News and Events

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.

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!

2023 Bike Ride for Brain Cancer raises over $180,000!

June 2023

Last month 37 riders took to the road in 2023 Bike Ride for Brain Cancer to raise money for BCBA. Hosted by our charity arm, the Brain Cancer Collective, the Ride is held over 2 days, covering over 250kms from Barker College in Sydney to Calais Estate Winery in the Hunter Valley.

Since starting out in 2018, the event has gathered a loyal following of riders who are closely connected to the brain cancer cause. We are very grateful for their commitment and support – not only to raising funds for our consortium, but also awareness of our mission to change the future for brain cancer patients.

As we enter the last month of the financial year, please help us raise more awareness and funds by encouraging your network to make a tax deductible donation. 
www.braincancercollective.com.au

May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month

May 2023

There is no better time to raise awareness and vital funds to help change the statistics around brain cancer.

- Brain Cancer kills more children than any other disease.
- Brain Cancer kills more people under 40 than any other cancer.

There have been no major breakthroughs in brain cancer in over 40 years and yet other cancers have improved their prognosis! It’s time we made the same breakthroughs in brain cancer treatments and changed the outcomes for those diagnosed with this terrible disease.

The Brain Cancer Collective – our charity arm – will be holding its flagship fundraising event the Bike Ride for Brain Cancer this month on 5th-6th May – a 2 day ride from Hornsby to the Hunter Valley to raise the vital funds we need to continue our important work.

Please help us spread the word and raise funds this month.

Personal fundraising events can be set up on our website www.braincancercollective.com.au
Or Donate to the Bike Ride for Brain Cancer event www.bikerideforbraincancer.com.au

BCBA Consortium Member Steps Up

April 2023

We are delighted to welcome Michelle Burke as the latest member of the BCBA Steering Committee. Michelle is a highly recognised adviser to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry and a strong advocate for patient access to new therapies. She is currently the industry nominated member on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and a non-executive director on health-related boards. Michelle also represented the industry on the inaugural Australian Brain Cancer Mission Strategic Advisory Group – a role that has given her considerable insight into the challenges facing both patients and researchers in the world of brain cancer.

Huge Boost for Australian Brain Cancer Research!

March 2023

We are thrilled to share the news that Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia and a large team of clinicians, researchers and healthcare specialists from across the country have been awarded a $6 million MRFF grant to advance Australia’s capability for brain cancer research and patient care.

Bike Ride for Brain Cancer - Shining the Spotlight on Andrew Boak

February 2023

Andrew Boak is Chief Economist (Aust/NZ) at Goldman Sachs and a Director on the Board of our charity arm, the Brain Cancer Collective. 

Andrew was also a school friend of Lucie Leonard - the inspiration behind Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia - who was only 34 when she lost her seven-year battle with brain cancer in 2012. In May, he will be joining many others on the road to a cure in the 2023 Bike Ride for Brain Cancer – his 5th ride to date.

“Sadly, we’ve all likely been touched by cancer in some way. This ride is such a wonderful way to remember Lucie, support those suffering today, and accelerate progress to a cure.” – Andrew Boak.

We hope that everyone will get behind Andrew and sponsor to his fundraising effort for BCBA.

Or better still, join him and the amazing camaraderie on the road - sign up to ride!

Australia Day Honour

January 2023

A very big congratulations to our Founder and Director, Robyn Leonard, who has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours List for her service to community health and medical research. 

Happy Holidays to our Collaborators and Supporters

December 2022

What an amazing year we have had! Thank you to all our wonderful collaborators and supporters for making this year possible. With your help we have seen some remarkable growth and progress throughout BCBA and BCC. 

We can’t wait to reconnect in the new year and see what we can continue to achieve together! 

Wishing everyone a happy, safe and restful holiday season.

Remembering the Inspiration behind BCBA

November 2022

This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the passing of Lucie Leonard. Lucie is the inspiration behind Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia and the daughter of Founder Robyn Leonard. Lucie was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 27 and sadly lost her seven-year battle in 2012.

Through Lucie’s tragic journey with brain cancer, it became very clear to Robyn that there was a desperate need for more research into this cruel disease. Despite killing more children in Australia than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer, brain cancer remains one of the most under-researched of all cancers.

Robyn quickly became a passionate brain cancer consumer advocate, establishing both Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia and its charity arm, the Brain Cancer Collective, to enable a collaborative approach to providing researchers with access to the tissue and data they need to make real breakthroughs in brain cancer research.

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.

REGISTER NOW