Omico

25/06/2026

Rare cancers are common.

And commonly:

They’re hard to treat.
There are fewer clear options.
And there are big questions that are hard to answer.

In fact, in Omico’s programs for Australians with advanced, incurable or poor prognosis cancers, 66% of people referred are living with rare and less common cancers.

For many, precision oncology is essential to provide information otherwise not available, to help identify what is driving their cancer and whether there may be a matched treatment or clinical trial option worth exploring.

💙 Ahead of Rare Cancers Awareness Day tomorrow, we acknowledge everyone living with a rare or less common cancer, their loved ones, and all those working towards better options and outcomes.

Each day in Australia, around 120 people are diagnosed with a rare or less common cancer.

Learn more Rare Cancers Australia and see how you can help: https://www.rare.org.au/

19/06/2026

📣 Our May eNewsletter is now available.

This edition includes news of PrOSPeCT’s extension through to 2028/29, supporting 25,000 additional patient referrals, along with patient advocacy updates, learning opportunities, and a new international collaboration with Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

You’ll also meet Omico’s first STAR Ambassador, Beth Ivimey OAM, learn more about the Precision Care Initiative (PCI), and see what’s coming up for the NSW Big Ideas Oncology Seminar Series.

🔗 Read the May 2026 issue: https://drnr-hgp.campaign-view.com.au/ua/SharedView?od=3z9c8dd35b5d267912294a78267313be066def71e3ecf55ebed680024acbc198b3&cno=11a2b0b210f0fac&cd=1628e4ae2f62d37&m=0

✉️ Subscribe to receive future editions: https://omico.org.au/webform/

Our next issue will be released in July.

17/06/2026

⭐ Meet Omico's first STAR Ambassador

Beth Ivimey has spent her life caring for people with cancer as a lung cancer nurse. Today, she also brings the perspective of someone living with advanced cholangiocarcinoma.

When invited to choose a title for her ambassador role with Omico, Beth selected STAR: Screening and Therapy Advocate with Real-life experience.

The choice carries special meaning.

"STAR has a sentimental note to me. A patient that I looked after for a long time at Randwick, who was one of the first stage IV lung cancer patients identified with a mutation and treated for over 10 years with targeted therapy, gifted me a star in my name when I left."

"We visited my star at the Observatory — you can identify it around my birthday."

Through comprehensive genomic profiling and biomarker-led treatment, Beth has lived six times beyond her initial prognosis. Today, she continues to use her voice, lived experience and clinical insight to help others understand their options and the role precision oncology can play in care.

💙 We are grateful to have Beth as part of the Omico community and proud to recognise her as our first STAR Ambassador.

13/06/2026

There are so many parts of cancer care that support a person through diagnosis and treatment. Donated blood is one of them. 🩸

People with cancer are Australia’s largest users of donated blood, needing more than 10,000 donations every week.

These donations can help people through surgery, the side effects of chemotherapy and the impact of the cancer itself.

This National Blood Donor Week, help make life-saving care possible for people living with cancer.

🩸 Check your eligibility or book a donation through Australian Red Cross Lifeblood: https://www.lifeblood.com.au/

12/06/2026

It’s the end of a Vera.

After seven incredible years as Omico’s Deputy CEO, Vera Terry retires this Friday, leaving an enormous legacy across the organisation.

Few people could say they have worn as many hats at Omico as Vera. Her steady leadership, deep care, practical wisdom and willingness to step into almost anything have helped shape Omico into the organisation it is today.

It is hard to imagine Omico without Vera’s contribution.

Thank you, Vera. Your impact has been immense, you will be deeply missed, and we wish you all the very best for this next chapter 🩵

09/06/2026

A very special congratulations to Kate Vines AM, appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to community health.

Kate’s leadership, advocacy and deeply personal commitment to people living with rare cancers have helped change the landscape of cancer support in Australia.

Through Rare Cancers Australia, Kate has helped ensure people facing a rare cancer are better supported, better understood, and better able to navigate an incredibly difficult path.

This recognition is so well deserved.

Congratulations Kate, from all of us at Omico. 🩵

Today we’re celebrating our Co-Founder and Australia’s first rare cancer navigator, Kate Vines, who has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Kate has been recognised for her significant service to community health through cancer support.

Diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer when she was just 33 years old, Kate has since dedicated her life to ensuring others do not have to face their rare cancer alone.

Rare Cancers Australia CEO, Christine Cockburn, paid tribute to Kate and her lasting impact for people diagnosed with rare cancers.

“Kate’s own experience was marked by isolation, pain, and a lack of information. Rather than accept that reality, she turned it into a bold vision: that no one should have to face rare cancer alone,” she said.

Read more: https://bit.ly/49IYz2K

09/06/2026

Vale Professor Richard Scolyer AO.

An extraordinary clinician-researcher, advocate and human being, whose contribution to cancer research, care and public understanding has been profound.

Our deepest condolences to Professor Scolyer’s family, friends, colleagues and all who knew and admired him.

His legacy will continue to inspire the cancer research and care community. 🩵

Remembering an extraordinary Australian.

Professor Richard Scolyer AO, joint 2024 Australian of the Year, lived with courage, generosity and a deep commitment to helping others.

Through his pioneering work in melanoma treatment, Richard helped change what was possible for people and families facing an incredibly difficult diagnosis.

When faced with his own cancer journey, he continued to share his experience with openness and bravery, in the hope it may help others.

Our thoughts are with Richard’s wife Katie, his family, friends, colleagues and all those mourning his loss.

02/06/2026

Understanding how cancer care has changed and continues to evolve matters not only for clinicians and researchers, but for patients, families and the wider community.

🎧 For anyone who missed the live event on Thursday 28 May, or would like to listen again, the audio recording is now available:
https://soundcloud.com/unsw-1/unsw-cancer-reimagined-2026?si=9089213e18f44e0d8b7eada566ee9a85&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Omico supports Australians facing advanced, incurable or poor prognosis cancers, whether their cancer is common or rare, by providing access to comprehensive genomic profiling and identifying potential matches to biomarker-led treatments and clinical trials.



UNSW University of Sydney UNSW Medicine & Health Cancer Institute NSW

28/05/2026

Love Your Sister has been an extraordinary supporter of Omico and of in Australia.

The LYS community has helped make comprehensive genomic profiling and treatment matching more accessible for people with cancer, including those in regional, rural and remote communities.

We’re deeply grateful for their ongoing support, advocacy and determination to help more Australians access precision oncology in an equitable and timely way, while also building understanding that it may be an option worth exploring.

Together, we share a goal: reaching more people, no matter their postcode or financial circumstances, with access to personalised cancer care informed by the biology of their tumour.

Thank you, Love Your Sister, Sam, Lucy and every person and business who has contributed to this work. 💙

The bulk of our collected pennies, over many years now, have gone to Omico, for Genomic Oncology. $6 million to bring their world-class genomic testing and treatment matching to regional rural and remote areas all over the country. It wasn’t a poultry sum of money and it wasn’t an easy decision to hand over so many of the dollars you have donated over the years. But we knew there aren’t many better mobs to trust than David Thomas and his crew at OMICO.

The program has been a success, beyond any reasonable projection and it’s proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that it’s a worthwhile investment in the health of Australians. It would seem that someone must agree with me, because OMICO has recently secured $71 Million in funding to keep the program going, that we helped get into these RRR areas.

We will always fight for Precision Oncology (primarily through Garvan, the CCIA and Omico) until Precision Oncology becomes ‘standard of care’ for every cancer patient, in every postcode. When that happens, I will stop screaming from the rafters, buy a hammock and order fancy cocktails from my Michael Caine soundalike butler, whilst I stifle my inner harrumph. 🤣

Together we are strongerongerer.

xsam 🩷

Omico

22/05/2026

Our recent Omico Town Hall happened to fall on ☕️

Every few weeks, our team comes together for a Town Hall - connecting people across clinical programs, operations, partnerships, data, technology, finance and communications to stay aligned around the work we’re doing.

💙 These touchpoints matter. They help strengthen teamwork, transparency and shared purpose across our national precision oncology programs, and keep patients at the centre of what we do.

Today’s meeting just happened to include a few extra cups of tea. ☕️