{"id":2647,"date":"2025-09-17T15:06:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T05:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdev.sydney.edu.au\/kolling\/research-group\/a3bc-msk-biobank\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T10:05:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T23:05:51","slug":"a3bc-msk-biobank","status":"publish","type":"research-group","link":"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/research-group\/a3bc-msk-biobank\/","title":{"rendered":"A3BC MSK Biobank"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The A3BC is a national biobanking and information network to improve the health of men, women and children living with arthritis and autoimmune conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The network includes more than 70 rheumatology clinicians and researchers, and over 60 recruitment sites, biobanks and research laboratories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It collects a broad range of linked biological information (such as genetics, microbiome), patient-reported details (via the ARAD Registry) and medical data. The information is then integrated and examined using large-scale data analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a comprehensive, national resource to support Australian researchers and doctors to deliver the best diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for those with arthritis and autoimmune conditions\u2026 and hopefully find a cure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We aim to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Establish a national biobank network to collect, process and store a broad range of high-quality biospecimens for biological research<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate biospecimen information with national datasets, including patient-reported, electronic medical record, cancer\/death registry and Commonwealth data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analyse these integrated, large-scale datasets to identify and study potential patterns of significance for patients and the healthcare system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Translate discoveries to improve disease prediction, identify more precise treatment, inform prevention strategies, and hopefully find a cure for arthritis and autoimmunity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-lora-font-family\"><br>\u2026 To give the right care, to the right patient, at the right time!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A3BC Awareness Animation\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HtDBRPp7j4A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-btn-bg-color:#FFFFFF;--etb-a-tab-btn-text-color:#ab40a1;--etb-a-tab-btn-heading-color:#ffffff;--etb-a-tab-bt-style:none;--etb-a-tab-bt-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-br-style:none;--etb-a-tab-br-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-bb-style:none;--etb-a-tab-bb-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-bl-style:none;--etb-a-tab-bl-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-btn-bg-color:#ffffff;--etb-h-tab-btn-text-color:#000000;--etb-h-tab-btn-heading-color:#000000;--etb-h-tab-bt-style:none;--etb-h-tab-bt-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-br-style:none;--etb-h-tab-br-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-bb-style:none;--etb-h-tab-bb-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-bl-style:none;--etb-h-tab-bl-width:0px;--etb-scroll-arrows-icon-color:#ab40a1\" class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tabs has-active-etb-bg-color has-active-etb-text-color has-active-etb-heading-color has-active-etb-border has-hover-etb-bg-color has-hover-etb-text-color has-hover-etb-heading-color has-hover-etb-border\" data-id=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\" data-initial-tab=\"1\" data-trigger=\"click\"><div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tabs-inner is-layout-flow wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tabs-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"etb-tabs-buttons-scrollable-with-arrows\"><div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-buttons has-etb-buttons-scrollable is-layout-flex wp-container-easy-tabs-block-tab-buttons-is-layout-d7af6e26 wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_lead-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1098\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Lead<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_people-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1114\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">People<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_network-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1103\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Network<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_projects-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1120\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Projects<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/root_Icons_publications-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2818\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Publications<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"etb-scroll-button left\" aria-label=\"Scroll to the left\"><span class=\"chevron-left\"><\/span><\/button><button class=\"etb-scroll-button right\" aria-label=\"Scroll to the right\"><span class=\"chevron-right\"><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-contents has-border-color has-accent-6-border-color\" style=\"border-width:1px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">    <div class=\"team-block-page\">\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Professor-Lyn-March-AM-1-.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Professor Lyn March AM<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Project Lead and Coordinating Principal Investigator<br>Australian Arthritis and Autoimmune Biobank Collaborative (Uni Syd)<br>Liggins Professor of Rheumatology &amp; Musculoskeletal Epidemiology<br>Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Kolling Institute<br>Head of Department<br>Department of Rheumatology, Royal North Shore Hospital<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lyn is the Head of Rheumatology at Sydney\u2019s Royal North Shore Hospital and Liggins Professor of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Epidemiology at Sydney University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lyn graduated from medicine with first class honours from the University of Sydney, then went on to gain a PhD from Sydney and a MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has been an active clinician and researcher for more than 25 years. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant services in the areas of rheumatology and clinical epidemiology as an academic, researcher and clinician. She led the international expert group that generated the latest global burden of musculoskeletal disease data. Lyn is an executive member of OMERACT the international group standardising patient reported outcome measures in rheumatology, on the Executive Committee for the Global Alliance for MSK Health, Co-lead of their Surveillance Task Force and member of their WHO working party. Lyn advocates to raise the profile of musculoskeletal conditions and to improve evidence-based patient care through policy development and translational and discovery research. She co-led the NSW Health Agency for Clinical Innovation\u2019s MSK Network during the development of the MSK Models of Care now part of Leading Better Value Care. Her latest challenge is the establishment of the A3BC \u2013 a national collaboration linking the patient outcomes registry ARAD with a new biospecimens network to deliver precision medicine to the individual patient and build a national research resource working to find a cure for arthritis and autoimmune rheumatic conditions.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">    <div class=\"team-block-page\">\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Dr-Tom-Lynch.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Tom Lynch<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>National A3BC Project Officer<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Meilang-headshot-copy-233x300.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Associate Professor Meilang Xue\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Meilang-headshot-copy-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Meilang-headshot-copy.jpg 365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Associate Professor Meilang Xue<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p class=\"is-style-text-subtitle\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.191), 0.98rem);\">Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratory<br>Medicine, Northern Clinical School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"181\" height=\"235\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Dr-Marita-Cross-181x234-1.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dr Marita Cross\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Marita Cross<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Postdoctoral Research Associate, Northern Clinical School<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Tahi Pumi<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Research Assistant<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Fiona Howard<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Project Officer<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<p>The A3BC includes more than 70 leading national arthritis\/autoimmune clinicians and researchers across more than 60 prominent health and research sites. It includes eight biobank nodes to collect and store biospecimens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recruitment \/ Collection Sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New South Wales (NSW)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Northern Sydney Local Health District<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Royal North Shore Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>St Vincent\u2019s Health Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>North Sydney Mater Private Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Ramsay Health Care<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>North Shore Private Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>South Western Sydney Local Health District<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Liverpool Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Campbelltown Hospital South Eastern<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydney Local Health District<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>St George Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prince of Wales Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Western Sydney Local Health District<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Westmead Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blacktown Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydney Children\u2019s Hospitals Network<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Children&#8217;s Hospital at Westmead<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sydney Children&#8217;s Hospital Randwick<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Hunter New England Local Health District<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>John Hunter Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydney Local Health District<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Royal Prince Alfred Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Concord Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>BJC Health (Parramatta, Chatswood)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydney Adventist Hospital<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peninsula Orthopaedics &amp; Sports Medicine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Australian Capital Territory (ACT)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ACT Health and Community Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Canberra Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Western Australia (WA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>East Metropolitan Health Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Royal Perth Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>South Metropolitan Health Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fiona Stanley Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Child and Adolescent Health Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perth Children\u2019s Hospital<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Victoria (VIC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Murdoch Children\u2019s Research Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Royal Children&#8217;s Hospital<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Monash Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Monash Children\u2019s Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monash Medical Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Melbourne Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Royal Melbourne Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Cabrini Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cabrini Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Queensland (QLD)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Metro South Hospital and Health Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Princess Alexandra Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Logan Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Metro North Hospital and Health Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Royal Brisbane Women\u2019s Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Redcliffe Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Children&#8217;s Health Qld Hospital &amp; Health Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lady Cilento Children\u2019s Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gold Coast University Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Paradise Arthritis and Rheumatology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Queensland Rheumatology Services (Red Hill)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>South Australia (SA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Southern Adelaide Local Health Network<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Flinders Medical Centre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noarlunga Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marion GP Plus Health Care Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Central Adelaide Local Health Network<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Royal Adelaide Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Queen Elizabeth Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Women&#8217;s and Children&#8217;s Health Network<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Northern Adelaide Local Health Network<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lyell McEwin Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modbury Hospital<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/limecube-live-f3347140\/root\/Content\/map.jpg\" alt=\"map\" style=\"width:933px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Processing \/ Storage \/ Analysis Sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New South Wales (NSW)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Institute for Bone and Joint Research (USyd)*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The NSW Statewide Biobank*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hunter Medical Research Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Australian Institute of Health Innovation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Victoria (VIC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Murdoch Children\u2019s Research Institute*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Australian Capital Territory (ACT)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Canberra Hospital*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John Curtin School of Medicine, Australian National University<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Queensland (QLD)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Institute for Health &amp; Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>South Australia (SA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basil Hetzel Institute*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flinders Medical Centre*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Western Australia (WA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (South)*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* National A3BC processing and storage nodes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<p>Analysis of associations between microbiome, inflammatory response and environmental factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Professor Meilang Xue<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What is the optimal time from blood collection to processing for the integrity of serum\/plasma aliquots in regard to downstream assay performance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A3BC NSW node and partners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Piloting of national A3BC procedures, including e-consenting, online questionnaires, and novel methods for peripheral blood mononucleocyte cells processing and RNA collection-storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A3BC nodes in each state<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Dr-Lara-Bereza-Malcolm-and-Assoc.-Professor-Meilang-Xue-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2796\" style=\"width:340px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Dr-Lara-Bereza-Malcolm-and-Assoc.-Professor-Meilang-Xue-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Dr-Lara-Bereza-Malcolm-and-Assoc.-Professor-Meilang-Xue-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/A3BC-NSW-node-and-partners-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2795\" style=\"width:340px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/A3BC-NSW-node-and-partners-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/A3BC-NSW-node-and-partners-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/A3BC-nodes-in-each-state-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2794\" style=\"width:340px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/A3BC-nodes-in-each-state-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/A3BC-nodes-in-each-state-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"56cb51e9-9e1e-49ac-b1c0-bdbeb6592fd1\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The A3BC database (ARAD):<br><a href=\"https:\/\/aradwebsite.wixsite.com\/arad\/publications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/aradwebsite.wixsite.com\/arad\/publications<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Professor Lyn March<br><a href=\"http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/lyn.march.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/lyn.march.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assoc. Professor Meilang Xue<br><a href=\"http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/meilang.xue.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/meilang.xue.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dr Marita Cross:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/marita.cross.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/marita.cross.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/limecube-live-f3347140\/root%2FContent%2FA3BC-Banner-diagram-150221.jpg?lcc=8f7m9xlz2m\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The A3BC was formed to give researchers a greater chance of answering questions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why are some people more likely to develop arthritis?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why do some people develop a worse type of the illness than others?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why do some people respond well to a treatment while others respond poorly?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which biological markers (biomarkers) predict disease progression and treatment suitability?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which risk factors could be used to better manage these conditions or even lead to their prevention?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Specific research questions to be addressed by researchers through A3BC activity include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Among people taking methotrexate and\/or biologics for the treatment of arthritis or autoimmune disease, are there clinical or biological (incl. genomic, microbiomic) data associations which predict response to treatment and suggest improved models of care?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the long-term outcomes for people undergoing therapy for these diseases following new (biologic or biosimilar) versus traditional treatments?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Among people undergoing therapy for these diseases, does the characterisation profile of their microbiome associate with a change in their response to therapy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the cytokine profiles produced by synovial and peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from people with arthritis and how do these profiles change in response to in vitro biologic therapies -(bDMARDs)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A key ingredient in achieving these goals is to build a state-of-the-art national resource, involving large-scale data collection and analyses of biospecimens. Given the complex nature of these arthritic\/autoimmune conditions, research discovery will always be limited unless a large-scale, data-rich resource such as the A3BC is developed and widely used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/limecube-live-f3347140\/root\/Content\/_DSC0930-compressed.jpg?lcc=qs4n26fpxq\" alt=\"_DSC0930-compressed\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The A3BC hope to recruit more than 50,000 participants with various forms of arthritis and produce information on participant biology\/biomarkers (such as genetics), environmental and lifestyle factors, clinical factors, and health service\/prescription for more precise detection of risk factors, improved treatments and prediction tools for these conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The initial scope of A3BC research is to better understand biological and environmental risk factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Vasculitis, Myositis and Sjogren\u2019s Syndrome. Once the A3BC has established these diseases within national operations, additional conditions such as Lower Back Pain, Gout, Scleroderma, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Osteoarthritis are intended for future collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This project has been initiated by the lead study doctor, Professor Lyn March AM, in collaboration with more than 50 other leading national doctors and researchers from over 50 hospitals, universities and research institutes across Australia. The A3BC is funded by the CLEARbridge Foundation (a philanthropic organisation) and A3BC partner nodes across Australia. Further Commonwealth funding is also being sought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The A3BC is committed to developing a complex, yet easily used solution to a challenging set of conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For more information:<br><\/strong><strong>Please visit the A3BC website&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/a3bc.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\">www.a3bc.org.au<\/a>&nbsp;or<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Contact<br><\/strong>A3BC Headquarters Project Team:<br>Email &#8211; info@a3bc.org.au<br>Phone &#8211; 02 9463 1891<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":416,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"research-group-tax":[],"primary-research-area":[56],"class_list":["post-2647","research-group","type-research-group","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","primary-research-area-musculoskeletal"],"acf":{"team_leads":[3202],"team_members":[3397,3149,3395,3218,3219]},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Raymond-Purves.jpg",2000,590,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Raymond-Purves-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Raymond-Purves-300x89.jpg",300,89,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Raymond-Purves-768x227.jpg",768,227,true],"large":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Raymond-Purves-1024x302.jpg",1024,302,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Raymond-Purves-1536x453.jpg",1536,453,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Raymond-Purves.jpg",2000,590,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"ict-wordpress-support@sydney.edu.au","author_link":"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/author\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The A3BC is a national biobanking and information network to improve the health of men, women and children living with arthritis and autoimmune conditions. 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