Welcome to WEHI

A message from the director

It is my pleasure to welcome you to WEHI.

As one of WEHI’s newest donors, you are part of a special community whose generosity is helping our scientists make life-changing discoveries.

The community has been our most important partner since WEHI was established more than 110 years ago. At WEHI, our supporters make all of our research possible. Your insights and perspectives are critical to what we do, helping to remind us of the life-changing impact of our research, which is incredibly important and motivating.

At WEHI, we bring together the best scientific minds from around the world, to make the medical breakthroughs that have saved countless lives, and play an important role in how the world responds to, prevents, and treats disease.

All of this is only possible because of the kind and generous support of people just like you.

Thank you for choosing to support WEHI. We look forward to keeping you updated on the impacts of your gifts.

Professor Ken Smith PhD FRACP FRCPA ScD FMedSci
Director, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

Professor Ken Smith photographed in a garden

A brief history of WEHI

1915

Following the death of her husband Walter, Eliza Hall sets up a charitable trust for the benefit of the community. The trust proposes to fund a medical research institute, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is established.

1930

The first widely available, effective Australian snake antivenom is developed in a collaboration between CSL and WEHI.

1940

WEHI researchers pioneer the use of hen eggs to grow and study viruses. This technique remains the gold standard for producing flu vaccines.

1950s-60s

Scientists at WEHI and the Royal Melbourne Hospital discover what triggers autoimmune diseases such as lupus and type 1 diabetes and pioneer treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.

1960s-70s

A technique for growing bone marrow cells in the lab is the beginning of a 25-year project to discover ‘colony stimulating factors’ (CSFs)’, proteins that stimulate white blood cell growth.

1988

WEHI scientists discover pro-survival protein BCL-2 helps cancer cells survive. It sparks a program of cell death research and international collaboration to study BCL-2 as a potential anti-cancer target.

1990

Researchers discover how malaria parasites become resistant to drugs, enabling monitoring of drug-resistant malaria spread and
development of new treatments.

1991

CSFs therapies are approved for use in the clinic as a supportive treatment for cancer patients. The drugs provide life-saving protection against infection in people with weakened immunity and revolutionise blood stem cell collection for transplants.

2008

Researchers identify the parts of gluten that make it toxic to people with coeliac disease, leading to research to develop new tests and treatments.

2016–17

Anti-cancer treatment venetoclax is approved in the US, Europe and Australia for people with certain forms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Venetoclax was discovered by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche group, as part of a collaboration with WEHI. The development of venetoclax was preceded by three decades of research into how the BCL-2 protein controls cell survival.

2021

Researchers solve a decade-long mystery about a critical protein linked to Parkinson’s disease, PINK1, and provide the first detailed blueprint for the discovery and development of therapeutic agents that could help to slow or even stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

2023

An international clinical trial investigating a new way to treat two of the most lethal gynaecological cancers is launched in Melbourne. Based on a WEHI-led discovery, the trial hopes to enhance treatment options for women with ovarian and uterine carcinosarcomas.

Explore our timeline of discoveries

Two WEHI researchers are photographed sitting with a member of public

Dr Clare Weeden is photographed in a laboratory, smiling at the camera and holding scientific equipment

How your donations help

In 1915, Eliza Hall made the decision to support the establishment of WEHI through the Walter and Eliza Hall Trust.

Since that time, we have remained true to her vision to be “the birthplace of discoveries rendering signal service to mankind in the prevention and removal of disease and the mitigation of suffering”.

Every dollar of philanthropic funding is crucial to advancing medical research at WEHI.

This includes support for:

scientific laboratories
collaborative research projects and programs
cutting edge technology and equipment
critically important, talent-building fellowships and scholarships to help attract, retain, and reward the brightest scientific minds from across the globe.

Did you know?

Our scientists are dedicated to improving lives by solving complex health problems in the fields of cancer, immune health and infection, developmental disorders and healthy ageing.

Cancer

Understanding the basic processes that are disrupted to generate cancer cells, and how these can be targeted to improve outcomes for people living with cancer.

Infection and immunity

Investigating infectious agents and our body’s immune defenses, to develop new strategies to prevent and treat infectious diseases, as well as immune and inflammatory disorders.

Lifelong health

Exploring the determinants of good health from a human’s earliest years through to old age, with a focus on achieving health equity for all people worldwide.

Thank you!

Donations made to WEHI collectively contribute to medical research breakthroughs that help us all live longer, healthier lives.

Your support enables WEHI’s researchers to investigate the biological mechanisms involved in disease, and to use these discoveries to improve the diagnosis, prevention and cure of disease, enhancing health outcomes worldwide.

Your generous support for medical research at WEHI is tremendously appreciated and has made a significant difference towards saving and improving the lives of millions of people around the world.

Thanks to your support, we are able to push beyond the boundaries of medical research.

Together, we can make life-saving discoveries.

Once again, thank you for your support and your belief in our work. The commitment you have demonstrated in supporting WEHI’s research really touches all of us and we are indeed most grateful.

Other ways to be involved

There are many ways to support the life-changing research at WEHI.

As well as regular donations to directly support our scientists’ work, you can:

Join our Technology Circle to fund the equipment that makes vital research happen
Raise funds by holding or taking part in a charitable event
Give through a trust or foundation
Become part of our consumer buddy program to provide non-scientific perspectives to assist our researchers with their work
Become a WEHI Society member by pledging a gift in your Will

If you’d like to learn more about WEHI and the ways you can support – please contact WEHI’s Fundraising and Philanthropy team.

E: fundraising@wehi.edu.au
T: +61 3 9345 2403

1G Royal Parade Parkville Victoria 3052