Robyn Leonard's daughter Lucie was 34 when she lost her seven-year battle with brain cancer in 2012.
Refusing to accept that the survival rates for brain cancer couldn’t improve, Robyn quickly became a fierce advocate for patients and families and started pushing for change to address the critical gaps in research infrastructure.
Lucie and Robyn Leonard in 2010.
"The phone call from Lucie telling me the doctors had found a tumour in her brain changed my world forever and marked the start of a long journey to do something to shift the shocking statistics of brain cancer."
In 2015, Robyn did something many told her was too hard - she successfully united leading brain cancer clinicians and researchers across the country to formalise a consortium and network Australia’s fragmented brain cancer biobanking system.
For the first time in Australia, researchers gloablly could access over 11,000 tissue samples and data from 20 biobanks via an online portal.
From an initial focus on biobanking, Brain Cancer Australia expanded its strategy in 2022 to start building the largest and most complete brain cancer dataset ever assembled in Australia, and a world-class patient enrolment platform. These resources will give all clinicians and researchers the resources they need to accelerate progress and immediately improve patient outcomes.
Today, Brain Cancer Australia is a national consortium of over 90 leading brain cancer doctors and researchers, and a charity which gives Australians a way to fund more breakthroughs – faster.
Today, Brain Cancer Australia is a national consortium of over 90 leading brain cancer doctors and researchers, and a charity which gives Australians a way to fund more breakthroughs – faster.
“I want Lucie’s legacy to be a well-resourced brain cancer research sector in Australia, and a day when patients and families will hear: ‘There’s more we can do for you – this cancer can be defeated’.”
Robyn (middle) is pictured with representatives from the Brain Cancer Australia Charity (Board and Staff) and the Brain Cancer Australia National Consortium Steering Committee and Staff: Back L-R: Rene Sugo, Laura Henry, Prof Lindy Jeffree, Prof John Simes, Mythily Sachchithananthan. Front L-R: Sharon Bell, Robyn Leonard, Prof Michael Besser.
About Robyn Leonard OAM
Robyn has been an active brain cancer consumer representative for the past 18 years, providing input into the development of brain cancer clinical trials and initiating national projects to support research and optimise patient care in brain cancer.
She has a long track record as an advocate, raising awareness for the brain cancer cause through her work with Cancer Australia, Cancer Council NSW and Cancer Institute NSW. Robyn has been a member of the Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO) since the group’s inception in 2007, and currently sits on COGNO’s International Clinical Research Subcommittee. She was responsible for establishing the COGNO Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) and developing the CAP protocols and training.
As a member of the Australian Brain Cancer Mission Strategic Advisory Group, Robyn was a strong advocate for funding to develop Australia’s brain cancer research infrastructure.
She is the Founder/Director of Brain Cancer Australia.
Robyn has been an active brain cancer consumer representative for the past 18 years, providing input into the development of brain cancer clinical trials and initiating national projects to support research and optimise patient care in brain cancer.
She has a long track record as an advocate, raising awareness for the brain cancer cause through her work with Cancer Australia, Cancer Council NSW and Cancer Institute NSW. Robyn has been a member of the Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO) since the group’s inception in 2007, and currently sits on COGNO’s International Clinical Research Subcommittee. She was responsible for establishing the COGNO Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) and developing the CAP protocols and training.
As a member of the Australian Brain Cancer Mission Strategic Advisory Group, Robyn was a strong advocate for funding to develop Australia’s brain cancer research infrastructure.
She is the Founder/Director of Brain Cancer Australia.
