Strategic Plan 2024-2028
The Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB) consortium is proud to present its strategic objectives for 2024-28, alongside our long-term vision. As one of Australia’s leading biobanks, VCB remains committed to supporting cancer research through the provision of high-quality biospecimens.
This strategic plan reaffirms our dedication to innovation and enhancing our contributions to the research community and clinical trials. A core focus of the plan is advancing biobanking capabilities for low-survival, rare, and less common cancers, addressing areas of critical unmet research need.
Highlights of the Strategic Plan
Our Long-Term Goals
4-Year Priorities:
Deliver optimized biobanking services that support Victorian and national cancerresearch priorities
Increase use of VCB biospecimens and associated services in large scale cancer research programs, commercial projects and clinical trials
Ensure VCB’s biospecimen collection meets diverse demand and responds to product gaps in specimens, data and priority cohorts
Expand biobanking support to research and innovation of low survival, rare and less common cancers
Seek partnership and funding opportunities to leverage VCB’s infrastructure to improve accessibility and expand the range of VCB products
Improve data services through a VCB data linkage and digitisation strategy
Implement a strategic and systematic approach to data governance to ensure VCB data collection and provision meets rapidly evolving research needs
Review VCB’s data assets and configurations as well as options to establish near ‘real time’ data linkages with VCR to streamline data capture and workflows
Implement digital workflows for core VCB operations, starting with harmonised e-consent and expanded Customer Relations Management (CRM) capabilities
Within agreed parameters, explore options to enable sharing of data generated by VCB supported research
Strengthen awareness and engagement with community, scientific and policy stakeholders
Embed consumer and end-user co-design principles within VCB’s governance structure, strategic directions and new initiatives
Deliver cost-effective communication and marketing projects to increase awareness of VCB’s critical research value
Implement a consortiumwide patient consenting protocol while maintaining ethical compliance for ongoing protection of donors
Advocate for a statewide coordinated approach to biobanking infrastructure in Victoria, that could be scaled to a national model
Strengthen long-term sustainability through increased revenue and delivering a value-based consortium model
Secure ongoing core funding from the Victorian government, and increase revenue through grants, partnerships and services leveraging VCB infrastructure
Commission an evaluation of the VCB consortium model against its capabilities, operational efficiency, purpose and current and future market needs, and identify sustainability opportunities
Develop and deliver a restructuring plan according to the evaluation outcomes to increase business sustainability
Deliver on process, product and quality assurance enhancements through improved laboratory management, centralised high-throughput processing, digitisation and expanded scientific capabilities within the consortium
Delivering the Vision
The success of this strategic plan depends on the strong partnership among VCB’s consortium members, which include Cancer Council Victoria (as the lead agency) and five major health precincts: Austin Health, Eastern Health, Melbourne Health, Monash Health, and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Continued funding from the Victorian Government, as well as additional support from other stakeholders, will be crucial to achieving the objectives outlined in this plan.
Delivering Impact
We believe this plan will bring tangible benefits to cancer researchers in Victoria and across Australia, aligning directly with the objectives of the Victorian Cancer Plan. By achieving these goals, we aim to deliver meaningful outcomes for people impacted by cancer and foster broader community benefits.