| | | | Omico eNewsletter - February Edition | | | |
Dear $[UD:FIRST_NAME||]$
This World Cancer Day, we’re reminded of the importance of uniting to tackle one of the world’s greatest challenges: cancer. The 2025 theme, “United by Unique,” reflects Omico’s commitment to championing equitable access to precision oncology—based on the understanding that every cancer is unique, and personalised treatment is the way forward.
From our 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission advocating for the PrO-HSI initiative to launching new research and educational programs, Omico is driving discovery, awareness, and collaboration to transform cancer care.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, researcher, advocate, policymaker, or patient, this issue has something for you! Highlights include the upcoming APOS 25 symposium, a new sarcoma research initiative, RACP podcasts, and valuable resources for people living with cancer and the cancer community.
Omico has now surpassed 30,000 Australians referred to our precision oncology programs—an achievement that reflects our collective efforts. Join us in creating a future where precision oncology is a cornerstone of cancer care for all Australians. Explore our initiatives, support PrO-HSI, and help us make cancer meet its match. Omico
| | | | | | | | Omico’s mission to mainstream precision oncology
"The science is out. The challenge is integrating these advances into healthcare systems in a way that’s sustainable and equitable." – Prof. David Thomas
With our 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission, Omico is advocating for our PrO-HSI initiative, a transformative approach to delivering cutting-edge precision oncology to Australians, starting with those who need it most – those with rare cancers.
PrO-HSI, short for Precision Oncology Health System Incubator, is about creating a future where the best science in cancer care is mainstream, sustainable, and accessible — not reliant on fleeting grants, but built to last for generations. It’s about transforming the landscape to deliver affordable access to state-of-the-art healthcare, simultaneously driving economic growth and reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients. It also aligns with key initiatives, addressing 24 of the 50 recommendations from the HTA Policy and Methods Review and 18 of the 41 recommendations from the 2024 Senate Inquiry into rare cancers. | | Join us in supporting our PrO-HSI proposal to transform cancer care.
Want more detail? See buttons below. | | | | | | | |
Meet the International Experts Joining APOS 25, March 7 & 8 Discover advancements in precision oncology at APOS 25 with insights from international experts. Joining us in Sydney: - Professor Mark Middleton, University of Oxford, UK
Presenting findings from SYMPLIFY, the first ever prospective study of a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test in symptomatic patients. These results could transform how clinicians diagnose cancers in patients with nonspecific symptoms, enabling faster detection and improving outcomes through earlier intervention. Mark will also join a panel discussion on emerging technologies in precision oncology, drawing on his expertise in innovative cancer therapies. - Dr. Raoul Reulen PhD, University of Birmingham, UK
Presenting findings from large-scale studies on genetic and treatment-related factors shaping long-term health outcomes. This research is providing clinicians with vital evidence to improve risk assessment, survivorship care, and better quality of life for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) affected by cancer. The program will also feature leading Australian experts as we explore “The Coming of Age of Precision Oncology”. Join Us for APOS 25! Designed for Australian oncology professionals—including oncologists, researchers, pathologists, and life science leaders. Secure your spot today!
| | | | | | | | Listen now: Access both episodes now via the link(s) below or through Pomegranate Health on Spotify, Apple, or other podcast platforms. CPD Points: Fellows of the College can record CPD hours for time spent listening to the episodes and exploring supporting resources. Special thanks to the RACP and the Pomegranate Health podcast team for showcasing these important conversations. | | Listen Now: Precision Oncology Explained – with RACP’s Pomegranate Health Podcast The latest episodes of Pomegranate Health, the podcast of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), feature in-depth interviews with Professor David Thomas, founder of Omico and Director of the Centre for Molecular Oncology at UNSW. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, policymaker, or advocate, the podcasts offer essential knowledge on the future of cancer care—happening now in Australia. Episode 121: Precision Oncology Explained - Discover how rationally-designed therapies are delivering significant survival benefits for patients with rare and advanced cancers. Learn how Omico’s programs have connected over 15,000 patients to precision oncology, and explore the game-changing potential of tumour-agnostic treatments. Episode 122: Funding Pan-Cancer Therapies - Regulatory and funding frameworks haven’t kept up with the scientific revolution. Hear about the practical steps Omico is taking to reshape Australia’s healthcare system, including streamlining access to global clinical trials to proposing sustainable ways to integrate genomic profiling and pan-tumour therapies into routine care. | | | | | | | |
Launch of a New Sarcoma Research Project: MoST/CASP-SARC Initiative Proudly Supported by the Cooper-Rice Brading Foundation and Tour de Cure Omico is excited to announce the launch of the MoST/CASP-SARC Initiative, a pivotal new research project focused on improving treatments for sarcoma – one of the most challenging and aggressive cancers. This initiative will help us better understand sarcoma and pave the way for more personalised, effective treatments. The research will focus on three main areas: - Harnessing Real-World Data - We’ll study information from over 1,500+ sarcoma patients who took part in Omico’s MoST* and CASP^ initiatives. Researchers aim to evaluate current treatment efficacy, identify critical gaps in care, and explore strategies to improve patient outcomes.
- Studying Patient Samples - By analysing biological samples from past MoST-led trials, we aim to find clues (called biomarkers) that can explain why some treatments work or don’t work. This will guide us toward better therapies in the future.
- Targeting Proteins for Personalised Treatments –Scientists will investigate specific proteins in sarcoma patients that could be used as targets for new, precision-based therapies. This could lead to improved outcomes and a better quality of life for people with sarcoma.
| | If you would like to learn more, please contact Dr. Maya Kansara m.kansara@unsw.edu.au *Molecular Screening and Therapeutics Study ^Cancer Screening Program | | | | | | | |
Cancer and Genomics Webinar: Understanding Your Options in Cancer Care for Patients, Families, and Carers
Omico invites you to join our Cancer and Genomics Webinar, designed for Australians facing difficult-to-treat cancers, along with their loved ones and carers. This session will provide essential information about comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and how it can potentially open pathways to personalised, precision treatments and modern-day clinical trials. Omico is committed to ensuring that people with advanced, incurable, or poor prognosis cancers are actively informed of all available options to improve their care and outcomes and feel confident discussing these options and their eligibility with their oncologist. Webinar details: Date: Thursday, 6 February 2025 Time: 1:00 – 2:15 PM AEDT For more information or to register, click the button below and download your invitation.
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Launching this February 'Cancer Meets Its Match', Omico's Podcast Series for Patients, Loved Ones, and Carers Omico’s first ever podcast series, Cancer Meets Its Match, is almost here! Debuting in February, the 8-episode series is designed for patients, families, and carers across Australia, helping to demystify precision oncology - specifically Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) and matching patients to precision treatments and modern-day clinical trials. Hosted by Dr Ginni Mansberg, a trusted GP and TV health expert, the series aims to build awareness and understanding of the newest options available, particularly for Australians with advanced and poor prognosis cancers.
What to expect: - Expert insights: Omico researchers and clinicians breakdown precision oncology in easy-to-understand ways.
- Inspiring patient and family stories: Hear how CGP and matching to precision clinical trials and treatments have changed lives.
- Advocacy perspectives: Learn how patient advocacy groups are supporting Australians facing challenging cancers.
| | First episode drops mid-February!
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Omico’s social channels: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Follow Omico to stay updated and join us in making cancer meet its match! | | | | | | | |
The Role of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Highlighted at COSA 2024
At the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) 2024 annual conference, Omico’s Senior Program Manager, Christine Napier, presented a poster highlighting the transformative potential of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP). The data, from Omico’s Molecular Screening and Therapeutics (MoST) Program, showcased CGP's ability to identify tumour-agnostic biomarkers linked to both approved and novel anti-cancer therapies.
CGP confirms eligibility of patients with common cancers for PBS-reimbursed biomarker-directed treatments. Importantly, CGP identifies actionable biomarkers for rare and less common cancers (RLCC) that lack PBS-reimbursed biomarker-directed treatment options. The majority of patients with RLCC access actionable biomarkers via clinical trials.
These findings underscore the importance of CGP for RLCC patients to identify actionable biomarkers and highlight the critical need for clinical trials to expand access to biomarker-matched therapies for all patients. | | | | | | | | | | | |
2025 NSW Big Ideas Oncology Seminar Series - Hosts: Prof David Thomas (UNSW) and Prof Vanessa Hayes (USYD) This Big Ideas seminary program is a joint initiative involving UNSW, the University of Sydney and Omico, that aims to bring together national and international thought leaders to share in ground-breaking/blue-sky ideas and discoveries while fostering a collaborative cross-institutional environment that encourages the exchange of knowledge. The program hosts seminars throughout the year which attracts people from diverse backgrounds, from Australia and beyond, including researchers from universities and research institutions, research students, and professionals from medical, industry and not-for-profit sectors. Quote from 2024 attendee “A tour de force of amazing translational cancer research from 2 of the world’s experts in cancer biology.”
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To learn more or to register for the seminar on the 24th of February, “A protein-centric view of cancer biology” by Professor Roger Reddel, simply click the button below. | | | | | | | | | |
“Meet the People That Matched” Campaign Highlights We understand that grasping the advancements in genomic technology for cancer care can be daunting. That’s why we launched the “Meet the People That Matched”—an educational social media campaign showcasing precision oncology through personal stories. The campaign focussed on comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), matching to precision treatments and clinical trials, all brought to life through authentic narratives. Since its launch in August, “Meet the People That Matched” reached nearly 2 million Australians and generated over 9.6 million impressions. Through this initiative, we’ve been able to provide valuable insights to those navigating their own cancer journey or supporting a loved one, helping them better understand CGP and precision treatment options. We’re deeply grateful to Beth, Matthew, Heidi, and Emily for courageously sharing their stories. Their contributions have been instrumental in helping others explore and understand available treatment and care options. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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