17 May 2023 – Research Update
Close to 450 biospecimens spanning 15 years of brain tumour patients are being shared by the Charlie Teo Foundation Brain Tumour Bank with Australian brain cancer researchers
The CTFBTB is a biobank. Biobanks typically collect, store and disseminate to researchers biospecimens such as tumour tissue, blood and associated de-identified clinical data from consenting patients. Specimens are collected from patients during surgery. Researchers with ethically approved projects can apply to access samples and associated de-identified data for research.
The scientific aim of the CTFBTB is to produce and share high-quality, well-annotated, biological and clinical data that has the potential to drive further innovation and scientific breakthroughs.
Biospecimens in the CTFBTB have been collected from Dr Charlie Teo’s patients over the last 15 years. This makes it an incredibly important and unique resource for brain cancer research and tracking tumour progression.
Brain tumours range from benign (least aggressive) to cancer (most aggressive), with the most aggressive type, GBM, being notoriously difficult to treat. Over the past three decades, despite advancements in detection and treatment methods, the mortality rate associated with these types of brain cancers has shown no significant change.
The most aggressive form of brain cancer is currently treated using a multipronged approach that can involve surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Yet the long-term outlook and survival rates of people with such cancers remains very poor (median survival of 14.6 months and a five-year survival rate of only 6.8%).
Current efforts in brain cancer research are to tailor treatments to the individual’s brain cancer however this can only be successful if there are reliable ways of identifying what is different about an individual’s brain cancer and adapting treatment to that difference.
To identify ways to personalise treatment and ensure patients receive therapies that will benefit them the most and make a significant difference to their chances of beating brain cancer, procurement of high-quality samples is vital.
Brain cancer research with real-world (translational) impacts relies on the use of high-quality samples. These translational impacts include the 1) identification of risk, 2) early detection, 3) sub-classification (including prognostics and predictive biomarkers), and 4) identification of new drug targets and treatments across a broad range of research fields, including molecular and cell biology, cancer genetics, clinical research and biomarker research.
The CTFBTB has collected, processed, stored, retrieved and disseminated high-quality samples and information for research projects following informed consent from participants diagnosed with brain tumours.
Together, the collection and processing of these samples, with the data made available for use to the research community, not only increases the utility of these samples but also increases research information that can be obtained, increases the rate of research and accelerates research findings to benefit brain cancer patients.
Biobank operations are funded by the Charlie Teo Foundation. In other words, the Charlie Teo Foundation is the research sponsor. This includes operating costs such as infrastructure, consumables, information technology, maintenance etc.
No. Biospecimens in the CTFBTB are made available to researchers free of charge. Use of samples must be for scientifically valid and ethically approved brain cancer research projects.
The only potential costs associated with access to biospecimens may be if courier transport is required. In most cases, the option for physical collection in person is available.
CTFBTB was established under the Charlie Teo Foundation’s research theme of More Data – to produce and share high-quality, well-annotated, biological and clinical data that has the potential to drive further innovation and scientific breakthroughs. The concept of ‘Open Access’ underpins the biobanking model, where there are no financial barriers to accessing materials.
Charlie Teo Foundation’s More Data theme centres around encouraging the breaking down of research silos, and the sharing of ideas, data and information. Research findings and data where possible should be made openly available for others in the field to learn from and build upon. We believe this will increase the odds of finding a cure for brain cancer.
The CTFBTB is ethically approved by Bellberry Limited in accordance with the guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Guidelines). Research progress is reported and ethically approved annually. A routine site monitoring audit was recently completed under the National Guidelines.
CTFBTB is also a NSW Health Pathology certified biobank with its processes and procedures compliant with international best practices including ISO 20387 – Biotechnology – Biobanking – General Requirement for biobanking.
The CTFBTB is not currently collecting new specimens, with the governance protocol amended and ethically approved to reflect this. The CTFBTB continues to process, store, retrieve and disseminate high-quality samples and information for research projects.
The CTFBTB is open and transparent about biobank processes including consenting and material handling procedures, quality assurance measures and processes for accessing materials. See below for a summary of the research projects where biospecimens have been approved or accessed to date from the CTFBTB. For more information refer to the publication in the Open Journal of BioResources.
Brain Cancer Seq.
Key Aim: Large-scale study of high-grade brain tumours to identify the intra-tumoural cellular heterogeneity using the single-cell sequencing technique.
This research project generated data from approximately 700,000 cells, establishing the largest known resource of its kind. Novel and robust machine-learning techniques were devised to effectively analyse the microenvironment of brain tumours. This enabled the identification of intra- and inter-tumoural variations, illuminating the intricate heterogeneity inherent in diffuse glioma.
Brain tumour samples: Up to 100 adult-type brain tumour samples including astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma and GBM. Find out more
Understanding the relationship of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection to immune surveillance within the GBM tumour microenvironment
Key Aim: To assess the prevalence of CMV within a wide Australian GBM patient population and to identify GBM patients with a favourable immune phenotype towards targeting CMV as an immune therapeutic strategy.
Brain cancer samples: 34 GBM and 1 diffuse astrocytoma brain tumour sample.
Developing a metabolic roadmap to discover novel therapeutic avenues to starve GBM
Key Aim: To undertake metabolic profiling of GBM patient samples, to understand how they use and distribute their essential nutrients. This will develop a metabolic roadmap which can be combined with genetic and transcriptomic information being developed through the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Ultimately, success in this project will enable us to understand how GBM tumours are metabolically programmed, providing critical data for future studies developing new therapies targeting these metabolic vulnerabilities.
Brain cancer samples: 13 GBM brain tumour samples.
Multi-modal identification of actionable targets against diffuse midline glioma (DMG) – making a pipedream a reality
Key Aim: To create a multimodal pipeline capable of identifying actionable drug targets or treatment strategies to treat diffuse midline glioma. Tumour tissue, tumour cells and plasma will be subjected to TSO500 NGS sequencing, with tissue and cells subjected to proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling, and drug screening in near real-time.
The project has a particular focus on the protein features of poorly survived brain cancers. Anti-cancer therapies can be designed (or repurposed) to target these features as a strategy to reduce or halt tumour growth, aiming to prolong survival.
Brain tumour samples: 17 childhood brain tumour samples.
Identifying therapeutic targets from cell state models in adult-type diffuse gliomas
Key Aim: To identify how the specific genomics drivers of underlying adult diffuse gliomas cell states can be targeted with new therapies.
This project builds on the Brain Cancer Seq. initial project. The team continues the development of the computational methods required to not only identify cell states but the specific genomic drivers that underpin the development, progression and treatment resistance of various subtypes of adult diffuse gliomas i.e., astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma and glioblastoma. A particular focus is to unravel the genomic landscape changes during the disease progression i.e., the progression from i) lower grade to higher grade gliomas and ii) primary GBMs to recurrent GBMs.
To enhance their study, the researchers obtained additional samples to create and analyse 2D and 3D models. These models will serve two purposes: firstly, to validate the functional aspects of the genetic targets identified in the cell state study, and secondly, to conduct high throughput drug screening.
Brain tumour samples: Up to 170 adult brain tumour samples predominantly diffuse gliomas. Find out more
Deconvoluting the bulk proteomics signal according to the cell types in High-Grade Gliomas
Key Aim: To explore the proteomic signature in different types of brain tumours and to correlate this with sc-RNA-seq classification to better understand the heterogeneity of the tumours and deconvolute the bulk proteomics signal according to the cell types.
Brain tumour samples: Up to 110 brain tumour samples.
June 2022
Read more about Charlie’s Letter.
2 March 2022
Today the Charlie Teo Foundation held our first ever Brain Cancer Research Symposium, as we celebrate 4 years since our official launch as an Australian charity!
Brain cancer researchers from around the globe presented their work, patients and families shared their unique and powerful stories, and our scientific advisory committee stimulated meaningful discussion.
Dr Charlie Teo reflected on the day:
“Today was our inaugural research conference at which every scientist funded by the Charlie Teo Foundation had the opportunity to present their projects. As a testament to how engaged and dedicated they were, not a single person exited the virtual meeting until its completion.
The presentations were exciting, innovative, scientifically robust, novel and readily translatable to the bedside. The scientists were equally passionate about their projects as they were to share ideas and collaborate with each other.
The symposium gave me an incredibly positive feeling about the worth of the Charlie Teo Foundation. Everything that I had set out to achieve, I felt was coming to fruition… and at a much more accelerated rate than I ever imagined!
The goals of Charlie Teo Foundation were to be disruptive, transparent, fiscally lean and tenacious in our pursuit of finding treatments for Australian patients specifically, and all brain tumour patients.
I felt incredibly emotional and confident listening to all these disruptive thinkers. I know that the Charlie Teo Foundation is executing on exactly what we set out to achieve when we opened our doors 4 years ago this very week.”
View Symposium Program Booklet
Watch Symposium Highlight Video below
December 2021
Read more about Charlie’s Letter.
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Last updated December 2019
This Privacy Policy sets out our commitment to protecting the privacy of your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. Charlie Teo Foundation ABN 57 622 041 061 only collects personal information that is reasonably necessary for us to perform our charitable activities.
What is personal information?
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual that is reasonably identifiable. Personal information can include a person’s name, address, contact details, date of birth, gender, sexuality and race.
What personal information does Charlie Teo Foundation collect and why?
To enable us to undertake our charitable activities we may collect the following personal information from you:
• Your name, title, signature, address, phone number, email, date of birth and employment details;
• Health information;
• Payment and billing details including bank and credit card details.
If you are making a donation, we may also ask you to provide details about the motivation for the gift and whether it is made on behalf of an individual or an organisation.
Who do we collect personal information from?
Charlie Teo Foundation may collect personal information from donors, volunteers, fundraisers, people with or affected by brain cancer, event guests, corporate partners and sponsors,researchers and research institutions, grantees, suppliers, service providers and other supporters.
How do we collect your personal information?
We may collect personal informationfrom you in various ways, including in-person, by telephone, via our website or email, the internet, through social media or by mail.
Third parties might also collect personal information from you (for example, organisers of fundraisers) to provide to us.
What do we do with your personal information?
Charlie Teo Foundation uses personal information in the following ways:
• To communicate with you about our activities including but not limited to upcoming fundraising events, campaigns, research activities and outcomes;
• To process your donation or application to organise a fundraiser;
• To enable us to undertake our volunteer program;
• For marketing and promotion of our activities including to help raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research;
• To enable us to conduct our grant program and research activities; and
• To comply with legislative or regulatory requirements.
We would only provide your personal information to a third party if it is necessary to perform our activities (i.e.if you have specific dietary requirements, we would provide that information to the organiser of the event).
Health information and other sensitive information
If you provide us with details of how you have been affected by brain cancer, including information about your medical condition, history andtreatment, this is considered health information. We will always seek your consent to the use and disclosure of such information, including using your story and image in our communications, social media and promotional material.
Research participants
If you participate in research programs that we conduct, we may collect personal information to record your involvement and to process the results of research and to contact you regarding participation in the study or future studies. The information we collect from you will generally be sensitive information because it will be your health information and could be other sensitive information such as information about your racial or ethnic origin. It will be handled in accordance with this privacy policy and any relevant research ethics approved by an external committee.
We may collect your personal information including:
• your medical history including, where relevant, a family medical history;
• your Medicare number and information about your privacy health insurance;
• current medications or treatments used by you;
• the name of any care provider, health service provider or medical specialist to whom we refer you back to or has referred you to us, copies of any referrals and reports;
• test results and samples.
Information may also be collected about individuals who are not research participants when we make a record about a research participant. For example, when collecting emergency contact details or a family medical history.
From time to time we may collate and analyse statistical data from information we have previously collected. In these cases, the data will be de-identified and aggregated before it is disclosed to third parties.
Biobank
As a brain cancer research organisation, we operate a biobank which stores biological samples and associated health data for use in research. Third party research organisations may provide us with samples and data from participants in their research studies, for inclusion in a biobank. We may use these samples and data to generate genetic or genomic information. Biobanks are a valuable resource to support research to develop new treatments, drugs and therapies and to understand health and disease conditions more broadly. We work with reputable contractors and third party service providers to operate our biobanks. Our biobank is designed and managed to protect the privacy of individuals and to comply with the highest standard of legal requirements and clinical ethics. In most cases, the biological samples and associated data are de-identified and it is not possible to identify individuals to whom the sample and associated data relates. Where this is the case, the samples and data will not be personal information which is subject to privacy laws. Where we do hold personal information in the biobank, it will be handled in accordance with this privacy policy and the relevant human research ethics approved by an external Human Research Ethics Committee. Research participants enrolled in this research will be given further information detailing how their personal information (including health information) will be handled.
How do we store your personal information?
Your personal information is stored onelectronic cloud-based databases and Microsoft Office 365. We also may hold hard copy information on-site at our office. We have implemented electronic and physical measures to protect the personal, sensitive and health information we receive from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised use, modification or disclosure. We are not, however, liable for any unauthorised access or disclosure of information.
Your financial information
Our website uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates to protect your credit card information over the internet. We also encrypt the credit card details we store on our electronic cloud-based database.
Access to and correction of your personal information
At your request, Charlie Teo Foundation will provide you with access to your personal information that is held by us. We may, however, refuse a request for access in certain circumstances in accordance with Australian Privacy Principle 12.
If you consider the personal information that we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, irrelevant or out-of-date, please contact us so that we can correct the information.
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How are changes to this privacy policy made?
We may, at any time and at our discretion, change this Privacy Policy by publishing the amended Privacy Policy on our website. We recommend you check our website regularly to ensure you are aware of our current Privacy Policy.
For any questions or notices, please contact our Privacy Officer at:
Charlie Teo Foundation ABN 57 622 041 061
Phone: (02) 8880 8328
Email: info@charlieteofoundation.org.au
We will respond to requests within a reasonable timeframe.
Last updated December 2019