Queensland Joins TRACKER, Expanding Australia’s Lung Cancer Research Capacity

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The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) and The University of Queensland (UQ) have officially joined TRACKER, marking a significant step in expanding Australia’s national lung cancer biobank and strengthening the partnership between clinical care and discovery research.

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On the 20^th of November, the Queensland team collected their first patient samples, marking the state’s entry into TRACKER’s nationwide effort to create a repository of high-quality biospecimens and clinical data that advance the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer.

Uniting Clinical Expertise and Discovery Science

TRACKER brings together leading hospitals and research institutions across Australia to collect and analyse biospecimens linked with detailed clinical information. This coordinated approach creates a powerful resource for investigating lung cancer biology, identifying biomarkers, and improving treatment strategies.

Queensland’s contribution builds on one of the country’s most active clinical and research ecosystems. Through RBWH’s oncology and respiratory teams and UQ’s molecular research capability, the state brings strong multidisciplinary collaboration and a history of translational impact.

“Participating in TRACKER gives us an opportunity to contribute to a national resource that will shift how we understand lung cancer,” said A/Prof David Fielding, Respiratory Physician and Site Principal Investigator at RBWH.

“By embedding research into routine clinical pathways, we’re helping generate insights that can ultimately translate into better care for patients here in Queensland and across the country.”

At UQ, the laboratory team will process and bank Queensland’s TRACKER samples, ensuring high-quality material is available for researchers nationwide.

“The strength of TRACKER lies in its ability to link clinical questions with molecular investigation,” said Prof Peter Simpson, Laboratory Head and Site Principal Investigator at UQ.

“By partnering closely with RBWH, we’re able to collect samples at the point of care and contribute to data that directly supports discovery, innovation, and future clinical decision-making.”

Meet the Queensland Team

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (Clinical Site)

• A/Prof David Fielding – Respiratory Physician & Site PI

• A/Prof Brett Hughes – Medical Oncologist

•  Dr Zarnie Lwin – Medical Oncologist

•  Kimberley Ryan – Site Coordinator

•  Haibing Wu – Site Coordinator

The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (Laboratory Site)

•  Prof Peter Simpson – Laboratory Head & Site PI

•  Kate Fitzgerald – Research Assistant

• Dr Andrew Dalley – Postdoctoral Research Scientist

• Dr Kate Beecher Matthews – Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Looking Ahead

With Queensland now contributing to TRACKER, recruitment numbers are expected to rise steadily over the coming months. Increased participation will broaden the scope, diversity, and scientific value of samples within the biobank, enhancing Australia’s collective capacity to generate discoveries that will transform lung cancer care and outcomes.

TRACKER extends its appreciation to the RBWH and UQ teams, and to the patients and families whose generosity enables this work.