The TRACKER Biobank team
TRACKER Biobank, supported by the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI), has received national recognition through its inclusion as a case study in the newly released Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research.
Developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), the Statement sets an important national direction for strengthening consumer and community involvement in health and medical research. It reinforces that medical research is more impactful when informed and shaped by people with lived experience.
The TRACKER Biobank was co-founded in 2023 by ONJCRI clinician–scientists A/Prof Sagun Parakh and Dr Tracy Leong, in partnership with Dr Stephen Wong (Scientific Committee Chair), and Lisa Briggs (Consumer Committee Chair). The establishment of the biobank was supported through a Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) National Critical Research Infrastructure grant.
To date, TRACKER has recruited more than 260 lung cancer patients who have generously donated samples to help build a robust tissue repository for lung cancer research. The program has also secured collaborations with partner sites across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
The featured case study, “Transforming Research Methodology Through Lived Experience,” highlights the significant impact of Lisa Briggs’ advocacy and leadership in shaping TRACKER.
Lisa was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, the most advanced form of the disease, at just 32 years of age, despite having no known risk factors. Since then, she has channelled her experience into advocacy, becoming a highly respected consumer representative and research partner committed to improving outcomes for others affected by lung cancer.
Lisa Briggs, TRACKER Biobank Consumer Committee Chair
Driven by Lisa’s leadership, TRACKER established a nationally representative Consumer Committee to ensure the experiences, priorities and needs of people affected by lung cancer were embedded in both the design of the biobank and its ongoing initiatives. Through this work, Lisa helped create meaningful pathways for the broader patient and caregiver community to inform and shape the direction of the research.
This collaborative approach is showcased through the co-design of TRACKER’s multilingual animated explainer video, developed alongside the Consumer Committee to help make participation in research more accessible and inclusive for diverse communities.
Lisa also contributed directly to the development of TRACKER’s research studies. One key example was her advocacy for the incorporation of liquid biopsies into the study design. Drawing on her lived experience, she highlighted the need for less invasive approaches to help minimise participant burden and improve the research experience.
This innovation was made possible through Lisa’s involvement from the earliest stages of TRACKER, enabling her to provide meaningful input into the research design. It also reflects the commitment of A/Prof Sagun Parakh, Dr Tracy Leong and the broader TRACKER team to embracing consumer feedback and ensuring lived experience informs research decisions from the outset.
The recognition of the TRACKER Biobank is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved through meaningful collaboration between researchers, clinicians and consumers. It reflects a commitment to designing research ‘with’ patients, rather than ‘for’ patients, to create truly patient-centred research, aligning closely with ONJCRI’s 2025–2029 Impact Strategy.
We take this opportunity to thank all the patients, consumers and advocates who have contributed to this work, and congratulate the TRACKER team on its excellence in consumer engagement, consultation and partnership.