Poster Presentation 38th Lorne Cancer Conference 2026

MoLBi: From Theatre to Therapy – Building Australia’s First Live-Biobanking Platform for Precision Immunotherapy (#161)

Justin Moore 1 2 , Janet Chang 2 , Adrian Praeger 1 2 , Anh Doan 2 , Jason Steen 3 , Khoi Ly 2 , Craig Cardinal 4 , Kate Webber 1 2 , Sophia Frentzas 1 2 , Elizabeth Ahern 1 2 , Geraldine Ooi 1 2 , Daniel Croagh 1 2 , Zee Wan Wong 1 2 , Ruby Huang 5 , Erwin Tanuwidjaya 2 , Jessica Wu 2 , Jazmine Kruz 2 , Yoseph Molano 2 , Tanya Jhoomun 1 , Ashray Rajagopalan 1 2 , Joseph Jaya 1 2 , Sebastian Yan 5 , Eamonn Gilmore 6 , MoLBi Neurosurgical Team Department of Neurosurgery, Monash Health 1 , Pouya Faridi 2 7 , Tu Nguyen-Dumont 3 , Joshua Ooi 2 , Gwo Yaw Ho 1 2
  1. Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
  2. School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton , Victoria
  3. School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Brain Tumour Alliance Australia, Collett Place Pearce, ACT, Australia
  5. National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  6. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
  7. Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

Background:

Most solid tumours, particularly brain, ovarian, pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal cancers, are immunologically “cold,” resistant to current immunotherapies and with limited effective systemic options. Addressing this unmet need requires real-time access to fresh human tumours, high-resolution molecular profiling, and scalable preclinical models. To meet this challenge, we established the Monash Live-Biobanking (MoLBi) platform, a clinician-led initiative linking surgical theatres at Monash Health with cutting-edge laboratory pipelines at Monash University [1].

Methods:

Launched in November 2024, MoLBi integrates intra-operative fresh tumour collection with standardised workflows for processing, cryopreservation, genomic sequencing, immunopeptidomics, and engraftment into NSG-MHCnull mice and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models. Clinical data are linked through a REDCap database with matched blood biospecimens, enabling HLA typing and immune monitoring. Consumer advocates from the Brain Tumour Alliance Australia are embedded within governance and research-priority setting.

Results:

Within ten months, MoLBi has surpassed 140 biospecimens, including >35 glioblastomas, >25 meningiomas, and multiple pituitary, metastatic, and rare tumours. Fifteen tumours have been implanted in mice with six successful engraftments. Forty tumours have undergone whole-exome sequencing and twenty have completed immunopeptidomics analyses. A bespoke T-cell receptor (TCR-T) therapy roadmap has commenced for “patient-zero” (MoLBi24087; recurrent glioblastoma multiforme), with four candidate tumour neoantigens identified and high-affinity TCR discovery underway. The platform has already fostered collaborations across Australia and internationally (Sydney, Queensland, Beijing, Taiwan), supported student training at PhD, Honours and BMS levels, and catalysed multiple competitive funding applications (MRFF, NHMRC, philanthropic).

Conclusion:

MoLBi has rapidly demonstrated feasibility, scalability, and translational impact. By bridging the surgical theatre and precision immunology laboratories, it provides a unique national resource to accelerate novel immunotherapies, including Australia’s first bespoke TCR-T cell trials. Ongoing expansion to pancreatic, hepatobiliary, and upper GI tumours will further establish MoLBi as a transformative infrastructure for precision oncology.

  1. https://www.monash.edu/medicine/scs/research/monash-live-biobanking-molbi-platform