Projects & Publications

Alfred Brain Tumour Bio-databank

The Alfred Brain Tumour Bio-databank (ABTB) commenced in 2019 through a partnership between Monash University’s Department of Neuroscience and the Alfred Brain Program. It is a stored collection of donated samples and data from patients diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The ABTB is a dynamic interdisciplinary unit, in which a dedicated team with exceptional expertise ranging from neuropathologists, radiologists, researchers, neurosurgeons and oncologists are all collaborating closely and alongside with patients. In addition, the ABTB benefits from a unique setting where biobank, laboratory facilities and hospital are located on the same site.

The ABTB recruits approximately 50 patients per year. Since the ABTB was established in 2019, 208 patients have provided their consent and 162 human tissue samples have been collected and stored for researcher access. The ABTB is currently collecting gliomas and metastatic melanomas undergoing surgical resection. 

The ABTB multi-disciplinary team aims to work together collaboratively with researchers. We are an active Consortium Member of Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia. The ABTB Access Policy outlines the process researchers must follow to access samples and/or data. Below is select research projects, locally and inter-state, that have used the ABTB:

Select projects:

1. Human gliomas: the role of microglia, the P2X7 receptor and the immune system. 
Central Clinical School, Monash University Neuroscience Department. 
Dr Mastura Monif: Neurologist and Head of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation at Alfred Health.

2. Translocation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperones to the Cell Surface in Glioblastoma.
Children’s Cancer Institute Australia. 
Dr Angelica Merlot: Scientia, NHMRC Peter Doherty and CINSW Research Fellow at UNSW Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, Sydney. 

3. Exploring human cancer modelling and biobanking with organoid culture.
Hudson Institute of Medical Research. 
Professor Ron Firestein: Pathologist and Head of Cancer Centre at Hudson Institute of Medical Research.  

Select publications:

1. A Simple and Reliable Protocol for the Preparation and Culturing of Fresh Surgically Resected Human Glioblastoma Tissue. 
Kan LK, Drummond KJ, Hunn M, et al., Methods Protoc. 2020. doi:10.3390/mps3010011

2. Blood Biomarkers of Glioma in Response Assessment Including Pseudoprogression and Other Treatment Effects: A Systematic Review.
Raza, IJ, Tingate, CA, Gkolia, P,  et al., Front. Oncol. 2020. doi:org/10.3389/fonc.2020.01191

3. The role of microglia and P2X7 receptors in gliomas. Journal of Neuroimmunology
Kan LK, Williams D, Drummond KJ, et al., Journal of Neuroimmunology. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2019.04.010