Tracker Biobank

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Tracker Biobank

TRACKER is empowering lung cancer breakthroughs with Australia’s first biobank for advanced lung cancer samples. Join us in this mission!

We provide scientists with high-quality samples and clinical data to advance research and improve patient outcomes.

07/11/2025

We’re proud to celebrate a milestone for TRACKER PhD candidate Dr Senthuran Shivakumar! 🎉

His first publication with TRACKER, Utility of bronchoalveolar lavage in checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis evaluation: a narrative review, explores the role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in understanding checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP) — a serious immune-related complication of cancer immunotherapy.

The review highlights how BAL can provide insights into immune cell activity, cytokine pathways, and the lung microenvironment. It also discusses emerging research on molecular profiling and the lung microbiome, which may inform future diagnostic and management strategies for CIP. 🙌

👏 Congratulations to Dr Shivakumar and co-authors Dr Sagun Parakh, Dr Natalia Vukelic, Dr Farzaneh Atashrazm, A/Prof Vivek Naranbhai, A/Prof Nicole Goh, Dr Jessica Da Gama Duarte, and Dr Tracy Leong on this important achievement!

🔗 Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.21037/tlcr-2025-430

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Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute The University of Melbourne Austin Health

06/11/2025

💕 We’re overjoyed to celebrate Lisa Briggs, Chair of TRACKER’s Consumer Committee, who has been awarded the inaugural Les Leckie Award for Lived Experience Leadership at the 2025 VCCC Alliance Leading for Impact Awards! 🙌✨

After being diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at just 32, Lisa transformed her lived experience into a driving force for change. Through TRACKER, she has helped design liquid biopsy research to reduce patient burden, assembled a diverse and representative Consumer Committee, and led a multilingual animated explainer video to make research accessible to everyone. 🔬

“Leadership shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of people affected by the disease, but be carried by those holding the power to create systemic and sustainable change. The time to act is now through genuine partnership, bold investment and collective accountability.” — Lisa Briggs

Lisa’s courage, compassion, and leadership have touched us all. She continues to remind us that research is most meaningful when guided by the people it seeks to serve. Congratulations, Lisa! This recognition is so richly deserved! 🌟

🔗 Learn more: https://www.trackerbiobank.com/post/lisa-briggs-wins-les-leckie-award
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Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute VCCC Alliance

03/11/2025

🎉 Welcome St Vincent’s & Garvan! 🎉

We’re thrilled to share that St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have officially joined TRACKER, collecting their first lung cancer patient sample 🫁

This marks our third NSW site, joining Macquarie University Hospital, and expanding our reach to help unlock new answers in lung cancer research.

Meet the Team Behind the Milestone:

👩‍⚕️ A/Prof Venessa Chin – Site Principal Investigator
👩‍⚕️ Prof. Emily Stone – Respiratory Physician
👩‍🔬 Andria Yaourtis – Site Coordinator
🧑‍🔬 Ryan Yu – Site Coordinator
🔬 Rachael Zekanovic – Lab Manager
🔬Caitlin Bartie – Research Assistant

“We are delighted to announce the enrolment of the first St Vincent's participant in the TRACKER study — a wonderful example of teamwork and collaboration.”
– Prof. Emily Stone

🙌 Thank you to this inspiring team for your dedication, teamwork, and passion for improving outcomes for people living with lung cancer.

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gWV3gNAb

St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney Garvan Institute of Medical Research

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27/10/2025

“Progress is only as powerful as the people it reaches.”🙌

These were the words shared by Lisa Briggs, who opened the Thomas Ashworth Liquid Biopsy Symposium in Sydney today, an event dedicated to the theme "Found in Translation".

Lisa’s inspiring remarks reflected TRACKER’s vision: to ensure that research discoveries translate into real-world impact for people living with cancer.✨🔬

It was also a great opportunity for members of the TRACKER team, including Dr Stephen Wong and Prof Helen Rizos, to connect in person and celebrate the spirit of collaboration that drives our work. 🤝

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Macquarie University Macquarie University Hospital Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Western Sydney University

24/09/2025

🌍 TRACKER celebrates Dr Tracy Leong at !

This month in Barcelona, Dr Leong — Director of Interventional Pulmonology at Austin Health, Respiratory Clinical Lead in Lung Cancer, and founder of the TRACKER lung cancer biobank — presented on EBUS and optimal staging for clinical N–N1 NSCLC, showing how minimally invasive diagnostics improve accuracy, treatment planning, and patient safety.

✨ She also begins her term as 2025–2027 Chair of the Multidisciplinary Clinical Science Committee, fostering global collaboration to drive research that delivers better outcomes for patients.

🗣️ “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 Leong

Her leadership exemplifies how clinical excellence, research innovation, and patient-centered care intersect, guiding the next generation of lung cancer specialists.
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Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute Austin Health The University of Melbourne

22/09/2025

🎬 Sneak peek! TRACKER’s new explainer video is almost here.

Ever wondered what a biobank is or how patient samples actually help research? TRACKER’s explainer video shows how blood, tissue, and bronchoalveolar fluid samples are collected to uncover biomarkers that improve lung cancer care.

🌐 Coming soon in multiple languages—making it easier for patients and communities in Australia to understand and actively contribute to life-changing research.

💡 Every sample tells a story. By joining TRACKER, patients help researchers discover new biomarkers, improve treatments, and support sustainable, healthy survivorship for people living with lung cancer.

✨ Stay tuned - the full video is coming soon!
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19/09/2025

✨ First posters, first steps toward discovery ✨

Last week at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference on Lung Cancer, talented TRACKER PhD Candidate Dr Senthuran Shivakumar presented his very first two posters - a huge milestone in his research journey. 👏

His PhD project is focused on discovering biomarkers of checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP), a potentially life-threatening immune side effect of immunotherapy. Identifying these biomarkers early could help doctors predict which patients are most at risk and intervene before toxicities become severe.

🗣️ “Through TRACKER, I hope to uncover biomarkers that help us predict and manage side effects - so more people not only survive lung cancer, but live well after treatment.” — Dr Shivakumar

By driving meaningful discoveries, Senthuran’s research is paving the way for sustainable and high-quality survivorship for lung cancer patients worldwide. 🙌
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Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute The University of Melbourne

12/09/2025

🗣️ Your voice can shape the future of lung cancer research!

TRACKER is looking for an individual with lived experience of lung cancer from South Australia to join our national Consumer Committee.

This is a unique opportunity to:
💙 Share your story to guide lung cancer research
💙 Put patient priorities at the centre of biobank decisions
💙 Help design resources that support families and communities
💙 Drive improvements in cancer care and equity across Australia

Your insights can make a real difference. If you’re passionate about creating better outcomes for people affected by lung cancer, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Submit an EOI today: www.trackerbiobank.com/for-patients

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11/09/2025

🎉 151 reasons to celebrate!

TRACKER has officially welcomed 151 patients across NSW, VIC & SA — building a groundbreaking national resource to help researchers tackle the world’s deadliest cancer: lung cancer.

This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of clinicians recruiting at:
🏥 Austin Health (VIC)
🏥 The Royal Melbourne Hospital (VIC)
🏥 Macquarie University Hospital (NSW)
🏥 St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney (NSW)
🏥 Royal Adelaide Hospital (SA)

But most importantly — to the patients who have generously shared their samples and data — thank you. 🙏 Your courage is the heartbeat of TRACKER, driving discoveries that will transform the future of lung cancer care!
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10/09/2025

✨ Your story matters. Your perspective matters. Your voice matters. ✨

TRACKER is Australia’s first national lung cancer biobank — and we’re inviting people from Western Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to join us as consumer representatives. 🙌

Why? Because every lived experience adds wisdom. You’ll be part of a team helping us:
- Guide how research questions are asked
- Shape biobank practices and decisions
- Create educational resources that support patients and families
- Strengthen diversity and equity in cancer research across Australia

This is more than a seat at the table — it’s a chance to help transform cancer care for generations to come. 💕

👉 Ready to get involved? Submit an EOI: https://www.trackerbiobank.com/for-patients
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05/09/2025

📢 South Australia continues to make a powerful impact in lung cancer research through the TRACKER biobank! The Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAiGENCI at the University of Adelaide are actively contributing patient samples, helping drive critical discoveries.

Research Officer Karen Hon shared, “Grateful to be involved in such an important national effort. TRACKER is a game-changer, and I’m proud to play a part in it.”

Thanks to the dedication of clinicians, scientists, and patients, Australia’s first national lung cancer biobank is accelerating research that will improve treatment, survival, and quality of life for people living with lung cancer. 🙌

👉Read the full article and meet the entire South Australian team on our website!
https://t.co/oJqHS7EZc8
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The University of Adelaide Central Adelaide

01/09/2025

Yesterday in Melbourne, TRACKER took the stage at the AIRWAYS conference! 🌟

👨‍⚕️ Dr Senthuran Shivakumar, TRACKER PhD candidate, delivered a thought-provoking talk: “Ground glass changes in lung cancer patients – what’s next?”

He explored the complexities of managing these subtle early changes, sparking ideas for new research opportunities and innovation in lung cancer care.

👩‍⚕️ Dr Tracy Leong chaired the National Lung Cancer Screening Program session:
“From detection to direction: lung cancer management in the screening age.”

This session highlighted the power of early detection and how screening programs can transform patient outcomes.

A huge thank you to Boehringer Ingelheim for supporting these vital conversations. Together, we’re shaping the future of lung cancer care!

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http://www.trackerbiobank.com/

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