WHAT DRIVES US
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide
Contributing significantly to this problem are patients presenting with inoperable metastatic disease where the 5-year survival rate falls from 70% in early-stage to 5% in late-stage.
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While treatment advances have been made, the efficacy of standard chemotherapy for treating this disease has reached a plateau. Immunotherapy, although one of the most promising forms of lung cancer treatment in decades, does not work for all patients. By analysing data from patient samples, we strive to redefine the way lung cancer is understood and treated, focusing on delivering impactful results, particularly in addressing immunotherapy resistance.
ABOUT TRACKER
TRACKER (Tissue Repository of Airway Cancers for Knowledge Expansion of Resistance) is a consumer-driven biobanking project dedicated to improving the outcomes for patients with lung cancer.​
OUR MISSION
Facilitating Lung Cancer Research Breakthroughs with High Quality Samples
Our team is committed to establishing the first Australian tissue and data repository for longitudinally collected lung cancer samples. We aim to address the critical need for clinically annotated, appropriate tissue and blood samples to conduct groundbreaking research on small tissue specimens. Our goal is to advance research and improve outcomes for lung cancer patients by providing a resource for researchers and healthcare professionals, thereby accelerating progress in understanding and treating lung cancer. In particular, we hope to characterise immunotherapy resistance.
Our Team.
The TRACKER team is composed of highly experienced clinicians, researchers and people with lived experience of lung cancer. With their extensive knowledge and expertise, they are committed to making a positive impact on lung cancer outcomes worldwide.
OUR BIOBANK
Purpose-Built to Enable Lung Cancer Research Globally
BIOSPECIMEN COLLECTION
TRACKER is at the forefront of utilising Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) technology for the comprehensive acquisition and preservation of high-quality tissue from treatment naive lung cancer patients who cannot undergo surgical resection. Time-matched blood samples and bronchoalveolar fluid is also acquired. Our advanced processes ensure the integrity and usability of the collected biospecimens.
DATA ANALYSIS
Analysis of biospecimens collected through TRACKER will utilise cutting-edge "omics" technologies scaled for small specimen input to gain complex cancer-related information. We will provide researchers and clinicians worldwide with access to these datasets in an effort to drive breakthroughs in lung cancer research.
COLLABORATION
TRACKER fosters collaborative research initiatives by connecting multidisciplinary teams, including world-leading lung cancer clinicians, researchers and bioinformaticians, and providing access to a wealth of resources. We support partnerships aimed at accelerating discoveries and translating scientific findings into clinical applications.
OUR LOCATION
We are located in the heart of Melbourne, Australia, a city known for its thriving medical research community.
TRACKER is led from within the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute on the Austin Health campus. Our location in Melbourne allows us to collaborate closely with leading research institutions and hospitals to ensure the success of this national biobank and drive progress in lung cancer research.
Our Progress
