Australian Brain Cancer Registry Unveiled in Vienna

Brain Cancer Australia launches world-first brain cancer registry at global neurosurgery congress.

Brain Cancer Australia has unveiled the first national clinical quality registry for brain cancer at the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) Congress in Vienna.

“The Australian Brain Cancer Registry (ABCR) is the first in the world with such extensive, population-wide diagnosis, treatment, and outcome data for brain cancer patients,” said Professor Lindy Jeffree, Chair of the Brain Cancer Australia National Consortium and Director of Neurosurgery at The Alfred, Melbourne.

Professor Jeffree presented the ABCR’s inaugural report featuring population-wide Queensland data, which is now publicly available, at the EANS Congress.

The ABCR uses automated, electronic data collected across the entire brain cancer patient journey, to provide both public reports and confidential, benchmarked feedback to hospitals and clinicians — enabling improvements in patient care.

“In the absence of effective brain cancer treatments, the fastest way to improve survival is to ensure every patient receives optimal care. The data already shows where care meets best practice and where there are gaps — a critical first step in lifting standards of care,” said Prof Jeffree.

Robyn Leonard OAM, Founding Director of Brain Cancer Australia, said:

“The Australian Brain Cancer Registry is a game-changer. For the first time, clinicians have the information they need to drive improvements in care. It brings us closer to a future where every brain cancer patient receives best practice care — no matter where they live across Australia.”

The inaugural report includes data from Queensland, where it was initially developed and tested. It shows that most patients are receiving appropriate care in line with national clinical quality indicators — with 87% of patients having their tumour confirmed through lab testing, 94% having surgery in a major hospital, and 93% starting radiotherapy within the recommended time.

Data from other states and territories will be progressively added during 2026 and 2027, expanding the ABCR to full national coverage.

View the ABCR Report here: https://www.braincanceraustralia.org.au/our-work/abcr-report