Western Australia Joins TRACKER, Strengthening Australia’s National Lung Cancer Research Network

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Western Australia has officially joined TRACKER, expanding the reach of a growing network that unites clinicians, scientists, and patients in a shared mission to transform lung cancer research and care.

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The Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) and the Institute for Respiratory Health (IRH), in partnership with Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia (UWA), are now active TRACKER sites.

Today, the WA team achieved a significant milestone with the successful collection of their first lung cancer patient sample, marking the beginning of Western Australia’s contribution to this nationwide effort.

Advancing Research Through Innovation and Collaboration

TRACKER connects leading hospitals and research institutes across Australia to collect and analyse biospecimens linked with detailed clinical data.

By doing so, it creates a vital foundation for understanding lung cancer at a molecular level - enabling new discoveries in biomarkers, disease mechanisms, and treatment response that can directly improve patient outcomes.

In Western Australia, this mission is further strengthened by the recent introduction of robotic bronchoscopy at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital — a first for the state and one of only a few in the country. This advanced technology allows clinicians to access and biopsy small, hard-to-reach areas of the lung with greater precision, improving tissue yield and enabling the collection of samples from earlier-stage cancers.

For TRACKER, it means richer data, more representative samples, and faster progress toward early detection and personalised treatment strategies.

Meet the Western Australian Team

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (Clinical Site)

• Dr Dhaval Thakkar – Respiratory Physician & Site Principal Investigator

• Dr Xinxin Hu – Respiratory Physician & Associate Investigator

• Nicola Clarkson – Site Coordinator

• Katie Straker – Site Coordinator

Institute for Respiratory Health and Murdoch University (Research Site)

• A/Prof Cecilia Prele – Laboratory Head & Site Principal Investigator

• Jorjina Plester – Research Assistant

Together, this multidisciplinary team is contributing to leading translational research, driving innovation in how lung cancer is studied, diagnosed, and managed.

Perspectives from the Team

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"TRACKER represents a significant step in linking clinical practice and research across Australia, by contributing to this national initiative, we can accelerate discoveries that improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment pathways, and ultimately patient outcomes.”

Dr Dhaval Thakkar, Respiratory Physician & Site PI

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A/Prof Cecilia Prele added, “The partnership with TRACKER highlights the value of collaboration.

By sharing resources and expertise, we’re building the knowledge base needed to better understand lung cancer biology and translate that understanding into real-world improvements.”

Building a National Legacy

Each new TRACKER site strengthens Australia’s collective capacity to tackle the world’s deadliest cancer. With Western Australia now an active contributor, the network’s reach extends from coast to coast — reflecting the shared determination of the nation’s medical and research communities to deliver meaningful change for patients.

TRACKER acknowledges the dedication of the teams at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the Institute for Respiratory Health, and the generosity of the patients who make this research possible.

Together, we are building a unified national resource — one that will shape the future of lung cancer research, diagnosis, and care.