Building a better understanding of blood cancers, so every patient receives an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Blood cancers are a complex set of diseases including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Medical advances have led to significant improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, but rates of blood cancer continue to rise. It is estimated that more than 275,000 Australians will be living with a blood-based cancer or disorder by the year 2035.
Led by Associate Professor Piers Blombery at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Wilson Centre for Blood Cancer Genomics provides accredited comprehensive genomic testing for patients with blood cancer to uncover the molecular characteristics of their cancer and improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.
Their mission is to ensure every patient with blood cancer receives an accurate diagnosis, and their physicians get the genomic data they need to make optimal treatment decisions.
The team is also engaged in education, collaborating with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia to provide training for molecular fellows. This assistance extends to regional areas through a partnership with the Australian Genomics Health Alliance to support blood cancer genomics training for the Royal Darwin Hospital.
The Wilson Centre leads cutting-edge research to understand the genomic basis of blood cancer, looking at targeted treatment resistance, personalised medicine, bone marrow failure syndromes, and residual disease.
Research Projects
-
The GATEWAY project seeks to create a comprehensive NGS panel solution for blood cancer that encompasses all clinically relevant genomic abnormalities and is able to be scaled for use across Australia.
By establishing an accessible and standardised platform for blood cancer genomic data and its interpretation, this initiative aims to enhance the consistency and accuracy of genomic insights.
Importantly, the GATEWAY project aims to address potential inequities in access to genomic medicine by enabling local uptake and implementation in high priority populations across Australia striving to improving outcomes in all patients.
-
The Wilson Centre is working towards the availability of a data portal that provides access to the aggregated genomic findings of Australian patients with blood cancer. The portal will facilitate connections between diagnostic laboratories as well as enhance research discoveries through tissue bank and registry linkages.
-
The inherited bone marrow failure and related disorders (IBMDx) study addresses the complex challenges associated with diagnosing inherited bone marrow failure syndromes and related disorders (IBMFS-RD). This covers a group of genetically diverse and rare diseases that can manifest throughout a lifetime.
The primary objective of the IBMDx study is to improve the diagnostic process by leveraging whole genome and transcriptome sequencing (WGS/WTS). By analysing the genomic information of patients with IBMFS-RD, the study aims to provide definitive diagnoses and enhance understanding of these conditions.
Led by Associate Professor Piers Blombery, the study also investigates the efficacy of WGS/WTS in the context of IBMFS-RD, evaluating its impact on health economics and assessing the challenges involved in implementing genomic testing in healthcare settings.
The Wilson Centre was founded in 2017 following a significant gift from the Wilson Family, who have since gone on to donate $9million through the Snowdome Foundation.
Precision blood cancer test funded
When a particular mutation is identified, we can choose a targeted therapy that is more likely to be effective for that specific genetic alteration. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, treatments are tailored to the individual's genetic profile, which can lead to more effective treatment with less side effects. Associate Professor Piers Blombery
Latest News
Contact and more information
Associate Professor Piers Blombery
The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
piers.blombery@petermac.org