national centre for asbestos related diseases (ncard)

What national centre for asbestos related diseases (ncard) does

The National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD) is a nonprofit research center whose work originated in mid-1984 and focuses primarily on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. It serves patients and families through clinical trials, monitoring, biobank participation, and public research-priority initiatives, while providing researchers and clinicians with biospecimens, scientific data, and collaborative research programs.

NCARD's research platform combines an approximately 10,000-specimen biobank and about 80 cancer cell lines with next-generation genomic and T-cell receptor sequencing, bioinformatics and systems biology, tumor immunology, PET-CT and PD-L1 imaging, mouse models, and AI-enabled multi-omics analysis. Its research initiatives include ATTAC for neoantigen discovery, MAGIC for treatment-response prediction, and personalized mRNA cancer-vaccine development.

The center does not sell commercial products or services and provides clinical-trial participation and biobank contributions without charge to patients. Its operating resources primarily come from competitive research grants, government agencies, charitable organizations, donations, and institutional support, while research is distributed through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, public lectures, patient and community engagement, clinical-trial networks, and approved biobank access.

Name

national centre for asbestos related diseases (ncard)

Legal name

National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases

Website

https://ncard.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD) is a nonprofit research center conducting mesothelioma and broader asbestos-related disease research, clinical trials, biobanking, genomics, imaging, and therapy development for patients, at-risk populations, clinicians, and researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Disease Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Thoracic (Lung) Oncology (HLAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies) (HLAAANAK), Anatomic Pathology (Histopathology & Cytopathology) (HLAFAMAA)

Keywords

• Mesothelioma research
• Asbestos related diseases
• Clinical trials oncology
• Cancer biobank services
• Tumor immunology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Nedlands

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Government Funding: Primary funding from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence grants, government agencies, and institutional research grants
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting asbestos-related disease research
3. Collaborative Research Partnerships: Funding from strategic partners including US Department of Defense, icare Dust Diseases Board NSW, Cancer Council WA, and international collaborators

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NCARD conducts biomedical research into asbestos-related diseases, primarily mesothelioma, spanning tumour immunology, genomics, bioinformatics, medical imaging, and novel therapy development. It operates an extensive biobank of patient samples and cancer cell lines, runs mesothelioma clinical trials, and provides a clinical Asbestos Review Program for asbestos-exposed individuals. Research outputs include peer-reviewed publications, predictive biomarkers, and personalized treatment approaches including mRNA cancer vaccines.

Product overview

The National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD) is a research center focused on asbestos-related diseases, primarily mesothelioma. Rather than a commercial product company, NCARD provides research services and operates clinical programs including: an established Biobank with patient samples and cancer cell lines; clinical trials for mesothelioma treatments; genomic sequencing and bioinformatics services; advanced medical imaging research using PET-CT; and novel therapy development including mRNA cancer vaccines. Key research initiatives include the MAGIC consortium using AI for treatment prediction, the ATTAC program for neoantigen vaccine development, and the MexTAg mouse model program. The center also maintains patient-facing services like the Asbestos Review Program and publishes scientific research findings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCARD Biobank
• Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
• Asbestos Review Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 58% objective response rate in DREAM phase II clinical trial combining chemotherapy with durvalumab immunotherapy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and important.

• University of Western Australia (UWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCARD is part of the University of Western Australia and operates within the UWA research ecosystem. Professor Anna Nowak serves as Pro Vice Chancellor (Health and Medical Research) at UWA. Many NCARD researchers hold appointments in UWA schools including the School of Biomedical Sciences.
• Institute for Respiratory Health (IRH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCARD is affiliated with the Institute for Respiratory Health (IRH), collaborating on respiratory disease research including mesothelioma and other lung conditions. A/Prof Alec Redwood heads the Vaccines and Viral Immunity Group at IRH.
• Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NCARD Biobank is based at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Clinical researchers including Professor Bruce Robinson serve as consultant physicians at SCGH. Dr Melvin Chin is a medical oncologist at SCGH.
• West Australian Node of the National Imaging FacilitycoreTechnology or IntegrationNCARD works closely with the West Australian Node of the National Imaging Facility, gaining access to advanced imaging technology and expertise in the field for PET-CT imaging and other medical imaging research.
• Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership on molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy response and resistance in mesothelioma, leveraging biospecimens from multiple clinical trial cohorts including DREAM, PrE0505, and DREAM3R trials.
• QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the MAGIC (Mesothelioma AI Genomics and Immunology Consortium) project, contributing to the international consortium developing comprehensive multi-omics database for mesothelioma research.
• Perth Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Prof Nick Gottardo from Perth Children's Hospital on childhood cancer immunotherapy research, translating successes in adult cancers to children. Project focuses on acute leukaemias and brain tumours.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI): Australian non-profit research institute focused on asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma, with a similar biobank and clinical research mandate. ADRI is the closest geographic and mission-aligned peer to NCARD.
• QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute: Queensland-based medical research institute that co-leads the MAGIC consortium with NCARD, applying AI/multi-omics to mesothelioma. Comparable in being a non-clinical, grant-funded research center focused on cancer biology.
• Institute for Respiratory Health (IRH): Western Australian respiratory research institute that NCARD is formally affiliated with, sharing infrastructure and research staff (e.g., Alec Redwood's Vaccines and Viral Immunity Group). Most direct institutional peer given physical co-location and overlapping research programs.

Regional players

• Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre: Australia's leading dedicated cancer hospital and research center, conducting thoracic oncology and immunotherapy research including mesothelioma clinical trials. Comparable in clinical trial infrastructure and translational cancer research, though broader in disease focus.
• Gustave Roussy Institute: Leading European cancer research hospital with active mesothelioma and immunotherapy programs, including translational research collaborations with Australian centers. Comparable as a peer thoracic oncology and immuno-oncology research hub.

Broad incumbents

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Major US cancer center with substantial mesothelioma and thoracic oncology programs, including immunotherapy clinical trials. Operates as a global benchmark for translational cancer research of the type NCARD pursues.
• MD Anderson Cancer Center: Largest US cancer center with deep mesothelioma research programs and clinical trial infrastructure. Comparable as a global leader in oncology R&D where NCARD competes for collaborators, recognition, and publication impact.
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): US federal agency that funds large-scale cancer research including mesothelioma programs and co-funds trials NCARD participates in. Comparable as a funder, convener, and standard-setter for the same research community.

Others

• International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig): Global scientific society dedicated to mesothelioma research, of which NCARD's former Director Anna Nowak is President. Comparable as a convening body for the same scientific community NCARD engages, and as a driver of international collaboration on mesothelioma.
• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation: US-based non-profit funding mesothelioma research and advocating for patients. Comparable to NCARD's donor-funded, mission-driven model and overlapping scientific community, though focused on advocacy and grantmaking rather than bench science.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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