Revised Strategic Plan 2025-2027
The Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB) consortium presents its revised strategic objectives for 2025–2027 and long‑term vision. These objectives reflect a recalibration of priorities following recent government funding support.
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
2-Year Priorities:
Deliver optimised biobanking services that support Victorian and national cancer research priorities
Provide VCB biospecimens and associated services to cancer research programs, commercial projects and clinical trials with large scale projects(ideally with leveraged funding) prioritised
Build VCB’s biospecimen cohorts, leveraging serviced projects
Commission re-certification of CTRNet to ensure high quality biospecimens and biobanking services
Seek partnership and funding opportunities to leverage VCB’s infrastructure to improve accessibility and expand the range of VCB products, including low survival and rare cancers
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 coordinated approaches of biobanking infrastructure and associated regulations at state and national level
Strengthen long-term sustainability through increased revenue and delivering a value-based consortium model
Undertake restructuring to consolidate the site operation managements for operational efficiency
Scope and pursue long term VCB hubs consolidation to enhance VCB ability in adapting to new market demand and strategy while ensuring better alignment with the evolving health network structure
Secure ongoing core funding from the Victorian government
Increase additional revenue through grants, partnerships and services leveraging VCB infrastructure
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.