News
Update March 2024: Omico and PrOSPeCT
PrOSPeCT (Precision Oncology Screening Platform Enabling Clinical Trials) is our landmark precision oncology initiative, enabled by public-private funding and partnerships totalling over $185M, including $61.2M grant funding from the Australian Government.
Omico Working Together with Australian Cancer Patient Advocacy Groups
Sydney, Australia – April 18, 2024 - Omico recognises that patient advocacy organisations are experts in understanding the patient, family and community experience with cancer, tailoring information, and support, and advocating for equity of access to the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment and care.
Unlocking the Power of Real-World Data at Omico
Sydney, Australia – April 12, 2024 - With respect to our landmark initiative PrOSPeCT, supporting Omico on this journey are two key partners, Quantium and Australia's largest supercomputing centre, National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia). Quantium is well known in the data science and artificial intelligence space and assists by providing its advanced analytical firepower. In parallel, NCI provides a secure and protected environment to house data from PrOSPeCT and a powerful platform for sharing data to enable the analysis of large quantities of genomic information, effectively bringing precision medicine to real-world data.
Omico’s National Clinical Trials Network
Sydney, Australia – April 18, 2024 - Omico is dedicated to advancing cancer treatment and care by establishing and supporting a network of clinical trial sites. Coordinated by Lucille Sebastian, the Omico National Clinical Trials Network (ONCTN), aims to broaden treatment options to patients whilst improving equitable access to clinical trials. This endeavour involves collaboration with various stakeholders including clinical trial units, clinicians, patients, and pharmaceutical companies.
Omico Strengthens Leadership Team for Sustainable Growth: Welcomes New Full-time CEO.
Sydney, Australia – March 12, 2024 – Omico, the pioneering, not-for-profit, national organisation accelerating access to precision oncology in Australia, proudly announces Ian Black as its new full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 2 April 2024. Mr Black joins Professor David Thomas, Omico’s founder, who will continue to play a vital role within the organisation. This transition signifies a pivotal moment in Omico's journey, a necessary evolution of its organisational structure to effectively manage current priorities, ongoing growth and ensure longterm sustainability.
PrOSPeCT formally launches, bringing new hope to Australians with incurable or advanced cancers
Pioneering national genomics initiative gives 23,000 Australians their best fighting chance against the toughest cancers
7,000 patients reached via MoST
As of March 2023, we have screened more than 7,000 patients through our Molecular Screening & Therapeutics (MoST) study.
Ground-breaking Australian research answers long-standing genetic mystery of why people develop rare hidden cancer
Research led by Omico, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney has generated the first comprehensive genetic map of sarcomas, identifying several new important genes that when inherited can cause this deadly cancer. The research has wide implications for people living with sarcoma and their families – allowing detection of the cancer earlier and potentially improving survival for patients.
New hope secured for Australians with LFS
The Australian Government’s Federal Budget announcement brings new hope to Australian families carrying gene variants with an extreme risk of cancer (Li-Fraumeni syndrome, known as LFS), with a four year $1.9M commitment to fund whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
5,000 patients reached on MoST
We are so pleased that 5,000 Australian cancer patients have accessed genomic technology via our Molecular Screening and Therapeutics (MoST) study.
SPORE grant to investigate leiomyosarcoma
Our team David Thomas and Mandy Ballinger has received a collaborative grant through the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI)'s Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE).
A Current Affair feature on MoST
We were thrilled to see national media coverage of the Molecular Screening & Therapeutics (MoST) study – the leading Australian program delivering molecular screening and trials matching to advanced cancer patients.
Rare Cancers Australia podcast series
Our partners at Rare Cancers Australia have launched their new Thought Leaders podcast series, sharing a collection of candid conversations with some of the brightest minds in the Australian cancer community.
Presenting with Foundation Medicine at ESMO 2022
We’re proud to be collaborating with Foundation Medicine to present one of fourteen abstracts demonstrating the power of genomic profiling to advance cancer care at the 2022 ESMO – European Society for Medical Oncology, set to be held virtually and in Paris from September 9-13.
We have entered into a collaboration agreement with Oncoshot
We’re proud to be the first partner in Australia to use Oncoshot’s federated data system for clinical trial insights. This partnership will enable greater access for Australian cancer patients to the latest cancer drugs via global clinical trials.
$185 million investment to fast-track treatments for rare and ‘untreatable’ cancers
The Precision Oncology Screening Platform Enabling Clinical Trials (PrOSPeCT) will establish Australia as a medical manufacturing hub: building links from research through to the clinic; creating jobs; changing lives. A private public partnership to strengthen Australia’s position at the forefront of the cancer treatment revolution
APOS 2021 - DNA & Beyond - online event
Renowned experts discussing the future of genomic cancer medicine, developing new models for health care, data and machine learning. Join us for 4 sessions over 4 days to explore novel technologies, innovative therapies and a systems approach to managing cancer risk and providing healthcare. November Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th November 2021; 5pm - 7pm AEST
Pancreatic cancer program
Cancer Institute NSW has awarded a Translational Program Grant to an impressive team of experienced laboratory and clinical researchers in pancreas cancer, coordinated by Chief Investigator Professor David Goldstein. The team is seeking to develop better targeted treatment options for pancreatic cancer – and ultimately, improve outcomes for people affected.
2020 Masterclass Publications and webinar recordings
View the "Demystifying the Molecular Tumour Board" Masterclass publication and webinar recordings
ASPiRATION study - first patient enrolled
The first patient has been enrolled into the ‘ASPiRATION’ Study. The study is looking at the impact and value of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), precision medicine and personalised healthcare (PHC) in newly diagnosed metastatic, non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Making a difference
3000 patients enrolled onto the Molecular Screening and Therapeutics (MoST) program, 1000 people have enrolled in the Genetic Cancer Risk in the Young (RisC) study and 95 people have joined the Surveillance study in Multi-Organ Cancer prone syndromes (SMOC+) - great news for cancer research.
Masterclass webinar series - Demystifying the Molecular Tumour Board
Learn how members of a Molecular Tumour Board (MTB) come together to discuss and interpret tumour molecular profiles in the clinical context, recommending therapeutic strategies for the care of patients with cancer. 4 webinars on 29th Oct, 5th, 12th and 19th Nov 2020, 4 - 5pm
How cancer develops resistance to treatment
The cells of the human body are constantly dividing, and each time need to copy a three billion-letter DNA code with high precision to ensure cell survival. The same is not true for cancers, researchers have discovered.
A reflection on cancer
Professor David Thomas provides a glimpse of what the future of cancer research could look like.