We are delighted to announce the addition of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute Brain Cancer Biobank to the Brain Cancer Australia biobanking network.
Led by Professor Hui Gan, one of the Directors of the Centre for Research Excellence at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute in Victoria, the biobank has been in operation since 2010 and in its current iteration holds over 400 samples from 233 consented patients. Driven by scientific curiosity and a commitment to making a difference for patients, Hui tells us about his journey specialising in brain cancer and the important role of biobanking in advancing brain cancer research.
It’s all about the patients. That’s what keeps me motivated—the hope that one day, we’ll have the answers they need.
The Path to Brain Cancer Research
Hui didn’t initially set out to specialise in brain cancer. Like many young doctors, he was searching for his niche in the world of oncology. The breakthrough in the emergence and success of targeted cancer therapies piqued his interest and led him to pursue a PhD in drug development. It was during his time at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research that he found his calling in brain cancer research. His lab was working on targeted treatments, and the focus on brain-specific targets opened his eyes to the critical gap in brain cancer research. “I saw a need in brain cancer and decided to make a difference there,” Hui explained.
Since then, Hui has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for brain cancer patients, leading clinical trials, and driving translational research that bridges the gap between lab discoveries and patient care.
The Importance of Biobanking
At the heart of Hui’s work is the belief that advancing brain cancer research relies on two key factors: clinical trials and biobanking. “We need more trials to improve patient outcomes, but the real answer will come from science,” Hui shared. A cornerstone of that science is biobanking—the systematic collection and storage of biological samples such as blood and tissue. These samples provide researchers with the crucial data needed to understand how brain cancers develop, progress, and respond to treatments.
Hui emphasised the importance of a well-coordinated biobanking system, where samples are not collected opportunistically but systematically along the patient journey. “It’s not just about collecting a sample when a patient has surgery,” he said. “It’s about collecting samples throughout their treatment journey, at key points like when the cancer progresses. That’s the data researchers really need.”
No one group can make progress on their own. We are one community in Australia. We need to work together, and that’s why being part of this network is so important. It connects us to other researchers, other biobanks, and gives us the scale we need to make a real impact. I firmly believe that it’s connection and connectivity that will make the difference.
Collaboration for a Greater Impact
While Hui acknowledges that biobanking is often challenging, he sees it as an essential part of the bigger picture. “It’s not glamorous work. It’s about day-to-day collection, but the excitement comes when you use the data that comes out of it to make a discovery,” he said.
Once efficient biobanking is in place, the second step is collaboration. The addition of Hui’s biobank to the Brain Cancer Australia network reflects the importance of collaboration and coordination in advancing brain cancer research. “No one group can make progress on their own,” Hui noted. “We are one community in Australia. We need to work together, and that’s why being part of this network is so important. It connects us to other researchers, other biobanks, and gives us the scale we need to make a real impact. I firmly believe that it’s connection and connectivity that will make the difference.”
Getting the Answers Patients Need
Hui believes that Australia has the potential to be a world leader in brain cancer research. “We have so much potential here,” Hui said. “We just need to bring all the pieces together—biobanking, trials, scientific research—and I think in the next few years, we’ll start to see real progress.”
Patients – especially the ones he has formed a bond with over many years – are always at front of mind for Hui. “It’s all about the patients,” Hui said. “That’s what keeps me motivated—the hope that one day, we’ll have the answers they need.”
