Tuesday 3 December, 2024

Thanks to investment in groundbreaking research, cancer survival rates in Victoria have risen by 49 per cent over the past 30 years. A key element to this progress has been access to human biological samples from cancer patients. These samples, along with medical data, are essential for advancing cancer research. 

The development of high-quality biobanks has accelerated the translation of cancer research into improved diagnosis and cancer treatments. Victoria has become a global leader in health and medical research and is a hub for world-class cancer research and innovation.  

For cancer research to continue advancing, it’s crucial to support infrastructure like biobanks. These resources are essential to achieving the goals set out in the Victorian Cancer Plan and the Australian Cancer Plan, both of which aim to reduce the impact of cancer for all Australians.  

“The healthcare system is on the cusp of a biomolecular revolution which will transform our understanding of cancer, prevent more illness and improve treatments and patient outcomes,” said Dr Wayne Ng, General Manager of the Victorian Cancer Biobank. 

“Central to this goal is the availability of ethically collected biospecimens from cancer patients for research discoveries,” he continued 

Over the last 18 years, the Victorian Cancer Biobank has built one of the largest biospecimen repositories in the world. Today, the Victorian Cancer Biobank: 

  • Conducts biobanking activities across 14 health institutions in Victoria 

  • Has collected more than 40,000 much-needed blood and tissue samples from generous Victorians for lifesaving cancer research 

  • Builds biobanking capability for low survival cancers to improve cancer outcomes for all cancer types 

  • Supports 50 – 60 research projects nationally that are exploring new ways to prevent, detect, treat and care for cancer 

  • Has established international partnerships with other biobanks to accelerate discovers in treatment and care 

Building on these achievements, the Victorian Cancer Biobank is pleased to present its strategic objectives for the next four years, alongside the Victorian Cancer Biobank’s long-term vision. This plan reaffirms the Victorian Cancer Biobank’s commitment to increasing support for the research community and clinical trials, with a focus on advancing biobanking capabilities for low-survival, rare, and less common cancers. 

Strategic priorities 

  • Deliver optimised biobanking services that support Victorian and national cancer research priorities 

  • Improve data services through a VCB data linkage and digitisation strategy 

  • Strengthen awareness and engagement with community, scientific and policy stakeholders 

  • Strengthen long-term sustainability through increased revenue and delivering a value-based consortium model 

Long term goals 

  • Transform the VCB for leadership in open-access collections and high-throughput, efficient biobanking infrastructure.  

  • Engage and promote co-designing with consumers for greater impact, increased public and research sector awareness. 

“It is pleasing to see how the work of the Victorian Cancer Biobank is improving diagnosis and treatment for people with cancer,” said Todd Harper AM, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria.  

“Cancer Council Victoria is proud to lead the Victorian Cancer Biobank and work closely with the consortium partners, researchers and patients. The work of the Victorian Cancer Biobank is imperative to the future of cancer research and improving cancer outcomes.” 

The ongoing work of the Victorian Cancer Biobank is vitally important. The new strategic plan is ambitious to ensure that the VCB continues to be an effective, innovative global leader in research and continuously strives to improve cancer outcomes for all Victorians. 

Thank you to the Victorian State Government for their ongoing support of the Victorian Cancer Biobank and to all partners, researchers and patients that enable our important work to continue.  

To read the full strategic plan, click here. 

If you are interested in donating tissue to the Victorian Cancer Biobank, or would like to learn more, click here. 

The Victorian Cancer Biobank through the Cancer Council Victoria as Lead Agency is supported by the Victorian Government through the Victorian Cancer Agency, a business unit of the Department of Health.

RAP Victorian Cancer Biobank would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present and extend that respect to all other Aboriginal people.

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Consortium members

Cancer Council Victoria Austin Health Eastern Health Monash Health Peter Mac Royal Melbourne Hospital

Supported by

VCA