The challenge

Brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in children and adults under 40, yet survival outcomes have changed little in the past four decades. Progress has been slowed by fragmented data, limited access to biospecimens and tumour models, costly clinical trials, challenges recruiting patients into research, and variation in care across Australia.

To address these barriers, Brain Cancer Australia is developing three nationally coordinated research infrastructure platforms designed to give everyone who can help defeat brain cancer what they need to do it.

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"This is not about a single research project; this is about enabling the whole system to work better, improving consistency of care, accelerating research, and lifting survival rates."

Professor Lindy Jeffree, Neurosurgeon and Chair, Brain Cancer Australia National Consortium

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The role of philanthropy

The three platforms include the Australian Brain Cancer Registry (ABCR), the Opt Me In Platform, and the Biobanking and Organoid Platform. Together, they will provide the national infrastructure that all clinicians and researchers need to tackle the challenges of brain cancer collaboratively and effectively.

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This collaboration brings together 47 leading brain cancer clinicians and researchers from 33 institutions, alongside 12 partner organisations, creating the largest collaborative brain cancer research project ever established in Australia.  Hearts & Minds funding has played a critical role in establishing this national collaboration by supporting the coordination, governance, stakeholder engagement and partnerships needed to build and sustain these platforms. These essential activities underpin long-term research success but are rarely funded through traditional research grants.

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The platforms are already demonstrating their potential to improve research and care. For example, the ABCR is helping identify variation in clinical care. Early reporting highlighted an opportunity to improve treatment by identifying older patients who were not receiving the recommended dose of radiotherapy, enabling targeted action.

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What this could unlock

Once complete, the three platforms will create a nationally coordinated infrastructure ecosystem to support brain cancer research and care. This will help enable more cost-effective clinical trials, faster translation of research into treatments, greater collaboration between researchers, clinicians and patients, improved access to research opportunities, and more consistent care across Australia. It is also expected to strengthen Australia's ability to attract international research investment and partnerships. Ultimately, this work aims to improve survival outcomes for people diagnosed with brain cancer.

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Funding support from Hearts & Minds and Core Fund Manager TDM Growth Partners. This content was last updated in July 2026. For further information, visit Brain Cancer Australia.