Professor David Thomas, Founder of not-for-profit genomics organisation, Omico, and Director, Centre of Molecular Oncology, UNSW has been awarded NSW’s highest accolade for cancer research at the NSW Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research.

National, not for profit genomic pioneer, Omico, welcomes the formal announcement of a unique collaboration with Tessellate BIO and CMRI (Children’s Medical Research Institute) which focusses on advancing the understanding of alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), a mechanism present in cancer cells, and accelerating the development of precision medicines to target it.

This week, not-for- profit genomics pioneer, Omico, commences a first-of-its kind national educational initiative to provide Australians with advanced, incurable or poor prognosis cancers an increased understanding of the power of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and precision oncology as a genuine component of an advanced cancer management plan.

Addressing the National Press Club on Rare Cancers Awareness Day (26 June), Prof Thomas will call for a bolder approach to harnessing rapid advances in cancer innovation known as ‘precision oncology’. For Australians with the challenging diagnosis of rare, advanced or incurable cancers he wants the words ‘it’s time to get your affairs in order and prepare your family’ to be replaced with an immediate directive to the genomics tools now available – genomic profiling of the cancer and matching to precision medicines.

Hear from the 'Godfather' of rare cancer science and precision oncology, Professor David Thomas, announcing the latest groundbreaking cancer research outcomes in the country on Wednesday 26th June, coinciding with Rare Cancers Awareness Day and the National Health Journalism Awards.

5000 Australians with toughest cancers referred to PrOSPeCT for free comprehensive genomic profiling. The nation’s largest cancer genomics initiative PrOSPeCT (Precision Oncology Screening Platform Enabling Clinical Trials) has reached a major milestone this month with over 5,000 Australians, diagnosed with hard-to-treat cancers with very limited treatment options, receiving referrals for free comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of their cancer.

PrOSPeCT (Precision Oncology Screening Platform Enabling Clinical Trials) is our landmark precision oncology initiative, enabled by public-private funding and partnerships totalling over $185M, including $61.2M grant funding from the Australian Government.

Sydney, Australia – April 18, 2024 - Omico recognises that patient advocacy organisations are experts in understanding the patient, family and community experience with cancer, tailoring information, and support, and advocating for equity of access to the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment and care.

Sydney, Australia – April 12, 2024 - With respect to our landmark initiative PrOSPeCT, supporting Omico on this journey are two key partners, Quantium and Australia's largest supercomputing centre, National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia). Quantium is well known  in the data science and artificial intelligence space and assists by providing its advanced analytical firepower. In parallel, NCI provides a secure and protected environment to house data from PrOSPeCT and a powerful platform for sharing data to enable the analysis of large quantities of genomic information, effectively bringing precision medicine to real-world data.

Sydney, Australia – April 18, 2024 - Omico is dedicated to advancing cancer treatment and care by establishing and supporting a network of clinical trial sites. Coordinated by Lucille Sebastian, the Omico National Clinical Trials Network (ONCTN), aims to broaden treatment options to patients whilst improving equitable access to clinical trials. This endeavour involves collaboration with various stakeholders including clinical trial units, clinicians, patients, and pharmaceutical companies.

Sydney, Australia – March 12, 2024 – Omico, the pioneering, not-for-profit, national organisation accelerating access to precision oncology in Australia, proudly announces Ian Black as its new full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 2 April 2024. Mr Black joins Professor David Thomas, Omico’s founder, who will continue to play a vital role within the organisation. This transition signifies a pivotal moment in Omico's journey, a necessary evolution of its organisational structure to effectively manage current priorities, ongoing growth and ensure longterm sustainability.

Pioneering national genomics initiative gives 23,000 Australians their best fighting chance against the toughest cancers

As of March 2023, we have screened more than 7,000 patients through our Molecular Screening & Therapeutics (MoST) study.

Research led by Omico, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney has generated the first comprehensive genetic map of sarcomas, identifying several new important genes that when inherited can cause this deadly cancer. The research has wide implications for people living with sarcoma and their families – allowing detection of the cancer earlier and potentially improving survival for patients.

The Australian Government’s Federal Budget announcement brings new hope to Australian families carrying gene variants with an extreme risk of cancer (Li-Fraumeni syndrome, known as LFS), with a four year $1.9M commitment to fund whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

We are so pleased that 5,000 Australian cancer patients have accessed genomic technology via our Molecular Screening and Therapeutics (MoST) study.

Our team David Thomas and Mandy Ballinger has received a collaborative grant through the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI)'s Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE).

We were thrilled to see national media coverage of the Molecular Screening & Therapeutics (MoST) study – the leading Australian program delivering molecular screening and trials matching to advanced cancer patients.

September 24th is World Cancer Research Day.

Our partners at Rare Cancers Australia have launched their new Thought Leaders podcast series, sharing a collection of candid conversations with some of the brightest minds in the Australian cancer community.

We’re proud to be collaborating with Foundation Medicine to present one of fourteen abstracts demonstrating the power of genomic profiling to advance cancer care at the 2022 ESMO – European Society for Medical Oncology, set to be held virtually and in Paris from September 9-13.

We’re proud to be the first partner in Australia to use Oncoshot’s federated data system for clinical trial insights. This partnership will enable greater access for Australian cancer patients to the latest cancer drugs via global clinical trials.

The Precision Oncology Screening Platform Enabling Clinical Trials (PrOSPeCT) will establish Australia as a medical manufacturing hub: building links from research through to the clinic; creating jobs; changing lives. A private public partnership to strengthen Australia’s position at the forefront of the cancer treatment revolution

Renowned experts discussing the future of genomic cancer medicine, developing new models for health care, data and machine learning. Join us for 4 sessions over 4 days to explore novel technologies, innovative therapies and a systems approach to managing cancer risk and providing healthcare. November Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th November 2021; 5pm - 7pm AEST

Cancer Institute NSW has awarded a Translational Program Grant to an impressive team of experienced laboratory and clinical researchers in pancreas cancer, coordinated by Chief Investigator Professor David Goldstein. The team is seeking to develop better targeted treatment options for pancreatic cancer – and ultimately, improve outcomes for people affected.