Wayne Ng, General Manager of the Victorian Cancer Biobank and a member of the Brain Cancer Australia National Consortium, never expected to find himself in the field of biobanking. Like many in the sector, he stumbled into it by chance—a maternity leave replacement role introduced him to the world of biospecimen research, and he’s never looked back.
Now, with years of experience behind him, Wayne is leading the way in efforts to advance cancer research through improved biobanking services.
“I began to realise the power of biospecimens as a catalyst for research discoveries and innovative solutions to improve cancer outcomes. Biobanks are the research infrastructure that underpin this.”
Connecting scientists and samples
As an advocate for large-scale sample utilisation and data sharing, Wayne has worked with some of the brightest minds in cancer research, helping to connect scientists with the resources they need to drive breakthroughs. Under his leadership, the Victorian Cancer Biobank has provided biospecimens to more than 370 research projects, thanks to the generosity of over 40,000 donors.
It’s the donors that motivate Wayne to continue pushing for progress in biobanking. “I have talked to some of the kindest people who donated their samples to us because they want to support our work in any way their can. Their stories stay with me.”
Wayne’s work extends beyond Victoria - he also serves as Director-at-Large for the Indo-Pacific Rim region at the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER). In this role, he has fostered international collaborations, including a partnership between the VCB and the Singapore Translational Cancer Consortium (STCC) to enhance global access to high-quality biospecimens.
"We’re always keen to leverage our specimens and services to facilitate research, and Brain Cancer Australia is the perfect place to connect with others in this space.”
Championing brain cancer research
Brain cancer biobanking has been a key part of Wayne’s work, making his involvement with the Brain Cancer Australia (BCA) National Consortium a natural fit. “At Victorian Cancer Biobank, we’re always keen to leverage our specimens and services to facilitate research, and BCA is the perfect place to connect with others in this space,” he says.
Through BCA, Wayne has gained valuable insights into research trends and biobanking demands from clinicians, researchers, and advocates working on brain cancer across the country. This knowledge is shaping his priorities, which include developing the Victorian Cancer Biobank Strategic Plan - with a strong focus on low-survival cancers, including brain cancer—and increasing public awareness of biobanking’s critical role in medical research.
For Wayne, one of his proudest professional moments was the Victorian Cancer Biobank’s nomination as a finalist in the 2023 Melbourne Awards - a milestone that recognised not only the vital role of biobanking in research but also the generosity of the donors who make it possible.
