InGeNA and HGSA are collaborating on a national project examining the presentation of therapeutic recommendations in somatic oncology next-generation sequencing reports.

As precision oncology advances, clinicians need clear, accurate and current information to help them interpret genomic findings and consider the potential implications for patient care. However, the inclusion and presentation of therapeutic information currently vary between laboratories and reporting systems.

Research by Pendlebury et al. involving laboratories across Australia and New Zealand identified substantial variation in reporting practices, with almost one-quarter of participating laboratories not including therapeutic options in their NGS reports. International guidance, including recommendations from AMP-CAP and ESMO, has also highlighted the value of clear and consistent reporting to support clinical interpretation and decision making.

This is a complex area. Laboratories must consider rapidly changing evidence, regulatory approvals, reimbursement arrangements, clinical context, reporting responsibilities and the systems required to maintain information over time. Improvements will therefore require collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem rather than a reporting solution developed by any one sector.

As the first stage of the project, InGeNA and HGSA are engaging with RCPA and other relevant stakeholder organisations to convene a webinar series bringing together pathology, medical oncology, diagnostic genomics, industry, professional bodies and patient and consumer representatives.

The webinars will build a shared understanding of current practice, explore the practical and governance challenges involved and identify opportunities for a more coordinated Australian approach.

August/September 2026 | Online

The first webinar will explore how information about TGA-registered and PBS-funded therapies could be better coordinated and made consistently available through somatic NGS reporting. The discussion will consider stakeholder roles, responsibility, and opportunities for shared infrastructure and innovative approaches.

We will hear the clinician, pathology, industry and patient perspective in this panel session webinar.

The second webinar will examine the challenges and opportunities associated with including clinical trial information in somatic NGS reports.

It will consider the currency and completeness of trial information, patient eligibility, geographic accessibility, referral pathways, data sources and the responsibility for maintaining trial information.

Further details will be announced following the first webinar.

This project is intended to facilitate an open, evidence-based discussion. It does not begin with a predetermined reporting model or assume that every report should contain the same information.

The aim is to understand the needs of those who produce, interpret and use NGS reports and identify practical improvements that support:

• Clearer and more consistent communication
• Appropriate clinical interpretation
• More effective use of genomic information
• Improved connections between testing and treatment pathways
• Equitable access to precision oncology

We welcome interest from laboratories, pathologists, oncologists, clinical geneticists, genomic scientists, industry, professional organisations, researchers and patient and consumer representatives.

Register to receive webinar details, project updates and opportunities to contribute to the discussion.

Please do not submit patient information, identifiable reports or confidential clinical material through this form.