L-R: Dr Wayne Ng (General Manager, VCB), Dr Heidi Gaulke (Director Operations, Discovery & Innovations Unit, AH), Dr John R Wood (AH patient donor), Angela Mountain (Manager - Austin Health Tissue Bank) & Jaslyn Potter (Coordinator - Austin Health Tissue Bank). Photo courtesy of Cancer Council Victoria.

2 July 2026

Austin Health is celebrating two decades of partnership with the Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB), a statewide collaboration driving cancer research, innovation and improved patient outcomes.

The milestone coincides with the VCB’s 20-year anniversary which was honoured with a special event for research partners in June. Since 2006, the VCB has supported nearly 400 research projects and more than 150 clinical trials, helping accelerate breakthroughs in early detection, precision medicine and new treatments.

At the centre of this work is the Austin Health Tissue Bank (AHTB), led by Angela Mountain, Lead Scientist and Manager, who has been involved since the early days.

Austin Health has played a major role in the VCB, contributing more than 5,500 donors and over 89,000 biospecimens – around 20 per cent of the total collection.

One of those patient donors is Dr John Wood who was on hand to help celebrate the 20 year milestone with the Austin Health team.

John, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2023, did not hesitate when he was given the opportunity to donate his colon tissue sample to the VCB.

"It was just common sense. My GP explained the benefits of doing it. I’m an academic, and I know that researchers need as much data as possible to achieve their goal,” he said.

As a major surgical and tertiary hospital, Austin Health supports a broad range of tumour streams, including colorectal, thoracic, hepatopancreatobiliary, urology, breast, endocrine, upper gastrointestinal, neurological and gynaecological cancers, alongside oncology services with Mercy Hospital for Women.

Angela says the most meaningful part of the work is supporting patients to contribute to research.

“I am proud to help patients donate their biological samples to cancer research during a challenging time. Their contribution allows the VCB to provide opportunities for research, to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes in the future.”

“It is rewarding to connect with patient donors throughout their cancer journey, their generosity and commitment make them a special group of people.”

The VCB now includes more than 42,000 donors and over half a million biospecimens across 14 hospitals.

Biobanks collect and store biological samples such as blood and tissue, along with clinical data, enabling long-term, high-quality research. Austin Health’s integration within pathology services supports the collection of high-quality, longitudinal samples, creating valuable opportunities for collaboration across the VCB network.

“The VCB provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for researchers; many would not otherwise have access to biospecimens for crucial research,” said Angela.

Austin Health’s contribution is supported by a small team of tissue bank coordinators, backed by clinicians, surgeons, pathologists and nursing staff.

Angela has been involved since the beginning, alongside long-standing contributors including Mr Simon Knight, Mr V. Muralidharan and Mr Stephen Farrell, as well as specialist nurses and clinical trial teams including Liz Foster, Rita Pana, Donna Haberl and Anne-Marie Woods.

As cancer research becomes increasingly personalised and data-driven, biobanking will continue to play a critical role in future discoveries.

With continued collaboration and the generosity of patients, Austin Health’s partnership with the VCB remains vital to shaping the future of cancer care.

Find out more about the VCB here