November 3, 2025

Generous post-mortem donations spark international collaboration 

We have a very unique asset in the Mark Hughes Foundation Biobank – a post-mortem collection from patient-donors. Funded through the generosity of the Mark Hughes Foundation this one-of-a-kind asset could help transform brain cancer research. 

We’re thrilled to announce that we have now commenced an international collaboration with the Gregory lab at the Duke University Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Centre, led by Professor Simon Gregory.  

Thanks to a connection made at the International Brain Tumour Research Summit held by the MHF Centre in February, graduate student Lauren Whaley from the Gregory Lab, will use state of the art genomics technology to analyse tissue sections from the MHF Brain Donor Biobank to gain greater insight into the cell of origin of glioblastoma tumours and how they develop, spread and recur. 

The Gregory Lab team from Duke will be working closely with a team from the MHF, including MHF Biobank Manager Dr Cassandra Griffin, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, and MHF Centre Director Professor Mike Fay.  

We know it’s going to take a team effort to fight brain cancer by sharing knowledge, samples and infrastructure. We’re determined to team up and make a difference. 

Donate today & help beat brain cancer

Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in children, and adults aged under 40 in Australia, yet alarmingly very little is known about brain cancer, its causes or how it is treated.

That’s why we need your help. Every dollar helps in the fight against brain cancer. Your donation will go towards vital research to improve patient treatments and, hopefully, find a cure one day.

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Donate today, help beat brain cancer

Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in children, and adults aged under 40 in Australia, yet alarmingly very little is known about brain cancer, its causes or how it is treated.

That’s why we need your help. Every dollar helps in the fight against brain cancer. Your donation will go towards vital research to improve patient treatments and, hopefully, find a cure one day.

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

You are now leaving the Mark Hughes Foundation website to go to The University of Newcastle website. Do you wish to proceed?