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Transforming Cancer Care with Liquid Biopsies

Join us in revolutionising cancer diagnosis and monitoring with cutting-edge liquid biopsy technology - safer, faster, and accessible for all Australians.
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Beneficiary Royal North Shore Hospital
Active projects at facility 15 Projects
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0%
Our goal $7,000,000
Raised $0
To go $7,000,000

Reshaping how cancer is detected and managed

Cancer is responsible for approximately 3 in every 10 deaths in Australia. Diagnosing most cancers still relies on invasive, expensive techniques such as radiation, needle biopsies, and even surgery. These procedures must be conducted by specialists – often inaccessible in rural and regional areas – and carry significant risks to the patient, with no guarantee of obtaining enough cells for a conclusive result.

Now, recent technological breakthroughs have made it possible to detect and monitor some cancers using a simple blood test, known as a liquid biopsy. This fast, safe, and powerful tool could be collected by any nurse in a GP clinic, offering a transformative alternative to current methods – especially for those most at risk, and those with the most to gain.

Researchers at Royal North Shore Hospital are leading clinical trials to prove the feasibility of liquid biopsies and pave the way for their adoption into standard cancer care across Australia.

But we need your support to take the next step.

The rising burden of cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Australia, and the leading cause of death in people aged 30 to 69.  Nearly 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85.

While treatments have improved, diagnosis and monitoring remains a major obstacle. Many cancers are still detected late, especially in disadvantaged communities and younger people. And many of the tools we rely on are invasive, risky, and expensive.

Cancer incidence has risen 93%

in the past 25 years.

Lung, brain, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers

still have survival rates below 50%.

Young Australians are seeing a sharp rise

in colorectal, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

Liquid Biopsies

Senior man having a blood test done by a nurse
A turning point in cancer care

Liquid biopsies can detect cancer using a simple blood sample, analysing tumour DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumour cells (CTCs)
for accurate diagnosis, treatment monitoring and drug targeting.

This technology can:
• Detect cancer earlier – even before symptoms.
• Replace or reduce invasive tests.
• Track treatment response in real-time.
• Identify resistant cancer cells.
• Guide personalised, more effective treatments.
• Enable simple blood sample collection anywhere, without a specialist.

Nurse and patient
Our research: Backing the science that could save lives

With international partners like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York, our team has already used liquid biopsies to great success in lung cancer.

We now plan to:
• Enrol 1,400 patients with hard-to-treat cancers like pancreatic, ovarian and bile duct cancer.
• Validate blood-based diagnostics against tissue biopsy.
• Track resistance mutations and minimal residual disease.
• Grow a biobank of annotated blood samples to support future discoveries.

Your gift helps ensure early access to this technology for patients in greatest need – including those from rural and regional communities.

“The constant question for us is, how can we get more people into the miracle cure group. We want to be able to deliver that to our patients as routine rather than rarity.”

– Associate Professor Connie Diakos – Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital

The Hemoglobin Typing Test is essential for the diagnosis and effective management of Thalassemia
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Urgency: Why now?

Cancer rates are increasing. Diagnosis delays cost lives. And traditional funding can’t keep pace with research breakthroughs.

Liquid biopsy is ready for real-world application. With your support, we can:

  • Conduct the largest real-world validation study in Australia.
  • Make liquid biopsy available to more patients.
  • Shift the standard of cancer care – for good.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revolutionise care and save countless lives.

Support Liquid Biopsies

Help us stop the clock on cancer

With a philanthropic investment of $7 million over three years, you can help us:

  • Provide faster, safer and more accurate diagnosis.
  • Improve survival and quality of life for high-risk cancer patients.
  • Drive equity in cancer care for rural, remote and under-served populations.
  • Contribute to world-leading research and the development of new treatments.

Your support today brings us closer to a tomorrow where all cancers are treatable, and all patients are diagnosed in time.

CtDNA sequencing Cost: $5.7m

Project & Lab Staff Salaries Cost: $1.05m

Consumables Cost: $250,000

Donate to transform cancer care with liquid biopsies

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