Cancer
About Cancer research
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells proliferate in an uncontrolled fashion. It is a disease that can develop within almost every part of the human body and affects thousands of Australians every year.
Cancers are named based on where they originate in the body, even if that cancer then spreads elsewhere. The most common cancer diagnosed in men is prostate cancer (originating in the prostate), and in women, breast cancer. Colorectal cancer, melanoma, lung cancer and lymphoma are the next most common cancers in both men and women.
Our cancer researchers tackle the mysteries of cancer from a number of different perspectives. Some carry out research into specific cancers, such as cancer of the lung, bowel, endometrium, brain, bladder and stomach. Others investigate the role that innate immunity, specific proteins and cancer stem cells play in the onset and development of the disease.
Importantly, our Phase I Clinical Trials Program provides researchers with the potential to translate laboratory findings into new cancer therapies for patients.
Monash Health and Monash University have received a $100,000 research grant from the Love Your Sister Foundation to develop a breakthrough graphene oxide based biosensor for early cancer detection using circulating tumour DNA.
Head of Unit
Researchers
Meet our researchers
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Research streams
Breast cancer research
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Monash Health’s breast research program runs investigator‑led and industry trials across early and metastatic disease, testing endocrine, HER2‑directed and targeted therapies while integrating tumour biopsies, molecular profiling and ctDNA analyses to inform treatment selection and resistance mechanisms.
Researchers
Cancer immunology group
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2024 Cancer Immunology Group L-R: Ms Jessica Wu, Dr Gwo Yaw Ho, Ms Anh Doan
Our Vision
Our vision is to revolutionise cancer treatment by harnessing the power of precision immunotherapy. We aim to transform the lives of patients with aggressive, treatment-resistant cancers by developing innovative research platforms and delivering personalised medical approaches. By integrating cutting-edge immunology, genomics, and translational science, we strive to bring next-generation therapies from bench to bedside—tailored to the unique biology of each patient’s tumour and immune system.
About the Cancer Immunology Group
The Cancer Immunology Group, led by Dr Gwo-Yaw Ho, is committed to advancing precision cancer immunotherapy through a multidisciplinary approach that bridges discovery science with clinical translation. Our research is anchored around three core pillars: neoantigen discovery, humanised tumour modelling, and live-biobanking.
We focus on identifying immunogenic, HLA-presented tumour neoantigens—unique peptides derived from cancer-specific mutations and presented on the tumour cell surface. These neoantigens are prime targets for T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies, enabling selective recognition and elimination of cancer cells. Using a bespoke platform, we match these neoantigens with high-affinity TCRs and engineer them into immune effector cells for highly individualised immunotherapy.
To support pre-clinical validation and translational development, we have established advanced humanised patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that integrate human immune components and faithfully recapitulate tumour-immune dynamics. These models allow us to functionally test and refine therapeutic strategies before moving into early-phase clinical trials.
Underpinning this research ecosystem is our Monash Live-Biobanking (MoLBi) platform, which enables real-time collection and processing of fresh tumour biospecimens across multiple cancer types. The platform preserves tumour viability for downstream applications including organoid and PDX generation, multi-omics profiling, and immunopeptidomic analysis. Our flagship sub-programs, including Brain on MoLBi, focus on hard-to-treat tumours such as glioblastoma, supporting the development of future personalised immunotherapies in these historically understudied diseases.
Together, these integrated capabilities place the Cancer Immunology Group at the forefront of personalised oncology, driving forward a new paradigm in cancer treatment centred on precision, immunogenicity, and translational impact.
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Early phase trials
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Monash Health runs tumour‑stream–based oncology research across breast, thoracic, melanoma, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynaecological, sarcoma, brain and head‑and‑neck cancers, offering Phase I–IV trials tailored to each disease area. A dedicated early‑phase program delivers first‑in‑human and Phase I studies with strong translational components (tumour biopsies, molecular profiling, ctDNA) to inform patient selection and mechanism‑of‑action studies. Trials are embedded in multidisciplinary clinics with close links to surgery, radiation, pathology and nuclear medicine, giving local patients access to novel therapies and personalised care pathways.
Researchers
Contact us
E: earlyphase.oncresearch@monashhealth.org
T: +61 474 769 510
Meet the team
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Stream Lead/Study Coordinator
- Penny Macquire
Study Coordinators
- Hesh Abdulla
- Lauren Murphy
- Lenny Straszkowski
- Erin Donaghy
- Siang Tan
Clinical Trials Assistant
- Stephanie Lloyd
Gastrointestinal cancer research
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The GI and colorectal program runs systemic therapy trials for colorectal, gastric, pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers, embedding ctDNA and molecular profiling in many studies and ensuring trial options are discussed within multidisciplinary GI clinics from diagnosis onward.
Researchers
Genitourinary cancer research
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Monash Health has a trials portfolio spanning prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, including first‑in‑human studies and large Phase III programs. Current and prior research includes androgen‑receptor–targeted therapies, PSMA‑directed treatments, and immunotherapy combinations. The GU stream benefits from strong leadership in prostate cancer research and links with nuclear medicine for theranostics. Many studies include biomarker‑driven components to personalise therapy.
Researchers
Gynaecological cancer research
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Gynaecological oncology at Monash Health tests targeted agents and novel therapies across ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers, with surgical and pathology collaboration to support sample‑rich translational research alongside specialist clinical care.
Researchers
Head and neck cancer research
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Head and neck research at Monash Health runs trials in mucosal, salivary and sinonasal cancers, focusing on targeted therapies, immunotherapy and HPV‑related de‑escalation. Studies embed molecular and tissue/blood biomarkers and are closely integrated with ENT surgery, radiation oncology and pathology.
Researchers
Lung cancer research
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Lung cancer research group, headed by Associate Professor Surein Arulananda, is focused on understanding and developing novel strategies to manage minimal residual disease in oncogene driven lung cancers.
Researchers
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Group Head
A/Prof Surein Arulananda
A/Prof Surein Arulananda has a special interest in thoracic malignancies and is Primary Investigator (including Australian lead) on multiple Phase I to III commercial, collaborative and academic studies. He is the associate editor for the Journal of Thoracic Oncology Clinical Research Reports published by the IASLC. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts, been an invited speaker both nationally and internationally and has been successful at competitive grant funding. He is the Small cell lung cancer and Mesothelioma scientific committee co-chair for TOGA and IASLC Basic and Translational Science committee member. He has completed a Master of Business Administration in 2024 through the University of Melbourne and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the culinary and wine delights Melbourne has on offer.
Hudson Collaborators
Project Manager
- Alastair Kwok
Melanoma and skin research
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Melanoma research emphasises immuno‑oncology and combination strategies, pairing clinical trials of checkpoint inhibitors and novel immune modulators with correlative immunology and tissue/blood biomarker studies to understand durable responses and resistance.
Researchers
Monash Live Biobanking (MoLBi)
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Vision | The team | About us | Research | Projects | Contact | News | Supporters
The Monash Live Biobanking (MoLBi) initiative is a clinician-led translational research platform based at Monash University and Monash Health. Our mission is to build a national infrastructure that enables real-time access to fresh tumour specimens, drives bespoke immunotherapeutic discovery, and accelerates translational research into clinical application - particularly for patients with the hardest-to-treat cancers.
Vision
To transform translational oncology by enabling next-generation, patient-centric research and bespoke therapies for cancers with the greatest unmet needs.
Who we are
The Monash Live-Biobanking Initiative (MoLBi) is a clinician-led translational research platform dedicated to accelerating breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and treatment. We collect, characterise, and preserve fresh live tumour samples from patients undergoing surgery at Monash Health, creating a vital bridge between real-world clinical care and cutting-edge laboratory research.
MoLBi enables a pipeline for precision medicine — linking biospecimen collection with molecular profiling, pre-clinical testing, and immunotherapy development. Our focus is on the hardest-to-treat cancers, including brain tumours, gynaecological malignancies, and upper gastrointestinal cancers.
We are a collaborative network of clinicians, scientists, and consumer advocates working across Monash University, Monash Health, and partner institutions. Our executive committee brings together expertise in neurosurgery, immunology, proteomics, and genomics, unified by a shared commitment to improving outcomes for cancer patients through research that is fast, focused, and feasible.
Donate to MoLBi In the link, please enter 'MoLBi' under 'Area of giving'.
The team
Meet the team
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Chair and Principal Investigator
Executive members
Consumer advocates
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Mr Craig Cardinal*
Chair, Brain Tumour Alliance Australia (BTAA)
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Dr Nathan Dalton
Consumer advocate
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* MoLBi Research Steering Committee member
Collaborators
- Professor Ruby Huang, National Taiwan University
- Professor Arnold Lining Ju, University of Sydney
- Dr Katie Lineburg, University of Queensland
About Us
Founded in 2024, the Monash Live-Biobanking Initiative (MoLBi) was created to address a critical gap in translational cancer research — the need for high-quality, live tumour specimens that preserve the biological complexity of human cancers.
Unlike traditional biobanks, MoLBi specialises in fresh tissue processing to support real-time applications in preclinical modelling, antigen discovery, and cell-based therapy development. By directly linking surgical theatres with research laboratories, we accelerate patient-centred translational studies.
MoLBi is led by a multidisciplinary team spanning oncology, surgery, immunology, proteomics, and genomics. Our shared mission is to deliver real-world benefits for patients with the poorest prognoses — including glioblastoma, gynaecological cancers, and upper gastrointestinal/liver tumours.
Research
Mission
To collect, characterise and utilise fresh biospecimens from patients with cancer to advance:
- Tumour biology discovery,
- Immunopeptidomics and antigen profiling,
- Preclinical modelling, and
- Precision cell-based therapy development.
Values
- Innovation – advancing next-generation approaches to translational research.
- Impact – prioritising research with clear and measurable patient benefit.
- Collaboration – fostering interdisciplinary and cross-institutional partnerships.
- Equity – enabling access to research and trials across all demographics.
- Integrity – operating transparently with clinical and scientific rigour.
- Consumer Partnership – embedding lived experience into research priorities.
Goals
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Objectives
- Build a scalable infrastructure for real-time biospecimen collection across cancer types.
- Expand MoLBi’s integration with clinical trial units, pathology, and -omics platforms.
- Standardise protocols for immunopeptidomics, genomics, and organoid/PDX modelling.
- Develop a centralised data repository for clinical, molecular and functional data.
Key Actions
- Expand live tumour collection to include >5000 specimens across major cancer types by 2029.
- Integrate 15+ additional hospitals/centres into the MoLBi network.
- Support at least 25 investigator-initiated translational studies over the period.
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Objectives
- Deliver individualised TCR-T therapy for high-grade glioma and other immunologically cold cancers.
- Establish a discovery pipeline from antigen profiling to preclinical validation.
- Launch first-in-human MoLBi-driven bespoke cell therapy trials.
Key Actions
- Develop 3–5 bespoke immunotherapy pipelines (e.g., GBM, OCCC, pancreatic carcinoma). - Initiate MoLBi’s first TCR-T clinical trial by 2026.
- Formalise regulatory, GMP, and clinical governance pathways for cell therapies.
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Objectives
- Enable multi-institutional access to MoLBi resources and data.
- Co-develop translational studies with external research groups.
- Host regular collaborative forums and symposia.
Key Actions
- Sign MoUs or collaborative agreements with 20+ research centres by 2029.
- Launch a competitive seed grant program for MoLBi-led or co-led projects.
- Organise an annual MoLBi Translational Oncology Symposium.
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Objectives
- Embed consumer input into research prioritisation, study design, and dissemination.
- Partner with advocacy organisations such as BTAA and WomenCAN to amplify patient voices.
- Develop consumer co-design frameworks for all major translational studies.
Key Actions
- Establish a Consumer Advisory Panel by 2025.
- Include consumer representation in 100% of funded projects by 2027.
- Co-develop lay summaries and community engagement outputs for all major research initiatives.
Measuring impact
Progress will be monitored through annual reviews and tracked via key performance indicators including: - Number of biospecimens collected and utilised,
- Number of collaborative and consumer-driven projects initiated,
- Research outputs (e.g., publications, grants, trials),
- Patient access to MoLBi-enabled precision therapies.
Projects
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A precision platform advancing cell-based immunotherapy for patients with immunologically cold and treatment-resistant cancers. By integrating live tumour biobanking with immunopeptidomics and T-cell engineering, MoLBi-PCI identifies actionable tumour antigens and rapidly develops bespoke TCR-based therapies, bringing personalised immunotherapy closer to the clinic.
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A flagship project focused on glioblastoma and other aggressive brain tumours. By collecting fresh tumour tissue during surgery, we establish live biobank models for immunopeptidomics, genomic profiling, and pre-clinical testing. This enables us to identify tumour-specific antigens and develop precision T-cell receptor therapies.
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This targets some of the most lethal gastrointestinal malignancies. Through the MoLBi platform, fresh surgical specimens are processed to generate live tumour models for molecular profiling, immune landscape mapping, and drug testing. The aim is to uncover biomarkers, understand tumour evolution, and pave the way for novel therapies in these hard-to-treat cancers.
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In collaboration with researchers studying cancer-associated thrombosis, this project investigates the mechanisms by which tumours promote clot formation. Using MoLBi-derived specimens, we aim to better understand the link between cancer biology and thrombosis risk, with the goal of improving clinical management and reducing complications.
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A translational immunology project tracking tumour-infiltrating T cells across time and treatment. By isolating and profiling immune cells from fresh tumours and blood, we aim to map T-cell receptor evolution, identify persistent or reactive clones, and inform immunotherapeutic strategies such as adoptive T-cell transfer.
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This project harnesses artificial intelligence and advanced genomic analytics to accelerate precision medicine for brain cancer, with a focus on glioblastoma. Leveraging MoLBi’s repository of live brain tumour biospecimens and clinical database, we apply machine learning to high-dimensional genomic and transcriptomic data to uncover novel therapeutic targets and predict individual treatment responses.
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This project harnesses the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model as a rapid, cost-effective preclinical platform within MoLBi to accelerate translational cancer research. By grafting live tumour fragments from MoLBi’s biobank onto the highly vascularised CAM of developing chick embryos, we can study tumour growth, angiogenesis, and therapeutic response in a physiologically relevant setting.
The CAM model enables real-time imaging, drug testing, and immunotherapy evaluation within days — bridging the gap between in vitro assays and complex in vivo models. Leveraging MoLBi’s pipeline of live biospecimens, the CAM platform provides a powerful tool for validating novel treatments, modelling tumour–microenvironment interactions, and generating preclinical data that inform precision medicine approaches.
Contact us
Interested to find out more about MoLBi? Connect with our team today.
 Ms Janet Chang MoLBi Project Manager T: +61 3 857 22091 E: janet.chang@monash.edu |  Ms Tanya Jhoomun Audit & Data Manager Neurosurgery Monash Health T: +61 3 9594 5647 F: +61 3 9594 5409 E: tanya.jhoomun@monashhealth.org |
Latest news
Monash Health and Monash University Celebrate 100 Tumour Specimen Milestone in Groundbreaking MoLBi Research Platform
Monash Health and Monash University are proud to announce the collection of 100 tumour specimens through the MoLBi platform, achieved on 18 July 2025.
MoLBi newsletters
Research Output
- MoLBi: From Theatre to Therapy - Building Australia’s First Live-Biobanking Platform for Precision Immunotherapy: Poster abstract presented at the Lorne Cancer Conference 2026
- CAM-on-MoLBi: A Rapid and Scalable In Ovo Platform for Translational Cancer Modelling: Poster abstract presented at the Lorne Cancer Conference 2026
Monash Health latest news story on MoLBi
Supporters
MoLBi is made possible through the generous support of our partners and funders. We gratefully acknowledge:
- Monash Health Oncology Department, for providing Research Support Program (RSP) funding to establish and grow the platform
- The Dalton Family, whose philanthropic contribution has enabled us to advance live biobanking for rare and difficult-to-treat cancers
- Monash Oncology Research Initiative (MORI), for supporting our translational research into next-generation cancer diagnostics and therapies
Their ongoing commitment empowers us to deliver high-impact, patient-focused cancer research.
| Our partners | Our collaborators | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Monash Health |  Brain Tumour Alliance Australia |  University of Sydney |  University of Queensland |  National Taiwan University |
Neuro-oncology research
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Brain and neuro‑oncology studies at Monash Health use platform and specimen‑driven approaches, collecting live specimens and performing molecular profiling and preclinical modelling to accelerate personalised therapy development linked to neurosurgery and neuro‑oncology services.