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News and Events
News
Join Our Team: Project Coordinator Positions for Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia
July 2024
We are excited to announce two project coordinator roles to support the development of ground-breaking research infrastructure.
As the recipient of the MRFF 2022 Australian Brain Cancer Research Infrastructure Grant, BCBA has commenced work to establish an integrated network of research infrastructure platforms supporting brain cancer research. These include a Clinical Quality Registry and a Biobanking and Organoids Platform.
The successful candidates will be instrumental in coordinating and managing key aspects of these platforms. This is a unique opportunity for individuals passionate about advancing brain cancer research.
Available Positions:
1.Clinical Quality Registry Project Coordinator
2.Biobanking and Organoids Project CoordinatorIf you are dedicated to making a difference in brain cancer research, we encourage you to express your interest in these roles.
For more details about the positions, please click on the respective links above.
Australian-First Patient Portal Will Enhance Collaboration in Brain Cancer Research
July 2024
The launch of an Australian-first enrolment portal will put patients at the heart of our collaborative approach to defeating brain cancer.
With work now in progress on our Registry Clinical Trials and Patient Enrolment Platform we expect to have this vital piece of infrastructure operational by the end of the year.
As one of our three integrated projects to build brain cancer research infrastructure, the platform will allow patients to nominate themselves to participate in research, creating a national collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and patients.
The enrolment portal is being developed in partnership with Australian Families for Genomics (AF4G) and Cancer Alliance Queensland. Adapting existing technology - ‘Madeline’s Model’ - for online enrolment, the portal will facilitate patient consent for tissue and data collection, streamline access and recruitment to clinical trials and enable researchers to undertake the data analysis needed to find answers faster.
“This is a huge step forward in overcoming the problem of patient recruitment and consent- a barrier that has been hampering research. The Registry Clinical Trials and Patient Enrolment Platform will enable rapid translation of findings into clinical practice, vastly improving and accelerating brain cancer research.” Professor Lindy Jeffree, Chair, Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia.
Consortium Member Spotlight: Danica Cossio
June 2024
We are delighted to announce that BCBA Consortium Member, Danica Cossio, has been promoted to the role of Director at Cancer Alliance Queensland (CAQ).
Danica’s journey into the cancer clinical trial field began right after university, setting her on a path specialising in health information management. After 19 years at CAQ, she remains as committed as ever to improving care for cancer patients.
“I’m passionate about using evidence, information and data to ensure high-quality and safe cancer care.”
Danica and her team at CAQ have been integral to the work of Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia. They collaborated on the successful MRFF grant to build an integrated network of brain cancer research platforms, developed the first Queensland Brain Cancer Quality Index, and are now focusing on the development of the Australian Brain Cancer Registry.
“The integrated network of research platforms will be the first of its kind in Australia and presents a multitude of possibilities to improve the lives of people affected by brain cancer.”
In her new role, Danica will be driving forward initiatives like the Australian Brain Cancer Registry and the launch of Queensland's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Quality Index – an important initiative to mark CAQ's 20-year anniversary this year.
Please join us in congratulating Danica on her appointment.
GO GREY IN MAY!
May 2024
This month we go grey to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer.
The devastating legacy of brain cancer never leaves those it touches.
- Brain cancer kills more children than any other disease
- Brain cancer kills more adults under 40 than any other cancer
- Brain cancer is extremely difficult to access and virtually impossible to completely remove
- There is not enough tumour tissue available for research
- We don’t have big data to drive research and standardise patient care
- There has been no major breakthrough in over 40 years
Our mission is to change this.
So please help us promote awareness by sharing our post, creating a fundraiser on our charity website, or simply make a donation | www.braincancercollective.com.au
Together we can change the future for brain cancer patients and their families.
Consortium Member Spotlight: Professor Claire Vajdic
April 2024
Cancer epidemiologist, big data specialist and BCBA Steering Committee Member, Prof Claire Vajdic, leads a research program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, using large-scale health data to drive best practice health care and reduce unwarranted variation in the delivery of care for people with cancer.
Her current focus is streamlining researcher access to nationally significant datasets – the ‘big data’ needed to transform the way we treat diseases like brain cancer.
Professor Vajdic became interested in brain cancer research following the death of a young friend from the disease.
‘I was drawn to study this heartbreaking cancer because we understand so little about its natural history.’
Her love of numbers and data, combined with an interest in maximizing the use of datasets for public good, has made epidemiology and biostatistics the perfect career choice.
‘As soon as I discovered public health research, there was no looking back.’
Inspired by the dedication and commitment of everyone working in brain cancer research, Prof Vajdic has been a member of the BCBA Steering Committee since the national consortium was established in 2015.
‘We’re very fortunate to have been able to call on Claire’s expertise these past 9 years’, says BCBA Founder/Director Robyn Leonard, ‘Her knowledge of big data in Australian health research has been integral to the development of our Australian Brain Cancer Registry project’.
New Roles for BCBA Chair, Professor Lindy Jeffree
March 2024
Warm congratulations to Professor Lindy Jeffree, on her new position as Director of Neurosurgery at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital and her Professorship in the Department of Surgery at Monash University.
In addition to her new roles and leadership of BCBA, Prof Jeffree is the Principal Investigator on a recently awarded MRFF grant and Chairs the Australian Brain Registry Working Group. Commenting on her relocation from Brisbane to Melbourne, Prof Jeffree said,
"It’s a big change, but I’m really excited to be joining the team at Alfred Brain and also working with local clinicians on collecting Victorian data for the Australian Brain Cancer Registry”.
Stay tuned for updates as Prof Jeffree continues to steer BCBA's efforts in advancing brain cancer research and optimising brain cancer patient care.
A Rare Opportunity for Australian Biobankers
February 2024
The International Society for Biobanking and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) is a global biobanking organisation, established to address scientific, technical, legal, and ethical issues for biobanks and biorepositories.
The annual ISBER meeting is the world’s largest biobanking forum, and in 2024 this premier event will be held in Melbourne (April 9– 12), offering Australian biobankers a rare opportunity to interact on home soil with colleagues from across the globe.
Titled ‘Dreaming Beyond Barriers: The Future of Biobanking’, the meeting will reflect and celebrate the impact of the biobanking community, it’s innovation and resilience in overcoming barriers, and its shared dreams for the future.
It’s Time!
January 2024
The new year is here and now it’s time to get on your bike and commit to something good for your health and for others.
Sign up here for the 2024 Bike Ride for Brain Cancer before the end of January and use the coupon code below to receive a $50 discount.
This is the last discount we will be sharing before the 2024 Bike Ride begins, so don’t miss out!
Coupon Code | NEWYEAR50
Help us change the future for brain cancer patients and their families!
Season Greetings
December 2023
As we come to the close of 2023, we wanted to reflect for a moment on the momentous milestones we have achieved this year on our road to a cure for brain cancer.
Our consortium is stronger than ever, we have vital projects underway with Government funding and a host of incredible partners to ensure these succeed. Our unique projects are building the national platforms this country needs to benefit the entire brain cancer research community and ultimately all brain cancer patients across Australia.
Wishing you all the best for a safe and happy holiday season.
The Australian Brain Cancer Registry - Delivering The Big Data We Need In Brain Cancer
December 2023
We are delighted to announce a major milestone has been achieved in establishing the Australian Brain Cancer Registry (ABCR). The team led by Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia (BCBA) Chair, A/Prof Lindy Jeffree, in collaboration with Cancer Alliance Queensland and the CSIRO’s eHealth Research Centre, has successfully developed the framework, tested the automated system, collected retrospective patient data in Queensland, and published the first report for the ABCR: bit.ly/ABCRegistry
“This collated data establishes a benchmark for the management of brain cancer in Queensland – and is an important first step in the national roll out of this critical piece of research infrastructure” – A/Prof Lindy Jeffree
The ABCR is the priority project in the BCBA coordinated, national initiative to develop an integrated network of research platforms to advance Australia’s capacity for brain cancer research and patient care. This is an ambitious undertaking supported by a $6million Medical Research Future Fund grant, involving 48 investigators; 13 partner organisations and 10 supporting specialist and consumer groups.
ABC Radio Sydney - Andrew Olle Media Lecture
November 2023
Thank you to ABC Radio Sydney. BCBA’s charity arm, the Brain Cancer Collective is privileged and grateful to be the ongoing charity partner for the Andrew Olle Media Lecture. This prestigious event is held annually to honour the iconic ABC broadcaster, Andrew Olle, who lost his life to brain cancer.
This year the lecture, which focusses on the role and future of the media, was delivered by well-known and respected journalist, Leigh Sales. BCC Founding Director, Robyn Leonard, was fortunate to briefly share the stage to raise awareness and much needed funds for the vital work of BCBA’s national consortium of clinicians and researchers.
Registrations Now Open
October 2023
Join the 2024 Bike Ride for Brain Cancer to help change the future for brain cancer patients and their families.
REGISTER NOW and save $100 with the early bird special!
The Ride is the annual fundraising event for our charity arm – the Brain Cancer Collective.
Australian Brain Cancer Registry Platform
September 2023
Our Consortium is driving a national collaboration to develop an integrated network of platforms across research, registry trials and patient care to accelerate brain cancer research.
Platform one is the Australian Brain Cancer Registry, which will systematically collect the treatment and outcome data of as many Australians living with brain cancer as possible. This will give clinicians and healthcare providers the big data they need to identify variations in patient care and ensure that brain cancer patients across Australia receive the best available treatment and care.
This is just our first step in enabling improvements in patient outcomes today, testing new treatments for tomorrow, and finding cures for the future.
Learn more about our collaboration here | bit.ly/AusBCregistry
Repurposing Existing Drugs to treat Brain Cancer
August 2023
BCBA Consortium Member, Stuart Pitson is excited by the potential of repurposing existing drugs to treat glioblastoma. The NeuroSurgical Research Foundation Professor of Brain Tumour Research at the University of South Australia has a strong focus on using fundamental biology to develop and evaluate new therapeutic approaches,
“We hope to be able to capitalise on our newly discovered knowledge of brain tumour biology, patient tumour samples and our advanced pre-clinical models to evaluate new approaches to treat glioblastoma”.
The pre-clinical models of glioblastoma Pitson developed have already contributed to the establishment of two clinical trials of new therapies.
“I will never get tired of the excitement of discovering something that has never been discovered before”.
Ross Bowles - Inspirational Brain Cancer Advocate!
July 2023
This year Ross Bowles celebrates 10 years living with brain cancer, so we wanted to take this moment to acknowledge all he does for our charity and the brain cancer cause.
One of the big challenges in raising awareness and funds for brain cancer is the lack of advocates - many of the people who would normally become champions for the cause lose their battle with the disease before they get the chance.
That’s why Ross is special and we are blessed to have him in our network. Ross has made the Bike Ride for Brain Cancer his own. He’s been amongst our highest fundraisers every year, raising over $80,000 across the life of the event. Ross not only puts in the kms on the bike to raise funds, but he is tireless in his efforts to raise awareness, telling his story to highlight the difficulties facing individuals and their families living with brain cancer.
Thank you Ross, congratulations on this milestone - you are an inspiration to many facing similar challenges!
Events
Bike Ride for Brain Cancer
10th - 11th May 2024
Join the 2024 Bike Ride for Brain Cancer to help change the future for brain cancer patients and their families. The Ride is the annual fundraising event for our charity arm – the Brain Cancer Collective.
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Copyright © 2015 Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia
with the support of BRAIN CANCER COLLECTIVE LTD
with the support of BRAIN CANCER COLLECTIVE LTD
