2012 Scientific Report - Queensland Children's Medical Research ...

disease lead by Dr. Andrew Moore. Over 12,000 vials containing patient samples are currently
held in the QCTB collection, stored at ultra-low temperatures in multiple geographic locations.
In addition to continued involvement in the projects of local and national collaborators (studying
both solid tumour and leukemic disorders), 2012 saw the QCTB begin supporting international
cancer biology projects. New collaborations were established with two independent research
groups in the U.S.A. (both studying the brain tumour medulloblastoma), a large research
consortium based in Canada (studying medulloblastoma and ependymoma), and two research
groups in the U.K. (studying high grade glioma and rhabdomyosarcoma). The tumour bank
provides such researchers not just with biological resources such as tissue, DNA and RNA, but
works actively with the project coordinators to provide valuable matched clinical data tailored to
the needs of each individual project.
A number of our collaborative projects will run long-term over coming years, with the QCTB
providing further bio-specimens and scientific support as new patients of interest are diagnosed
at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Such projects highlight the important long term role that biobanks
play in adding power to investigations of the most common paediatric cancers and
enabling meaningful study of rare disease types. Such studies will ultimately lead to better
outcomes for future children with cancer.
The QCTB continues to maintain a close working relationship with the Clinical Research Office in
the Division of Oncology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, providing laboratory services that
allow the hospital to take part in a large number of clinical trials. These are typically large multicentre
trials that aim to assess the safety and efficacy of new treatments for haematological
disorders and cancer.
Awards
Dr Andrew Moore
‣ Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)
Annual Scientific Meeting 2012. Awarded one of two best oral abstract prizes.
‣ Leukaemia Foundation Young Investigator Award 2012. This was the major prize for the
2012 New Directions in Leukaemia Research Meeting, awarded to the best research
contribution based on assessment of abstract and poster or presentation by the judging
panel at the meeting.
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