Every childhood cancer sample tells a story – one that could unlock new treatments, reveal hidden vulnerabilities in tumours, or guide personalised therapy for the next child diagnosed. Hudson Institute's Living Biobank is addressing a critical bottleneck in paediatric cancer research: the scarcity of accurate preclinical models that scientists can study in the laboratory.
Thanks to the support and recent funding from the Children's Cancer CoLab of $410,162, Hudson Institute's Living Biobank can continue creating a diverse and renewable collection of patient-derived preclinical models for rare childhood tumours using advanced methodologies, significantly improving success rates and accelerating the availability of clinically relevant models for research.
"Many childhood cancers are so rare that researchers simply don't have precise models to study them. Renewable patient-derived tumour models change that. They allow research teams around the world to test new therapies on a variety of childhood cancers, paving the way for more effective, targeted and less toxic treatments." – Associate Professor Jason Cain, Hudson Institute Living Biobank's Lead Investigator
Building living models of childhood cancer
Biobanks are specialised repositories that collect, process, store and distribute biological samples such as tumour tissue, blood and bone marrow, alongside clinical data. They serve as vital research infrastructure, providing scientists with the high-quality materials needed to study disease, test new discoveries, guide treatments for current patients, and advance precision medicine.
Using state-of-the-art technology, Hudson Institute's Living Biobank creates these renewable models paired with clinical data, helping to accelerate the discovery of safer therapies that improve survival rates and enhance the quality and years of life for children diagnosed with cancer.
Unlike traditional biobanks, which store non-renewable, fixed or frozen samples that offer only a single point-in-time analysis and can be quickly depleted, Hudson Institute's Living Biobank uses 'living' models which can be expanded indefinitely, enabling ongoing advanced studies and global sharing to drive novel discoveries and better outcomes for children with cancer.
By providing access to high-quality, renewable preclinical models and tumour tissue paired with clinical data, this initiative supports researchers in testing innovative therapies, identifying personalised treatment options, and deepening understanding of tumour biology.
These efforts directly benefit children with limited treatment choices and poor prognoses, helping to accelerate the discovery of safer, more effective therapies that not only improve survival rates but also enhance the quality and years of life for children diagnosed with cancer.
Funding to accelerate research, innovation and collaboration
CEO of Children's Cancer CoLab, Dr Udani Reets, said the biobank received funding through CoLab's Innovation Accelerators Impact Program, which supports streamlined technology platforms that foster multidisciplinary approaches for childhood cancer research.
"Funding these biobanks transforms precious samples donated by children and families into accessible resources for discovery. They will accelerate the pace of research, fulfilling the hopes of those families to help future generations of children not only survive cancer but thrive."
