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Showing results for “disease”

We found 50 researchers, 44 diseases, 11 areas, 50 discoveries, 5 WEHI.TV, 32 community impact, 50 labs, 16 support, 2 careers, 17 education, 22 about, 13 technology, 20 Institute items, 41 staff, 5 clinical trial, 4 facilities, 23 collaborative centre, 31 art of science, 12 divisions, 50 news & features, 13 what's on, 19 timeline, 50 projects, 18 stories, 5 newsletters, 6 success stories
Researchers
Prof Ken Smith
Director
Dr Clare Weeden
Lab Head • Weeden Lab
Vihanda Wickramasinghe photographed in a light-filled corridor, smiling at the camera
Prof Vihandha Wickramasinghe
Lab Head • Wickramasinghe Lab
Prof Marnie Blewitt
Deputy Director • Blewitt Lab
Dr Maria Tanzer
Lab Head • Tanzer Lab
Dr Stephin Vervoort
Lab Head • Vervoort Lab
Dr Hamish King
Lab Head • King Lab
Prof Andrew Wei
Lab Head • Wei Lab
Dr Nadia Davidson
Lab Head • Davidson Lab
Dr Belinda Phipson
Lab Head • Phipson Lab
Prof James McCarthy
Lab Head • McCarthy Lab
Prof John Silke
Division Head • Silke Lab
Prof Sandra Nicholson
Lab Head • Nicholson Lab
Dr Bernhard Lechtenberg
Lab Head • Lechtenberg Lab
Photo of Professor David Komander
Prof David Komander
Division Head • Komander Lab
Dr Anna Coussens
Lab Head • Coussens Lab
Dr Marcel Doerflinger
Lab Head • Doerflinger Lab
Dr Bekky Feltham
Lab Head • Feltham Lab
Dr Charlotte Slade
Lab Head • Slade Lab
Dr Vanessa Bryant
Lab Head • Bryant Lab
Prof Joan Heath
Lab Head • Heath Lab
Prof Peter Gibbs
Lab Head • Gibbs Lab
Prof Ivo Mueller
Division Head • Mueller Lab
Prof Matt Call
Lab Head • Call Lab
Dr Yunshun Chen
Lab Head • Chen Lab
Prof Daniel Gray
Division Head • Gray Lab
Dr Nadia Kershaw
Lab Head • Kershaw Lab
Prof James Vince
Lab Head • Vince Lab
Dr Brad Sleebs
Lab Head • Sleebs Lab
Prof James Murphy
Deputy Director • Murphy Lab
Prof Peter Czabotar
Division Head • Czabotar Lab
Prof Tony Papenfuss
Deputy Director • Papenfuss Lab
Prof Grant Dewson
Lab Head • Dewson Lab
Prof Shalin Naik
Lab Head • Naik Lab
Professor Phil Hodgkin
Prof Phil Hodgkin
Lab Head • Hodgkin Lab
Prof Gordon Smyth
Division Head • Smyth Lab
Prof Matthew Ritchie
Division Head • Ritchie Lab
Prof Kate Sutherland
Lab Head • Sutherland Lab
Prof David Huang
Lab Head • Huang Lab
Prof Andreas Strasser
Division Head • Strasser Lab
Prof Warren Alexander
Lab Head • Alexander Lab
Alexia Saunders
Centre Coordinator • Centre for Biologic Therapies
Prof Alan Cowman AC
Lab Head • Cowman Lab
Prof Terry Speed
Honorary Research Fellow • Speed Lab
Prof Rory Bowden
Genomics Laboratory Head • Genomics Lab
A/Prof Aaron Jex
Lab Head • Jex Lab
Dr Laura Dagley
Head, Proteomics Laboratory • Proteomics Lab
Prof Ethan Goddard
Lab Head • Goddard-Borger Lab
A/Prof Oliver Sieber
Lab Head • Sieber Lab
A/Prof Tracy Putoczki
Lab Head • Putoczki Lab
Diseases
Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is a serious health condition that occurs when dietary gluten triggers a damaging immune response that attacks the body.
Autoinflammatory diseases
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease results from the loss of specific nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that is vital for the control of muscles and movement.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease occurs when parts of the digestive tract become damaged by prolonged inflammation.
Tuberculosis
Toxoplasmosis
Scabies
Malaria
Lupus
Lupus is a chronic condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.
Influenza
Influenza is a widespread viral illness that can be fatal.
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection places an immense burden on global health. The virus causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by depleting infection-fighting immune cells.
Giardiasis
Diabetes
Cryptococcosis
Coronavirus
Coronaviruses are a type of virus that typically infects the respiratory tract of humans.
Asthma
Allergy
Allergies are caused by a hyperactive immune system mistakenly responding to external substances such as food, pollen or medications. Allergies impact on quality of life, and in severe cases can be life-threatening.
FSHD
Epilepsy
Anaemia
Our researchers are working to reduce anaemia, and to improve the health of people around the world, particularly women and children.
Myeloma
Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of immune cell.
Melanoma
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. The disease can be effectively treated if detected early but is dangerous once it spreads throughout the body.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is caused by uncontrolled growth of immune cells called lymphocytes.
Leukaemia
Leukaemia is a cancer of blood cells. There are many types of leukaemia that develop from different blood cells.
Cancer
Cancer will affect 1 in 3 Australians during their lifetime. Although some types of cancer can be cured, for others there are few effective treatments.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Primary immunodeficiency
Hepatitis B
Our hepatitis B research focuses on understanding how chronic infections occur, and how they can be cured.
Lung cancer
This year, more Australians will die from lung cancer than from any other cancer.
Bowel cancer
We are working to develop better early detection tests and to improve treatments for bowel cancer.
Retinal disorders
Neurodegenerative disorders
Neurodegenerative disorders are conditions in which cells in the brain break down, causing problems with how people move, think, feel or behave.
Multiple sclerosis
Stomach cancer
Our goal is to reduce deaths from stomach cancer through better detection and treatment.
Rare cancers
Despite their significant impact, these devastating cancers remain largely unknown and understudied.
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and few effective treatment options are available.
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death in Australian women.
Myeloproliferative disorders
Myeloproliferative disorders are serious conditions in which excessive numbers of blood cells are produced. This can interfere with the normal functions of blood.
Breast cancer
Our researchers are discovering how and why breast cancers start.
Brain cancer
Brain cancer causes more deaths in people under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and more deaths in Australian children than any other disease.
Blood cancers
Blood cancers are abnormally growing cells that arise from cells in the blood system. Leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are common types of blood cancer.
Rheumatic fever
Type 2 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Areas
Epigenetics
Our epigenetics researchers aim to unravel how epigenetic changes influence healthy and diseased cells, with a goal of better treatments for diseases.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is an innovative treatment that modulates the body’s immune system to fight disease.
Inflammation
Inflammation is an early defense that protects our body from infection. However, ongoing or misdirected inflammation underlies many diseases.
Cell signalling
Our research into cell signalling aims to understand how different signals are transmitted, and their relevance to disease.
Cell death
Failure of cells to die, or cells dying when they shouldn’t, can lead to or exacerbate many diseases.
Global health
We are working to improve the health of people around the world through discovery of the basic mechanisms of disease and by finding and testing solutions to optimise health outcomes.
Personalised medicine
Personalised medicine customises healthcare to an individual.
Infection
Infections from viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites are significant causes of worldwide illness and death.
Healthy ageing
We are studying how our longer life expectancy presents new health challenges for our ageing population.
Immunology
Problems with the immune system are linked to many serious health conditions.
Healthy development
Healthy development fosters a child's positive growth, focusing on achieving their full intellectual and physical potential, while avoiding long-term health challenges.
Discoveries
Scientists solve decades-long Parkinson’s mystery 
14 March 2025
All in the eyes: High resolution retinal maps aid disease diagnoses   
05 February 2025
Blood immune cells could hold key to showing disease progression in Parkinson’s
09 January 2025
World-first cure for lethal skin disease achieved in landmark study
11 November 2024
Protein discovery linked to Parkinson’s disease opens future research areas 
23 July 2024
Robots help put brakes on inflammatory diseases
25 June 2024
New classification of tuberculosis to support efforts to eliminate the disease 
23 March 2024
Research overturns thinking into potential Parkinson’s disease target 
22 January 2024
Finding rewrites understanding into Parkinson’s disease pathway
27 June 2023
Fruit flies help researchers decode genetic link to Alzheimer’s disease
09 January 2023
World-first brain cancer clinical trials launched in Melbourne 
31 October 2022
New way to prevent heart complications in children
17 October 2022
Dodging death: Surprise discovery redirects efforts for treatment of liver disease
06 October 2022
Random defence: Cells play ‘molecular roulette’ to determine how body fights disease
03 October 2022
Landmark tech for mimicking human disease advances cancer research
21 September 2022
First images of enzyme provide insights into cause of hereditary neurological disease
10 January 2022
Genetic discovery gives insight into causes of eye disease
16 March 2021
Potential new target to combat inflammatory diseases
20 November 2020
Taking the STING out of MND
07 October 2020
New c-FIND test accurately diagnoses infection in minutes
30 June 2020
Blood test a potential new tool for controlling infections
11 May 2020
Genetic drivers of myeloproliferative diseases revealed
23 January 2020
International team discovers new human autoinflammatory disease
11 December 2019
Genetic cause of debilitating eye disease discovered
11 September 2019
Gluten response in coeliac patients could lead to diagnostic test
07 August 2019
Study reveals top tools for pinpointing genetic drivers of disease
26 July 2019
New tool for understanding cells in health and disease
27 May 2019
New treatment approach for allergic asthma
16 May 2019
Parkinson’s disease protein buys time for cell repair
20 December 2018
Immune system’s balancing act keeps bowel disease in check
01 October 2018
Study identifies how to improve WHO eradication strategy for skin disease
07 February 2018
Searching for targeted treatments for inflammatory diseases
06 February 2018
Inflammatory disease trigger revealed
23 February 2017
Online ‘atlas’ of blood cells will help target disease cures
04 August 2016
‘Precision medicine’ brings new relief for old diseases
31 March 2016
Childhood coeliac disease discovery opens door for potential treatments
01 September 2015
Inflammatory link discovered between arthritis and heart valve disease
20 July 2015
Back to birth to beat blood disorders
09 April 2015
Energetic immune cells are vital for fighting disease
05 March 2015
Coeliac disease vaccine shows promising results in Phase 1 trial
15 January 2015
Inflammatory discovery sheds new light on skin disease
04 December 2014
A matter of life and death: cell death proteins key to fighting disease
04 December 2014
A numbers game: maths helps to predict how the body fights disease
27 November 2014
New clue in coeliac disease puzzle: cause of oat toxicity explained
18 November 2014
Immune cell death defects linked to autoimmune diseases
05 November 2014
Immune cell death safeguards against autoimmune disease
31 October 2014
New approach to coeliac testing identifies more Australians at risk
31 October 2014
New test could simplify the diagnosis of coeliac disease
29 October 2014
‘Cut-and-paste’ gene defect hints at cause of developmental disease
29 October 2014
Link found between cell death and inflammatory disease
28 October 2014
Community Impact
A lasting legacy for future generations
08 April 2025
Gloves on for the fight against coeliac disease
13 March 2025
Mining for gold in big data
15 January 2025
Searching for the freedom to breathe easy
21 November 2024
Advocating for early-onset Parkinson’s awareness
14 November 2024
A journey from pain to hope
11 October 2024
A gift to help make the world a better place
16 September 2024
The power of research: Myrna’s legacy
06 June 2024
The research collaboration that helped save a little boy’s life 
24 April 2024
Jumar Bioincubator officially opens 
18 April 2024
Empowering outstanding women in science
19 March 2024
Munro Partners: supporting autoimmune disease research
11 March 2024
Transforming the prostate cancer story
01 December 2023
Empowering scientific leaders: Strathmore Community Bank
13 September 2023
The power of collective giving: Acceleration Partners
15 March 2023
Where there’s a Will, there’s a way to fund vital research
15 March 2023
WEHI celebrates International Women’s Day
08 March 2023
Improving the outlook for dementia
15 December 2022
National network to boost First Nations health outcomes
28 September 2022
Lasting legacy: Vale Olive May Thurlby
01 September 2022
Deadly duo working together to enhance Indigenous opportunities in science
01 September 2022
Loving legacy supports young cancer researchers
01 June 2022
In her own words: Cancer survivor Jan Antony
01 June 2022
A legacy of love – In memory of Elaine Duxbury
22 March 2022
Getting by with a little help from our supporters
01 September 2021
Where are they now: Li Wu
01 December 2020
Where are they now: Elizabeth Murchison
01 June 2020
Vale Professor Ian Reay Mackay AM (1922-2020)
24 March 2020
Remembering a pioneer of Australian medical research philanthropy
15 February 2016
Commitment to Medical Research Future Fund positive for science
12 May 2015
Vale Professor Donald Metcalf AC
15 December 2014
Philanthropy of Walter and Eliza Hall continues to advance medical research
31 October 2014
Technology
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Our researchers are using AI and machine learning in many areas of research, including the analysis of complex omics data sets, structural biology, image analysis, and drug discovery.
Medicinal chemistry
Developing new medicines is an important aspect of our disease research.
Structural biology
Our research revealing the structures of biological molecules is leading to new ways to treat disease.
Vaccine development
Our research into how the immune system responds to infections is improving the development of vaccines for globally significant diseases.
Drug discovery
The path of drug discovery, from initial understanding through testing and development of a drug is referred to as the drug discovery process.
Computational biology
Computational Biology involves the application of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to the study of biology.
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics combines mathematics, statistics and computer science to solve complex biological problems.
Proteomics
Proteins are fundamental to the structure and function of cells. Proteomics studies the diverse set of proteins within cells, their proteome.
Genomics
Genomics is the study of the entire DNA content of a cell or organism (its genome).
Flow cytometry
Flow cytometry is a technology used to study the composition of mixtures of cells.
Antibody technologies
Medical researchers use antibodies to help answer fundamental biological questions and to assist in developing new therapies.
Imaging
The latest imaging technologies allow us to explore biological samples like never before.
Spatial omics
The latest imaging technologies allow us to explore biological samples like never before.
Institute
WEHI.TV
Diseases
Clinical trials
Volunteer Blood Donor Registry
Research
Funding
Researchers and labs
Brightest minds support
Brighter together support
Technologies
Consumers and research
Partnering opportunities
Animals in research
Business development and ventures
Support our brightest minds
Home
International shipping
Brighter together
Royalties distribution
WEHI Ventures and 66ten
Clinical Trial
Coeliac disease clinical studies
Our researchers are leading clinical studies into coeliac disease.
IRMA
We are undertaking a program of large randomised controlled trials in rural Bangladesh and Malawi to assess new solutions for anaemia control with the goal of improving maternal and child health.
COVID PROFILE
Comparing immune responses in people who have experienced coronavirus infection, or who have been vaccinated, to people who have not.
EDIVA
We are undertaking a program of large randomised controlled trials in rural Bangladesh and Malawi to assess new solutions for anaemia control with the goal of improving maternal and child health.
BRISC
We are undertaking a program of large randomised controlled trials in rural Bangladesh and Malawi to assess new solutions for anaemia control with the goal of improving maternal and child health.
Facilities
Advanced Histotechnology Facility
Histology aids medical research by unveiling intricate details of disease pathology, helping to guide personalised treatment strategies.
Olink proteomics platform
Olink affinity proteomics is a next-generation technology that quantifies thousands of biologically relevant proteins at low concentration in collections.
Proteomics Facility
Connecting researchers with a highly specialised team and state-of-the-art proteomics platforms.
The WEHI Advanced Genomics Facility 
Providing the very best support for WEHI researchers engaged in research using genomics approaches.
Collaborative Centre
CSL and WEHI staff at the official opening of the Centre for Biologic Therapies in May 2023
Centre for Biologic Therapies
WEHI has joined forces with CSL to create the Centre for Biologic Therapies, focusing on the development of antibody-based therapeutics.  
Brain Cancer Centre team wearing beanies in the lab
The Brain Cancer Centre
Bringing together our brightest minds to end brain cancer as a terminal illness.
Two researchers from the Parkinson's Disease Research Centre standing in a laboratory
Parkinson’s Disease Research Centre
The WEHI Parkinson's Disease Research Centre is a collaborative, multidisciplinary initiative.
Advocacy
Research
A colourful blue and green biological sample is visible against a black background, captured by the MERSCOPE platform
Colonial Foundation Diagnostics Centre
The Colonial Foundation Diagnostics Centre is a pioneering research centre established to advance precision diagnosis for diseases that affect millions of Australians.
Zeiss LSM 880 NLO Fast Airyscan Confocal
A multifunctional system suited for studying diseases in their host environment.
IVIS Spectrum
The IVIS Lumina S5 offers scientists the ability to image preclinical models in a non-invasive way in order to monitor disease progression.
Microscope-level view of cells in the intestine, coloured in vibrant green. Microfold cells are shown in purple.
Snow Centre for Immune Health
The Snow Centre for Immune Health is a research centre with a mission to improve the lives of people with immune diseases, using an approach to immune health that's the first of its kind.
Getting to the root of lung development
PhD student Casey Ah-Cann is using imaging techniques to study lung development and disease.
Imaging captures rogue molecule that can trigger autoimmunity
Dr Kate McArthur is using cutting edge imaging techniques to understand how DNA is released from mitochondria, a process that has been implicated in the development of autoimmune disease.
Microscopy instruments
Centre for Dynamic Imaging lattice light sheet
Our work
Accelerating medical discoveries with advanced imaging technology.
A scientist is photographed using the MIBIscope proteomic technology
MIBIscope
MIBIscope is a leading single-cell spatial proteomics technology.
Imaging-team-lattice-light-sheet
About us
WEHI's Centre for Dynamic Imaging is run by an interdisciplinary research team with expertise in biomedical engineering, physics, mathematics and biology.
Microscope-level view of cells in the intestine, coloured in vibrant green. Microfold cells are shown in purple.
Our research
Our breakthrough science begins with a key question: How does the immune system sense, measure and match its response to specific challenges?
Shining new light on gene expression
Advanced microscopy techniques are helping researchers like Iromi Wanigasuriya understand how genes are switched on and off, a process called epigenetic control of gene expression.
A quantitative look at cell death in the vasculature
Dr Leigh Coultas is using 3- and 4-dimensional confocal microscopy to investigate how blood vessels grow and develop.
Understanding how cancer cells spread
Researchers are using multiplexed, 3-dimensional imaging to combine information about cancer cell movement and blood vessel structure to better understand how tumour cells invade other tissues.
Centre for Dynamic Imaging lattice light sheet
Centre for Dynamic Imaging
Accelerating medical discoveries with advanced imaging technology.
Revealing how MLKL kills
Access to the Centre’s suite of imaging technologies has enabled WEHI researcher Dr Andre Samson to discover how the killer protein MLKL exerts its deadly job.
Understanding host-pathogen interaction in malaria parasite invasion of red blood cells
Advanced live-microscopy techniques have become the most effective avenue for studying the interactions between the malaria parasite and the host red blood cell prior to, during, and after infection.
Snow Centre for Immune Health logo
Your health
The combination of patient-focused Snow Research Clinics and WEHI’s co-leadership with the Royal Melbourne Hospital means, in the future, discoveries can be rapidly taken out of the lab to benefit patients.
Art of Science
Chemokine chrysalis
2022 Exhibition • Still
Tapestry of Life
2023 Exhibition • Still
Crypto rain
2022 Exhibition • Still
Transmission
2022 Exhibition • Moving
Disco
2023 Exhibition • Moving
Stream of Happiness
2024 Exhibition • Moving
FLIM Festival 
2023 Exhibition • Still
Popcorn Toxo
2022 Exhibition • Moving
Into the Woods
2024 Exhibition • Still
Natural Born Killers
2023 Exhibition • Moving
Second Brain
2023 Exhibition • Moving
The (not so micro)glia
2022 Exhibition • Moving
Polar Flare
2024 Exhibition • Still
Gridlock
2024 Exhibition • Still
Oh it Glows, Adipose
2023 Exhibition • Still
Brainstorming (Pollock Dreaming) 
2024 Exhibition • Still
What’s that, neuron?
2022 Exhibition • Moving
Curious Contiguous Cells 
2024 Exhibition • Still
Supernova
2022 Exhibition • Still
Alpha and Omega 
2024 Exhibition • Still
On Fire 
2023 Exhibition • Still
Beyond the Boundary 
2024 Exhibition • Still
Into the Matrix 
2023 Exhibition • Moving
Poised to Rupture
2024 Exhibition • Moving
Big Eaters
2024 Exhibition • Moving
MYO Salad
2024 Exhibition • Still
Kinase Family Tree 
2023 Exhibition • Still
Roots Of Knowledge
2024 Exhibition • Moving
Down the Rabbit Hole 
2024 Exhibition • Still
Through the looking glass
2022 Exhibition • Still
Keep an eye out
2022 Exhibition • Still
Divisions
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, disease and tissue damage. However, ongoing or misdirected inflammation underlies many diseases.
Genetics and Gene Regulation
Our division focuses on understanding how genetics and gene regulation shape health and disease.
Ubiquitin Signalling
Proteins are the fundamental building blocks of cells. They are continuously modified, which alters their function and potential for causing disease.
Immunology
Members of the Immunology division are dedicated to finding out how the immune system works and how it might be manipulated to achieve new disease treatments.
Infection and Global Health
Our division aims to gain knowledge and make discoveries that will aid in the prevention, treatment and management of infectious diseases.
Advanced Technology and Biology
Our division uses advanced and emerging technologies to accelerate scientific discoveries.
New Medicines and Diagnostics
We use structural, chemical and molecular biology approaches along with medicinal chemistry and high-throughput screening, to discover new therapeutics.
Blood Cells and Blood Cancer
Our division investigates the processes that drive normal blood cell development.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Scientists in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology division develop new computational, statistical and AI strategies to interpret the huge amounts of "omics" data generated in biomedical research.
Personalised Oncology
In the Personalised Oncology division clinicians and scientists are working together to reduce the impact of cancer in our community.
ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cells
Our division is focused on breast, lung, ovarian and rare cancers.
Structural Biology
Our division focuses on discovering new medicines through studies of the three-dimensional structure of large biological molecules that are either targets for drugs or potential therapeutic agents.
News & Features
Australian-first partnership to develop mRNA medicines for autoimmune diseases 
05 March 2025
Mining for gold in big data
15 January 2025
Battling lung cancer supervillains 
22 November 2024
Advancing precision medicine in small cell lung cancer 
15 November 2024
Visionary leaders to drive pioneering research centre
13 November 2024
Major $21m Colonial Foundation philanthropic investment to bring future science into disease diagnosis
19 September 2024
High reward research: gene pathways that may cause autoimmune disease
12 September 2024
WEHI researchers awarded $3m in esteemed fellowships  
30 April 2024
How people with Parkinson’s are enhancing research
01 March 2024
Understanding our ‘mini energy factories’
01 December 2023
Spatial omics sparks a science revolution 
29 November 2023
National centre to transform home-grown medicine capabilities launched in Melbourne
08 November 2023
Infectious diseases researcher joins outstanding women on honour roll  
12 October 2023
Exploring imaging, genomics and inflammation 
28 August 2023
Solving the puzzle: Immune system insights
10 June 2023
Iron link offers new treatment hope for incurable blood cancer
04 April 2023
Bright sparks – Targeting inflammatory-driven disease
15 December 2022
Malaria research efforts honoured with Florey Medal
24 November 2022
Vital cellular research wins Gottschalk Medal
09 March 2022
First structure of human protein complex with ‘licence to kill’
10 December 2021
Philanthropic support drives forward dementia research
01 December 2021
Progress towards new treatments for tuberculosis
12 July 2021
New generation anti-cancer drug shows promise for children with brain tumours
06 July 2021
Making progress in Parkinson’s disease
01 June 2021
Reducing the global burden of anaemia
01 March 2021
Clinical study aims to better understand COVID-19 immunity
10 October 2020
New database enhances genomics research collaboration
04 November 2019
World-first coeliac disease vaccine enters phase 2 trials in Melbourne
30 October 2018
New grant to support regional collaboration in infectious disease research
12 October 2017
High calibre research advanced by NHMRC funding
02 December 2016
Research achievements recognised by Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
06 October 2016
Examining the gluten-free diet: why does it fail?
05 September 2016
Researchers receive more than $40 million funding for cell studies
03 March 2016
$3M gift of hope to improve life for people with rare cancers
15 November 2015
$26 million to support research into human disease
09 November 2015
World first trial of Tasmanian devil vaccine begins in the wild
26 September 2015
New way of tackling infectious diseases wins creativity prize
10 September 2015
Eureka Prize win for hepatitis B ‘cure’
26 August 2015
‘Faulty’ gene discoveries win bioinformatician Ross Crozier Medal
11 August 2015
$40,000 donation to support childhood coeliac disease research
20 March 2015
Parasite researcher wins international malaria medal
04 December 2014
Infectious diseases researcher wins $1.225M fellowship
04 December 2014
Future Fellows win $2.1M for infectious disease research
03 December 2014
$27M investment in better treatments for infections and cancer
31 October 2014
Statistician Professor Terry Speed wins 2013 PM’s Prize for Science
30 October 2014
Institute receives top funds for research into human disease
30 October 2014
Tall Poppy investigating link between inflammation and disease
29 October 2014
Complexities of human disease targeted with $16M in funding
29 October 2014
New Victorian alliance to unlock genetic disease secrets
29 October 2014
ARC Future Fellows awarded $2.2M for immune and inflammation studies
28 October 2014
Timeline
1951
A mysterious disease outbreak in Victoria claimed 17 lives – nine of them children
An aqua coloured tuberculosis bacteria cell
1928
Sir Neil Hamilton Fairley, together with staff from Melbourne’s abattoirs, examines over 50,000 animals to investigate the prevalence of disease among livestock, including tuberculosis, tapeworm (hydatid) and liver fluke.
1966
Ian Mackay pioneers treatment of autoimmune disease with immunosuppressive drugs.
Mitochondria animation still
1988
Autoantibodies targeting mitochondria are observed in liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis.
Dr Margaret Holmes looking into a box 1966
1966
Burnet and Holmes provide evidence for treating autoimmune diseases with immune-suppressing drugs
2014
Working towards ‘closing the gap’ in life expectancy, disease incidence and mortality.
1949
First flexible gastric biopsy tube created, greatly improving disease diagnosis
Mr Michael Harris, son of the late Alan Harris (far right), joined two of our Alan W Harris Honours Scholarship recipients, Jie Zhou and Simon Preston.
2006
Encouraging young scientists working in a range of diseases – from cancer to malaria.
1955
Ian Mackay, future pioneer of autoimmunity and treating autoimmune disease, joins the institute.
Ian Mackay at his desk 1956
1956
Mackay and Gadjusek develop a test to diagnose an autoimmune disease that destroys the liver
Professor Andreas Strasser working in the lab
1991
Blocking the cell death of immune cells can lead to autoimmune disease
The Victorian Treasurer and Minister for Regional Development The Hon John Brumby MP officially opened the institute’s Biotechnology Centre, Bundoora campus.
2000
The institute makes a major move into the biotechnology arena, opening a biotechnology centre in the La Trobe R&D Park, Bundoora.
Len Harrison shows a molecular model of insulin on his computer
1996
Insulin ‘spray’ can stop diabetes in mice genetically fated to develop the disease.
1966
The Clinical Research Unit identifies cell markers for autoimmune hepatitis and other diseases.
Dr Sara Weiden conducting research on the function of the liver in the institute’s Clinical Research Unit.
1955
In the 1950s, the institute’s Clinical Research Unit was leading research in diseases of the stomach and liver.
Bob Anderson and Jason Tye-Din led the team that discovered the toxic trio of proteins that are responsible for coeliac disease.
2008
Dr Jason Tye-Din a clinician-scientist at the institute and a gastroenterologist at The Royal Melbourne Hospital reflects on this key discovery.
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet at work in the laboratory.
1942
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet becomes infected with a chicken virus, while researching the relationship between a fowl virus called Newcastle disease (NDV) and influenza.
2012
By 2012, 20 million people worldwide have been treated with CSFs for cancers and other diseases
1987
Scientists devise tools to predict your risk of developing diabetes, in a bid to prevent the disease
Projects
Developing new mucolytic drugs for chronic respiratory diseases
  • Student Research
Graduate Research Masters/Honours/PhD
More information
Harnessing the power of lipid nanoparticles to treat inflammatory diseases
  • Student Research
Honours
More information
Understanding how T Follicular Helper Cells Tailor in Health and Disease
  • Student Research
Graduate Research Masters/Honours/PhD
More information
Characterising a novel mitochondrial damage control pathway and its importance in neurodegenerative disease
  • Student Research
Honours/PhD
More information
Targeting cell death pathways in tissue-resident immune cells to correct metabolic and gastrointestinal disease
  • Student Research
Honours/Masters by Coursework/PhD
More information
Hallucinating artificial proteins that modulate apoptosis
  • Student Research
Honours
More information
Tracking clonal diversity in breast cancer 2023
  • Student Research
PhD
More information
Malaria: going bananas for sex
  • Student Research
Graduate Research Masters/Honours/PhD
More information
Functional epigenomics in human B cells
  • Student Research
Graduate Research Masters/PhD
More information
Developing drugs to block malaria transmission
  • Student Research
Graduate Research Masters/Honours/PhD
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Overcoming treatment resistance in blood cancers
  • Student Research
Honours
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Understanding the biology of malaria parasite fertilisation
  • Student Research
Honours
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Novel biomarkers to improve cancer outcomes
  • Student Research
Honours/PhD
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Deciphering mechanisms of tobacco-unassociated lung tumourigenesis
  • Student Research
Honours
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Organoid-based precision medicine approaches for oral cancer
  • Student Research
PhD
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Transmission blocking nanobodies against malaria parasites
  • Student Research
Graduate Research Masters/Honours/PhD
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Investigating host ubiquitin ligases in fighting Toxoplasma infections
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Disorders of red blood cell and iron physiology
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