(L-R) A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh (COGNO Chair), Prof Bryan Day (ABCARA Co-Director/QIMR Berghofer), Prof Hui Gan (ABCARA Co-Director/COGNO/Austin Health/ONJCRI), Dr Gregory Stein (CEO, Curtana Pharmaceuticals) at the trial launch, 2025 ABCARA Scientific Research Symposium.
Announcing OPAL
A First-in-class OLIG2 Inhibitor Multisite Phase 1 Glioblastoma Clinical Trial
COGNO and ABCARA are delighted to announce the launch of the OPAL study - a national, multi-site Phase 1 clinical trial of CT-179, a first-in-class orally bioavailable brain penetrant small molecule targeting OLIG2, a key protein associated with glioblastoma cancer stem cells.
This pivotal study represents an exciting collaboration between ABCARA, COGNO, Curtana Pharmaceuticals (USA) and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, underpinned by fundamental pre-clinical research findings generated by some of Australia’s leading brain cancer scientists at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. It is a powerful example of the impact of strengthened partnerships between academia and industry. Curtana Pharmaceuticals, the developer of CT-179, is a key Texas-based industry partner in this effort.
The OPAL study is supported by MRFF grant 9500001, awarded to COGNO through the Australian Brain Cancer Mission to enhance international collaboration and expand access to new therapies for Australian patients. Importantly, OPAL marks COGNO’s and ABCARA’s first ever Phase 1 trial – bridging groundbreaking pre-clinical discoveries to early phase clinical testing and helping translate key discoveries from bench to bedside, a vision shared by both COGNO and ABCARA.
We acknowledge the leadership of Prof Bryan Day (ABCARA Co-Director/QIMR Berghofer), Prof Hui Gan (ABCARA Co-Director/COGNO/Austin Health/ONJCRI), A/Prof Hao-Wen Sim (COGNO Clinical Lead) and A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh (COGNO Chair), together with Dr Gregory Stein (CEO, Curtana Pharmaceuticals) in driving this important national clinical trial initiative.
We look forward to delivering the OPAL study to offer new treatment modalities specifically designed to improve outcomes for people affected by brain cancer.
ABCARA 2025 - Wednesday 17th September, Langham Hotel, Gold Coast Qld
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING
The ABCARA 2025 Scientific Research Symposium was a huge success with 80 delegates. We heard from our invited speakers, A/Prof Adam Sonabend, Dr Thomas Park and Dr Gregory Stein, and from Australian leaders in brain cancer research from across the country.
A huge thanks to our Platinum Sponsors the Mark Hughes Foundation and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation , and our Gold Sponsor MedChemExpress for their support of ABCARA and the 2025 Scientific Research Symposium
Define, drive and deliver excellence in brain cancer research.
The Australian Brain Cancer Research Alliance (ABCARA) is an alliance of brain cancer focused clinicians, researchers and clinician scientists with a long-term interest in adult brain cancer research.
Progress for brain cancer patients requires a national research collaboration dedicated to making meaningful breakthroughs for individuals suffering from these aggressive diseases.
Welcome from the Directorship
“All of us can make a difference for people affected by brain cancer, whether we are impacted by a diagnosis of brain cancer directly or professionally focused on beating it. Please join us so that we can finally make a difference in this terrible disease.”
Meet the Directorship and Alliance Members behind Australia’s largest collaborative adult brain cancer network.
Pictured left: Co-Directors Prof Bryan Day and Prof Hui Gan.
Research
Our research projects will combine the expertise, resources and skills of ABCARA’s multidisciplinary team, ultimately leading to new and innovative clinical trial opportunities.