associated de-identified data for research.

Brain cancer biobanks

There are a number of biobanks around Australia that collect and store biospecimens and data from patients who have been diagnosed with brain cancer - see list below. These samples support research into diagnosis, treatment and improved clinical management of brain cancer patients.

RESEARCH SUPPORTED BY BCBA MEMBER BIOBANKS

Biobanked specimens with associated high-quality clinical data facilitate various types of research projects including genomic, biomarker, drug resistance, drug discovery and precision medicine. Please CLICK HERE to find out more about the research projects supported by our network member biobanks.

How can I participate?

Any adult or child who has been diagnosed with brain cancer can participate in biobanking.

If you would like to donate clinical samples your first step would be to speak with your treating clinician. If you require further assistance please contact us at BCBA. See below for a list of brain cancer biobanks and hospitals collecting brain tumour tissue and other brain cancer related biospecimens. If you are considering whole brain donation, currently this can only be facilitated via the Hunter Cancer Biobank, Sydney Brain Tumour Bank and the South Australian Brain Bank.

Find a biobank

ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA

ACT Brain Cancer Biobank

Address: John Curtin School of Medical Research,
131 Garran Rd, ANU
Canberra, ACT
Contact: Prof. Leonie Quinn
Website:  N/A
Email Address:  braincancerbiobank.jcsmr@anu.edu.au
Phone: 0466 431 685
Donors are recruited at:

The Canberra Hospital

Alfred Brain Tumour Bio-databank

Address: Central Clinical School, Monash University
The Alfred Centre, Level 6
99 Commercial Road
Melbourne, Victoria, 3004
Contact: Dr Marian Todaro
Website:  https://www.alfredhealth.org.au/research/research-areas/alfred-brain-tumour-bio-databank
Email Address:  Marian.Todaro@monash.edu
Phone: 03 9903 0857
Donors are recruited at:

Alfred Hospital

Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of Glioma (AGOG)

Address: Part of of the Sydney Brain Tumour Biobank
RPA Neuropathology Department
Brain and Mind Centre
Building M02F
94 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050
Contact: Dr Kim Alexander
Website:  N/A
Email Address:  kim.alexander@lh.org.au
Phone: 02 8514 0675
Donors are recruited at:

No longer recruiting donors

AGOG Epidemiology

Address: Centre for Big Data Research in Health
University of New South Wales
Contact: A/Prof Claire Vajdic
Website:  http://agogbio.unsw.edu.au/
Email Address:  claire.vajdic@unsw.edu.au
Phone: 02 9385 1424
Donors are recruited at:

No longer recruiting donors

Brisbane Breast Bank

Address: University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research
B71/918 The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, 4029
Contact: A/Prof Peter Simpson or Dr Amy McCart Reed
Website:  http://www.uqccr.uq.edu.au/6450.aspx
Email Address:  brisbreastbank@uq.edu.au
Phone: 07 3346 6020
Donors are recruited at:

Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital; This biobank collects secondary brain cancers (brain metastases) from donors with primary breast cancer, as well as other cancers.

Children's Cancer Centre Tissue Bank

Address: Cancer Group, Cell Biology Theme
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052
Contact: Dr Louise Ludlow
Website:  https://www.mcri.edu.au/research/projects/children%E2%80%99s-cancer-centre-tissue-bank
Email Address:  louise.ludlow@mcri.edu.au
Phone: 03 9936 6048
Donors are recruited at:

Royal Children's Hospital

Children's Cancer Institute Tumour Bank

Address: Lowy Cancer Research Centre
University of New South Wales
Kensington Campus, NSW 2033
Contact: Sam Yuen
Website:  N/A
Email Address:  syuen@ccia.org.au
Phone: 02 7226 6026
Donors are recruited at:

Adelaide Women and Children’s Hospital, Camperdown Hospital, Children’s Hospital Westmead, Flinders Medical Centre, John Hunter Hospital, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Liverpool Hospital, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Monash Medical Centre, Newcastle Mater Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital (and private), Royal Adelaide Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital Brisbane, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Royal Darwin Hospital, Royal North Shore Hospital, Royal Hobart Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, St George Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Westmead Adults Hospital, Wollongong Hospital

Mark Hughes Foundation Biobank

Address: Level 3, HMRI Building
Kookaburra Circuit
New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Contact: Cassandra Griffin
Website:  http://www.biobank.org.au/home
Email Address:  HCRA-biobank@newcastle.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4921 7460
Donors are recruited at:

John Hunter Hospital, Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, Newcastle private hospitals

Kolling Institute Tumour Bank

Address: Level 9, Kolling Building,
Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, 2065,
Contact: Amaan Hamad
Website:  http://www.sydneyvital.org.au/biobank/
Email Address:  kolling.tumourbanks@sydney.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9926 4771
Donors are recruited at:

Royal North Shore Hospital, North Shore Private Hospital

Monash Children's Cancer Biobank

Address: Monash Children’s Hospital, Monash Health
246 Clayton Rd, Clayton VIC 3168
Contact: A/Prof Peter Downie
Website:  N/A
Email Address:  peter.downie@monashhealth.org
Phone: (03) 8572 3456
Donors are recruited at:

Monash Children's Hospital

QIMR Berghofer/RBWH Brain Cancer and Cell Culture Bank

Address: Translational Brain Cancer Research Laboratory,
QIMR Berghofer MRI,
300 Herston Rd, Herston, QLD.
Contact: Prof Bryan Day
Website:  N/A
Email Address:  bryan.day@qimrberghofer.edu.au
Phone: 07 3845 3885 or 07 3362 0322
Donors are recruited at:

Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital

Queensland Brain Tumour Bank

Address: Wesley Research Institute
Level 8, East Wing, The Wesley Hospital
451 Coronation Drive, Auchenflower, QLD 4066
Contact: Dr. Michael Hodges-Langford
Website:  https://www.wesleyresearch.org.au/
Email Address:  michael.hodges-langford@wesleyresearch.org.au
Phone: 07 3721 1532
Donors are recruited at:

No longer recruiting donors

Queensland Children's Tumour Bank

Address: The University of Queensland
Diamantina Institute
Level 5 Translational Research Institute
37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102
Contact: Dr Andrew Moore
Website:  https://child-health-research.centre.uq.edu.au/about/services-and-facilities/queensland-children%E2%80%99s-tumour-bank
Email Address:  andrew.moore@uq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3443 6954
Donors are recruited at:

Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Mater Children's Private Hospital

South Australian Neurological Tumour Bank

Address: Human Physiology
Flinders Medical Centre
Bedford Park, SA 5042
Contact: Dr Rebecca Ormsby
Website:  http://www.flinders.edu.au/neuroscience/lab_neurology.html
Email Address:  rebecca.ormsby@flinders.edu.au
Phone: 08 8204 4393
Donors are recruited at:

Flinders Medical Centre

Sydney Brain Tumour Bank

Address: RPA Neuropathology Department
Brain and Mind Centre
Building M02F
94 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050
Contact: Dr Kim Alexander
Website:  N/A
Email Address:  kim.alexander@lh.org.au
Phone: 02 8514 0675
Donors are recruited at:

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Lifehouse, Westmead Hospital, Westmead Private Hospital

Telethon Kid's Institute Brain Tumour Research Program Biobank

Address: Brain Tumour Research Program
Telethon Kids Institute
100 Roberts Road, Subiaco
Perth, WA 6008
Contact: Hilary Hii
Website:  N/A
Email Address:  Hilary.Hii@telethonkids.org.au
Phone: (08) 9489 7777
Donors are recruited at:

Princess Margaret Hospital for Children

The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Address: The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Locked Bag 4001, Westmead 2145
Contact: A/Prof Dan Catchpoole
Website:  https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/health-professionals/statewide-laboratory-services/tumour-bank
Email Address:  daniel.catchpoole@health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 9845 1205
Donors are recruited at:

Westmead Children's Hospital

Victorian Cancer Biobank

Address: Level 8, 200 Victoria Parade
East Melbourne, VIC 3002
Contact: Dr Wayne Ng
Website:  http://www.viccancerbiobank.org.au/
Email Address:  VCBEnquiries@cancervic.org.au
Phone: (03) 9514 6486
Donors are recruited at:

No longer recruiting donors