Omico

27/03/2026

A new report from Rare Cancers Australia highlights how important clinical trials are for people with rare and challenging cancers—and what needs to change to improve access.

For many patients, clinical trials aren’t a last option. They can be an essential pathway to treatment.

At Omico, we see this every day. Through our programs, Australians with incurable and rare cancers are accessing genomic profiling and being matched to clinical trials and treatments based on biomarkers in their cancer.

As more trials focus on tumour-agnostic therapies—guided by biomarkers rather than cancer type—this genomic profiling becomes essential. Without it, patients may never be identified for trials that could help them.

Importantly, this report brings together insights from across the sector, including people with lived experience of cancer and cancer clinical trials.

There’s more to do—but together, we can improve access for more Australians who need it.

For people with rare cancers, who face poor survival outcomes and limited access to treatments, clinical trials are not a last resort - they can be the only viable treatment option.

Yet many people in our community face challenges in finding and taking part in clinical trials.

Through a national policy roundtable series across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and online at the end of last year, we explored Australia’s strengths as a clinical trials destination and the critical opportunities to increase access to clinical trials for those who need them most.

In partnership with Cancer Trials Australia, we convened people with lived experience, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and industry representatives, to identify practical ways to:
🔹 increase the number of clinical trials for people with rare cancers in Australia
🔹 better connect clinicians and patients with the trials and information they need and support people with rare cancers to take part in trials, regardless of where they live
🔹 strengthen Health Technology Assessment pathways to improve subsidised access to medicines beyond the trial setting.

Read the key insights and actions from the Policy Roundtable Series at: https://bit.ly/4szi8lA

Thank you Cancer Trials Australia, who partnered with us on this series, as well as our sponsors, speakers and attendees who generously shared their time, ideas and commitment to maximising rare cancer clinical trials in Australia.

24/03/2026

Around 70-80% of the patients Dr Sara Wahlroos sees have incurable cancer, with a median overall survival of 12–14 months.

An Upper GI Medical Oncologist and Phase I trialist at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, she reflected on what has meant in practice.

She shared:
“This (PrOSPeCT) provides what I refer to as an ace up my sleeve ... it provides hope ... and even if it doesn't prove actionable biomarkers, at least we know that we haven't missed something that could potentially provide a significant overall survival benefit for these patients.”

Under PrOSPeCT 1.0:
• 74.5% of adults received a matched treatment recommendation
• 12.1% have enrolled in a clinical trial so far
• 25.5% accessed therapy outside a trial so far

For around 1,200 clinicians across Australia, Omico’s PrOSPeCT has supported access to precision oncology to help guide treatment decisions for their patients.

20/03/2026

👏 More than $750,000 raised—and still growing.

An incredible effort from Rare Cancers Australia and everyone behind the Kosi Challenge.

Love your work—what a community.
Kosi, Kosi, Kosi – Oi, oi, oi! , indeed!

✨ THANK YOU ✨ for helping us make this year’s Kosi Challenge the biggest and best yet!

We’ve smashed our $750,000 fundraising target and the total is still climbing.

Our fundraising is currently sitting at a record-breaking total over $766,000 – with every dollar making a difference helping us support people affected by rare and less common cancers.

We are so grateful for all the time, effort, energy and support we’ve received in the lead-up to the Kosi Challenge.

Whether you’ve been a sponsor, donated to a friend, walked virtually or reached the summit of Mt Kosciuszko, you’ve played a vital role in making this weekend such a success, and giving strength and hope to the rare community.

Kosi, Kosi, Kosi – Oi, oi, oi!

19/03/2026

This week, The Australian has highlighted new findings from Omico’s program, bringing national attention to how genomic testing is helping to identify treatment options, often through clinical trials, for people with incurable, advanced or rare cancers.

These findings, recently published in JAMA Oncology and recognised internationally, show that precision oncology can improve outcomes for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers who are able to access matched therapies. While progress is being made, many Australians still face barriers to accessing these treatments.

At Omico, we’re working with clinicians, researchers and partners across the country to connect people with options and clinical trials—and to help make these approaches more accessible over time.

Want to know more?

🔗 Media coverage (The Australian, subscriber access): https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medical/patients-lives-lost-as-cancer-drugs-out-of-reach/news-story/d55181422a124add112e74d8e27d63b8
🔗 Read the research (JAMA Oncology): https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2845808?resultClick=1
🔗 Editorial commentary (Vivek Subbiah): https://lnkd.in/gTRSk2F6

17/03/2026

Every 15 minutes, an Australian with incurable cancer is referred to .

At our recent event, Beth Ivimey shared what comprehensive genomic profiling meant for her.

Diagnosed with stage IV cholangiocarcinoma, she accessed matched therapy through clinical trials identified via genomic profiling. Beth has now outlived her original prognosis six-fold.

But what stayed with us was not just this number.

“A lot of people use the word hope. For me, I look forward to things. There's always moving forward.”

Precision oncology is not only about genomic reports — it’s about guiding treatment decisions.

More than 21,500 Australians have now been referred to PrOSPeCT, expanding access to matched treatment options that might otherwise be missed.

13/03/2026

This room is full.

And for good reason.

Each year, Omico hosts the Australian Precision Oncology Symposium (APOS), bringing together clinicians, researchers, scientists, industry, policy leaders and patient advocates from across Australia.

This year, more than 320 people came together to share knowledge and experience in precision oncology and explore how advances in the field can reach more Australians with cancer.

Because turning scientific progress into real patient impact takes a community.

12/03/2026

Recently, we brought together the partners and stakeholders who helped deliver 1.0, Australia’s largest cancer genomics initiative, to say thank you and reflect on what has been built.

Over the past three years, PrOSPeCT has acted as a vital bridge between innovation and everyday cancer care. More than 21,500 Australians with incurable cancer have been referred for precision oncology through this first version of the program.

We are deeply grateful to our Foundational Partners — Roche , Children's Cancer Institute , the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI), and the Australian Government and NSW Government — whose leadership, funding and support made this possible.

Mainstreaming precision oncology takes coordination, commitment and collaboration across the system. Together, we’ve laid the foundation.

Over the coming days, we’ll share reflections from others on what PrOSPeCT has meant in practice.



Beth Ivimey

23/02/2026

Precision oncology works. Access is the challenge.

Outside of self-pay or clinical trials, Omico is the only national pathway providing coordinated, access to molecular profiling and treatment matching at no cost to patients.

Continuity of PrOSPeCT protects patient access today — and helps build the path to routine, mainstream care tomorrow.

👉 Read the submissionhttps://omico.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Securing-PrOSPeCT-for-the-future_Final.pdf



UNSW UNSW Medicine & Health Cancer Institute NSW Children's Cancer Institute

20/02/2026

Every 15 minutes, an Australian with incurable cancer is referred to Omico for access to precision oncology. Their needs are urgent.

Access to precision oncology is not yet routine or equitable in Australia—and continuity of PrOSPeCT matters for people who can’t wait.

No eligible patient should miss out because access to PrOSPeCT is disrupted.

👉 Read the submissionhttps://omico.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Securing-PrOSPeCT-for-the-future_Final.pdf



UNSW UNSW Medicine & Health Cancer Institute NSW Children's Cancer Institute

17/02/2026

Securing PrOSPeCT: continuity today, mainstream care tomorrow.

Every 15 minutes, an Australian with incurable cancer is referred to PrOSPeCT.

Access to precision oncology is not yet routine or equitable in Australia. Continuity of PrOSPeCT ensures uninterrupted access to genomic profiling and treatment matching at no cost to patients — while longer-term arrangements for mainstream care are considered.

Based on current demand, existing funding is projected to be exhausted by September 2026. Omico has submitted its 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission seeking continuation funding through to the end of 2028.

We encourage you to read the submission and stay informed as this next phase unfolds.

👉 Read the submissionhttps://omico.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Securing-PrOSPeCT-for-the-future_Final.pdf



UNSW UNSW Medicine & Health Cancer Institute NSW Children's Cancer Institute

09/02/2026

Recently, our Exec team took time out together—not just to focus on 2026 priorities, but to look further ahead at where we’re heading over the next 10 years.

It was about people. Program participants we continue to follow over time, the new cohorts to begin, and the science that keeps evolving.

It was about translating that science into better outcomes for people facing cancer—and turning innovation and evidence into better care, smarter policy and real-world impact.

Grateful for this team, and energised by what’s ahead.
Real people. Real work.

Pictured (Left to Right): Kym Bramich, Lucille Sebastian, Jessica Oliver, Mandy Ballinger, David Thomas, James Odell, Waman Tamhankar, Ian Black, James Ferderow, Vera Terry, Jenn Henderson, Tanya Slater, Ron Chan

09/02/2026

🎸 We got the band together!

Recently, David Thomas was referred to as a bit of a rockstar. So we started a band: Spot and the Rubicons.

“Crossing the Rubicon” is one of David’s favourite expressions. It represents a bold commitment to change, a point of no return. It felt so aligned with Omico’s purpose that we made band T-shirts. Of course we did!!

To mark on 4 Feb, we surprised the Omico team with band tees and said thanks — for the way they keep pushing what’s possible, grounded in science and driven by evidence.

Accelerating access to precision oncology is serious work. Recognising the people doing it, and the impact that work has on individuals, families and communities, matters just as much 💙

(And in case you were wondering… Spot is a cat, and a regular cameo in our online meetings. 🐾)




📸Picture: some members of the band