The extensive collection of biospecimens collected through Cancer Council Victoria’s epidemiological studies, including the Australian Breakthrough Cancer (ABC) Study, are managed by the Precision Medicine team at Monash University, in a new facility called Biobanking Victoria, led by our close collaborator Professor Melissa Southey.  Biobanking Victoria is the first facility of its kind in Australia and one of few in the world to be accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities.

Biobanking Victoria operates at world-class standards and offers a comprehensive solution for collecting, handling, storing, and analysing biological materials. The facility is equipped with automated liquid handling, DNA extraction and storage capacity that includes environments maintained at -20˚C, -80˚C (in freezers) and -196 ˚C in liquid nitrogen tanks with 24-hour monitoring and alarm systems.

More than 6 million biological specimens are currently stored at Biobanking Victoria, with tens of thousands more added annually from Australia and around the world. These include samples from Cancer Council Victoria study participants, which are an essential element of our knowledge-building epidemiological work investigating the role that genetics, diet, lifestyle, and environment play in the development of cancer.

By supporting various medical fields such as epidemiology, precision medicine, genomics, clinical trials, and translational research, the facility is helping to translate research into improved health outcomes, including for cancer.

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