Research Projects
The BRAIN Program
Discovery Theme: Clinical Data
The BRAIN program is a research project that aims to gather and connect information from doctors, researchers, and patients to improve the understanding and treatment of brain cancer. The goal is to find better ways to diagnose the disease early, develop new treatments, and improve the lives of patients and their families. By linking data from patients, hospitals, labs, and even government sources, the BRAIN program creates a valuable resource for research and patient care. This groundbreaking initiative is unique nationally and internationally both in the amount of data it collects and the wide range of experts it brings together. However, its greatest value comes from the many research projects it supports and the solid foundation it creates for future discoveries and progress.
Champions
Medical Oncologist, The Alfred Hospital & Cabrini
Clinician Researcher, WEHI
Dr Lucy Gately is a medical oncologist at the Alfred Hospital where she is Head of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Genetics and Clinical Innovation. She is also a clinician researcher in The Brain Cancer Centre as part of the Personalised Oncology Division where she leads a program of research focussed on clinical data and research infrastructure. Lucy is passionate about improving the lives of patients with brain cancer and was awarded a PhD in brain cancer survivorship from the University of Melbourne. The intersection of her research and clinical work provides continued meaning in the battle against brain cancer.
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Dr Lucy Gately
WEHI
Director of Neurosurgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Professor Kate Drummond, AM, MD, FRACS is Director of Neurosurgery at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Head of CNS Tumours at the VCCC Parkville Precinct. Her research and clinical interests are in the biology and management of brain tumours, with special interests in advanced surgical techniques such as awake craniotomy, quality of life and blood and imaging biomarkers.
She has published over 190 peer-reviewed papers and many book chapters and has received more than $35 million in research funding. Her h-index is 43. She is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Neurosurgery. She has served as Chief Examiner in Neurosurgery, Chair of the Women in Surgery Committee and on the Neurosurgery Surgical Education and Training Board for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, being awarded the RACS medal for these services. She is the President of the Asian Australasian Society of Neurosurgeons.
She is a strong advocate for and has written and presented widely on diversity in neurosurgery. She is Chair of Pangea Global Health Education, a for-impact organisation specialising in health education in low resource settings. In 2019 she was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to medicine, particularly in neuro-oncology and community health.
Related research projects:
- BRAIN POP
- The BRAIN Program
- Dangerous Networking: Brain cancers and the brain
- Deciphering the Molecular Mosaic of NF2
- A novel liquid biopsy for monitoring and chemoresistance detection in brain cancer
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Professor Kate Drummond AM
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Division Head, WEHI
Professor Peter Gibbs is a Laboratory Head at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. He is a senior medical oncologist at the Western Hospital, where he is an experienced clinical investigator, having led multiple, large, randomised clinical trials. At WEHI his laboratory is focused on translational research, using studies involving clinical data and samples to improve treatment decision making and outcomes, including studies in brain cancer. Professor Gibbs also leads an expanding program in registry-based clinical trials.
Related research projects:
Professor Peter Gibbs
WEHI