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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.

💜 A very special congratulations to Dr Tracy Leong! We are absolutely delighted to celebrate Tracy’s induction into the ...
24/09/2026

💜 A very special congratulations to Dr Tracy Leong!

We are absolutely delighted to celebrate Tracy’s induction into the 2026 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, recognised as a Change Agent.

Announced by Deputy Premier and Minister for Women and Gender Equality Gabrielle Williams MP at the Arts Centre Melbourne last night, the Honour Roll celebrates Victorian women whose leadership, service and contributions have made a lasting difference.

Tracy’s career is a wonderful example of what it means to create change. 🙌
She was Victoria’s first female Director of an Interventional Pulmonology service, breaking new ground in a highly specialised and traditionally male-dominated field. Today, women hold all core clinical and research roles in the unit she leads.

She has pioneered research in lung cancer and occupational lung disease, contributed to national and international standards of care, and championed new approaches to research that put people at the heart of the work.

As Governance Lead of TRACKER, Tracy has helped build a national lung cancer biobank grounded in consumer-led, inclusive research — ensuring that the experiences and priorities of people affected by lung cancer help shape the research that seeks to improve their lives.

The Honour Roll celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Reflecting on this year’s inductees, Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams said they have:
“paved the way for others … and continue to inspire the next generation.”

We think that captures Tracy’s contribution beautifully!

Congratulations, Tracy! We are incredibly proud of you and so grateful for the leadership, generosity and vision you bring to the lung cancer community, to research, and to the many people whose paths you have helped change. 🥰💫

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

🌏🫁That’s a wrap on the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC)!Congratulations to TRACKER Scientific Committee Chair Dr S...
15/09/2026

🌏🫁That’s a wrap on the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC)!

Congratulations to TRACKER Scientific Committee Chair Dr Stephen Wong and the research team on sharing their latest findings with the international lung cancer community at .

For people with advanced lung cancer, immunotherapy has transformed treatment. But why it works for some people and not others, and why some cancers eventually become resistant, remains an important research question. 🤔

Using blood samples collected through TRACKER, the team explored DNA methylation: small chemical changes that act like switches, helping control which genes are turned on or off. They found distinct methylation patterns between people whose cancers responded to immunotherapy and those whose cancers did not.

💡These findings provide new clues about the biology underlying treatment response and resistance, and could help identify markers that may one day support more personalised treatment.

The team is now looking forward to combining these results with other molecular information to further explore the complex biology of lung cancer.

Congratulations, Stephen and team! 👏
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Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre The University of Melbourne International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

📣 TRACKER research at WCLC 2026Why do some people with advanced lung cancer respond well to immunotherapy, while others ...
14/09/2026

📣 TRACKER research at WCLC 2026

Why do some people with advanced lung cancer respond well to immunotherapy, while others don’t?

That’s one of the questions being explored by TRACKER PhD Candidate Dr Sarah Yeo, who today is presenting her research at the World Conference on Lung Cancer.

Sarah’s study looks at whether changes in the DNA of lung cancer cells may help us understand differences in how patients respond to immunotherapy.

Early findings suggest that patients who did not respond to immunotherapy tended to have more widespread changes across their tumour DNA, particularly DNA losses. While these findings need to be studied in larger groups of patients, they offer an encouraging starting point for understanding the biology behind treatment resistance.

📍 Poster P2.141

If you’re in Seoul for WCLC, make sure to stop by Sarah’s poster and find out more about her research!

Congratulations, Sarah! 👏 We’re incredibly proud to see TRACKER research contributing to the global lung cancer conversation.

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

🌏🔬 TRACKER travels to Seoul!We’re delighted to celebrate TRACKER PhD Candidate Dr Sarah Yeo, who has travelled to Seoul,...
14/09/2026

🌏🔬 TRACKER travels to Seoul!

We’re delighted to celebrate TRACKER PhD Candidate Dr Sarah Yeo, who has travelled to Seoul, South Korea, to attend the 2026 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) with support from the 2026 Rosemary Holmes Travel Grant.

Today, Sarah will present in the Pathology & Biomarkers session, sharing research from the TRACKER cohort with the international lung cancer community.

Sarah will be joined in Seoul by Dr Tracy Leong, TRACKER Co-Lead; Dr Stephen Wong, TRACKER Scientific Committee Chair; and Anita McGrath, TRACKER Consumer.

We’re incredibly proud to see TRACKER represented on the international stage. Congratulations, Sarah, and best wishes to the team for a fantastic WCLC 2026! 👏🇦🇺🇰🇷

A special thank you to Lung Foundation Australia for supporting Sarah through the Rosemary Holmes Travel Grant and helping make this opportunity possible.

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🎉 We've reached 300 participants!Today marks a special milestone for the TRACKER Biobank as we welcomed our 300th partic...
07/08/2026

🎉 We've reached 300 participants!

Today marks a special milestone for the TRACKER Biobank as we welcomed our 300th participant.

This achievement would not have been possible without the generosity of every participant who has contributed their samples and clinical information to research, the support of their loved ones, and the dedication of our clinicians, nurses, research coordinators, scientists, and collaborators across Australia and internationally.

Each contribution helps researchers better understand lung cancer, bringing us closer to earlier detection, more personalised treatments, improved outcomes, and a better quality of life for people affected by the disease.

To everyone who has been part of this journey, thank you. Your support is making a lasting difference. Together, we're building a national resource that will drive groundbreaking discoveries and improve lung cancer care for years to come!

💙 While we're celebrating this milestone, we're even more excited about what's ahead and look forward to sharing our progress with you.

🤔What research matters most to you? We'd love to hear from our community. Leave a comment below and tell us what lung cancer research, innovations, or patient outcomes you'd most like to see in the years ahead.
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Austin Health Northern Health The Royal Melbourne Hospital St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney Macquarie University Hospital Nepean Blue Mountains Health Royal Adelaide Hospital Metro North Health North Metropolitan Health Service

Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

TRACKER reaches across borders to support new lung cancer discoveries 🌏TRACKER is proud to support its first internation...
05/08/2026

TRACKER reaches across borders to support new lung cancer discoveries 🌏

TRACKER is proud to support its first international research collaboration, with plasma samples and de-identified clinical data now being accessed by researchers at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.

The Chatterjee Laboratory lung cancer therapy response team, led by A/Prof Aniruddha Chatterjee, together with Dr Rajiv Kumar (Medical Oncologist and co-PI), Dr Euan Rodger (co-PI) and PhD candidate Safia Farry (Te Aupōuri), is investigating whether blood-based markers can help predict how people with non-small cell lung cancer respond to targeted therapies.

While targeted therapies have transformed care for many people with lung cancer, resistance remains a major challenge. By analysing tumour-derived DNA circulating in the bloodstream, the team aims to identify molecular patterns that may help predict treatment response and support more personalised approaches to care. 🫁🧪

This collaboration highlights the importance of making high-quality biospecimens and clinical data accessible to researchers working towards better outcomes for people affected by lung cancer.

We are grateful to all our TRACKER participants, clinicians, researchers, and collaborators whose contributions make research like this possible. 🫶

Together, we are helping transform generous patient contributions into knowledge that can shape the future of lung cancer care. 💫

📖Learn more: https://www.trackerbiobank.com/post/tracker-supports-first-international-collaboration
🔗 https://www.otago.ac.nz/chatterjee-lab
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💬 Shaped by consumers, created with our communityAt TRACKER, consumer involvement is more than consultation — it is genu...
31/07/2026

💬 Shaped by consumers, created with our community

At TRACKER, consumer involvement is more than consultation — it is genuine partnership. 🫶

The idea for the TRACKER animated explainer video and companion brochure came from our Consumer Committee and was brought to life through collaboration between people affected by lung cancer and the TRACKER team.

💡By sharing their experiences, perspectives and priorities, our Consumer Committee helped ensure these resources reflect what matters most to patients, families and communities — creating information that is meaningful, accessible and relevant.

One of our Consumer Committee members reflected:
“In this co-design process, I felt the cultural values and community priorities I shared were no longer just noted and tolerated, they were embraced and valued.”

They also shared:
“TRACKER is open to the challenge of hearing and learning from all of us so we can shape a future of biobanking with participants from all cultures and ways of life.”

These reflections capture the true value of consumer partnership: research resources are strongest when they are developed alongside the people they aim to serve.

We are incredibly grateful to our Consumer Committee for their time, honesty and expertise in helping bring this initiative to life.

Together, we are building a future where people affected by lung cancer have a meaningful voice in the research that impacts them. 🙌

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📘 A new resource for patients and familiesFollowing the launch of our consumer co-designed animated explainer video, we’...
28/07/2026

📘 A new resource for patients and families

Following the launch of our consumer co-designed animated explainer video, we’re pleased to share the TRACKER companion brochure.

Designed with our TRACKER Consumer Committee, this brochure provides patients and families with a practical guide they can keep, revisit and share when learning about TRACKER and considering research participation.

Covering:
🧬 what biobanking is
🔐 privacy
🔬 how TRACKER supports lung cancer research
🤝 what taking part involves

We are grateful to our Consumer Committee for sharing their experiences and insights to help shape a resource that reflects the needs of people affected by lung cancer.

Together, we are creating more patient-centred ways to connect communities with research.

Learn more: www.trackerbiobank.com/for-patients
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🎥 Breaking down barriers to lung cancer research We’re proud to officially launch TRACKER’s new consumer co-designed ani...
27/07/2026

🎥 Breaking down barriers to lung cancer research

We’re proud to officially launch TRACKER’s new consumer co-designed animated explainer video, now available in English and five priority languages!

Biobanking plays an important role in advancing lung cancer research, but understanding what a biobank is and what taking part involves can sometimes feel complex. Through engaging animation and clear language, this video explains:

🧬 What biobanking is
🔬 How samples and health information support research
🤝 What participating in TRACKER involves

The video allows patients, families and communities to explore this information at their own pace and make informed decisions about whether taking part in TRACKER is right for them.

Available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese, this video helps make information about Australia’s national lung cancer biobank easier to access and supports more people to learn about and consider research participation.

We are grateful to everyone who helped bring this initiative to life — including Rare Cancers Australia and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer for their support, and our TRACKER Consumer Committee, whose lived experience, perspectives and insights were central to shaping a resource that reflects community needs.

🎥 Watch the video here: www.trackerbiobank.com/for-patients

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🫁 Turning uncertainty into opportunity for better patient careCongratulations to TRACKER PhD Candidate Dr Senthuran Shiv...
20/07/2026

🫁 Turning uncertainty into opportunity for better patient care

Congratulations to TRACKER PhD Candidate Dr Senthuran Shivakumar, who recently presented at the VCCC Alliance Immune-related Adverse Events Clinical Education Forum.

His presentation focused on checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis, a potentially serious side effect of cancer immunotherapy.

💡One of the key messages from Dr Shivakumar's talk was that pneumonitis is often a diagnosis of exclusion. This means there is no single test that can confirm it, and doctors must carefully rule out other possible causes, such as infection or cancer progression, before making a diagnosis.

This uncertainty doesn't only affect clinicians making difficult treatment decisions- it is also experienced by patients and their families, who are often navigating symptoms, investigations and waiting for answers.

As Dr Shivakumar put it:
👉"Ground glass opacity = ground glass opportunity."

Ground-glass opacities are a common CT scan finding in pneumonitis, but they can have many different causes. His message is a powerful reminder that every diagnostic challenge is also an opportunity to learn more, strengthen the evidence, and improve how we diagnose and manage immune-related side effects.

🥼With immunotherapy transforming cancer care, continued research is essential to better understand checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis, reduce uncertainty for both clinicians and patients, and ultimately improve patient care and quality of life.
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Austin Health Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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