WCLC 2025: Showcasing Innovation, Leadership, and Global Collaboration

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From Melbourne to Barcelona, TRACKER continues to make its mark on the global stage. At WCLC 2025, our team of clinician researchers shared new insights, celebrated emerging talent, and strengthened collaborations that bring us closer to better treatments and brighter futures for people with lung cancer.

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Last week, the TRACKER Biobank proudly represented Australia at the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2025) in Barcelona, the world’s largest meeting focused on improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer.

With over 7,700 international delegates, 2,200 scientific abstracts, and 130+ sessions and workshops, the conference brought together a vibrant community of clinicians, researchers, health professionals and advocates — all united by a shared goal: improving outcomes and quality of life for people affected by lung cancer.

From new diagnostic innovations to breakthrough research on treatment resistance, WCLC 2025 was a showcase of global progress and collective purpose, and TRACKER was proud to be part of that story.

Empowering the Next Generation of Clinician Researchers

For Dr Senthuran Shivakumar, TRACKER PhD Candidate and respiratory physician, WCLC 2025 marked an important milestone: presenting his first two scientific posters to an international audience.

His research focuses on identifying markers of checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP); a rare but potentially serious immune-related side effect of immunotherapy. By discovering early warning signals, his work aims to help clinicians predict and manage toxicities before they become life-threatening, paving the way for safer and more personalised care.

“My goal is to find biomarkers that guide strategies to prevent or manage toxicities. Through TRACKER, I hope my research contributes to meaningful discoveries that enable sustainable, high-quality survivorship.” — Dr Senthuran Shivakumar

Dr Senthuran Shivakumar at WCLC 2025

Dr Shivakumar’s achievements represent one of TRACKER’s greatest strengths: its commitment to empowering emerging clinician-scientists. By combining access to high-quality biobank samples, multidisciplinary expertise, and strong mentorship, TRACKER provides the foundation for new leaders in lung cancer research to grow, collaborate, and create lasting impact.

Leadership and Global Impact

Dr Tracy Leong at WCLC 2025

TRACKER also celebrated the achievements of Dr Tracy Leong, Director of Interventional Pulmonology at Austin Health, Respiratory Clinical Lead in Lung Cancer, and co-lead of the TRACKER Biobank.

Dr Leong presented on endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and optimal staging for clinical N–N1 non-small cell lung cancer, highlighting how minimally invasive techniques are transforming diagnostic precision and treatment planning. Her talk also underscored how combining advanced imaging with clinical insight can improve safety, accuracy, and patient outcomes.

“Collaboration and precision staging are key to improving outcomes for every patient. By combining cutting-edge diagnostics with multidisciplinary expertise, we can make lung cancer care safer and more effective.” — Dr Tracy Leong

Building on her growing international leadership, Dr Leong also commenced her term as Chair (2025–2027) of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Multidisciplinary Clinical Science Committee, where she will lead global efforts to strengthen collaborative research and patient-centred clinical practice.

Connecting Research, Care, and Community

WCLC 2025 captured the spirit of what drives TRACKER: collaboration, curiosity, and connection. It was an inspiring reminder that the most meaningful progress happens when patients, researchers, and clinicians work together across disciplines and borders.

For TRACKER, being part of this global dialogue was not just a privilege, it was an opportunity to share Australia’s contribution to a rapidly evolving field and to learn from the best minds in the world.

As TRACKER continues to expand its reach, the focus remains clear: to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and patient care, to train future research leaders, and to create lasting change for everyone affected by lung cancer.