Researchers have identified a complex of proteins that promotes the growth of some types of colon and gastric cancers, leading to the potential development of new treatments using mTorc1 inhibitors. The discovery is significant as it highlights the role of inflammation in cancer growth, particularly for colon and gastric cancers.
Researchers have captured the intricate mechanism of insulin binding to cells, a crucial step in glucose uptake. This breakthrough could lead to novel insulins with improved properties, such as longer activity and reduced degradation.
Scientists at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute receive $16 million in funding to develop new methods for analyzing complex data sets and understand the adaptive immune response. The funding will support researchers in developing treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, malaria, and cancer.
Scientists have identified an 'immune system kill switch' that triggers the destruction of blood stem cells in response to severe stress, such as chemotherapy or systemic infections. Blocking this internal signal could prevent death after chemotherapy and boost recovery from infection.
Researchers discover Arih2 gene essential for immune system function, potentially leading to treatment breakthroughs for chronic infections like HIV and hepatitis. The gene's role in regulating the immune response could lead to new treatments that reinvigorate the immune system and help clear these infections.
Bioinformatician Professor Terry Speed has received a 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation for using statistics to solve biomedical research questions. His work has led to new techniques in cancer, infectious diseases, immunology, and inherited diseases.
Scientists have identified stem cells in the adult pancreas that can be turned into insulin-producing cells, offering a potential cure for type 1 diabetes. This breakthrough discovery provides further evidence of the existence of stem cells beyond embryos and may lead to new treatments for the condition.
Melbourne researchers have discovered a new way to protect female fertility by targeting two proteins that cause egg cell death. The study found that blocking the activity of PUMA and NOXA can prevent damaged eggs from dying, potentially maintaining fertility in women undergoing cancer treatment.
Researchers identified Puma and Bim as molecules that work together to kill self-reactive immune cells, which accumulate and attack body organs in autoimmune diseases. The study sheds light on the protection mechanism against autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute research team will investigate new drugs that directly engage the apoptotic machinery to flip the cell death switch. They aim to improve cancer therapies by targeting the Bcl-2 protein family, which promotes blood cell cancers.
Researchers found that benign malaria parasite P. vivax drives genome evolution in humans, challenging the long-held assumption that P. falciparum is the only malaria species to do so.
Researchers discovered a 'switch' called MOZ that modifies the Tbx1 gene, essential for normal heart development, to explain variations in DiGeorge syndrome severity. The study found that MOZ activity can be influenced by environmental factors, such as diet, particularly vitamin A, which can exacerbate birth defects.
Dr Kylie Mason's research on BH3-mimetics and platelets reveals a molecular 'clock' that dictates their lifespan. Her work has implications for diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting platelets, as well as blood bank storage.
Researchers reprogrammed asthma-promoting immune cells in mice, reducing airway damage and inflammation. The discovery identifies a potential target for new treatments of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Researchers developed a technique to genetically differentiate Plasmodium falciparum parasites, linking infection with new parasites to the risk of clinical disease. This tool could help evaluate new prevention strategies and vaccines, as well as understand how anti-malarial treatments work.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher Professor Terry Speed was awarded the 2012 Thomson Reuters Citation Award in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His research has been cited more than other Australian researchers, with applications to infection, immunity, inherited diseases, and cancer.
Researchers have shown that a new class of anti-inflammatory agents, called IDR peptides, could increase survival from severe clinical malaria when used in combination with antimalarial drugs. In mouse models infected with the Plasmodium berghei parasite, these treatments prevented inflammation and improved survival.
Researchers have identified a protein on the surface of dendritic cells that recognizes damaged cells, enabling the development of more specific and effective vaccines. This discovery could lead to vaccines that are 100-1000 times less in amount and have fewer side effects.
The Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has awarded five research scientists from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute with prestigious accolades. The institute's director, Professor Doug Hilton, received the Lemberg Medal for his seminal contributions to blood cell production research.
A three-year clinical trial found that intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) reduced malaria infections among infants by up to 30%. The treatment regime protected against malaria for at least six weeks after treatment, showing an ongoing protective effect.
Researchers identified a rare immune cell's role in antibody production and 'memory' of infectious agents, crucial for vaccine development and potential treatment of immune disorders. T follicular helper cells can remember past infections, enabling rapid responses to future attacks.
Researchers identify key interaction between JAK2 and SOCS3 proteins, providing potential therapeutic targets for myeloproliferative diseases. The discovery could lead to a new class of drugs with greater specificity than current treatments.
The study aims to determine whether the MYC gene family is involved in the development and chemotherapy-resistance of high-grade serous ovarian cancers. Changes in MYC-family proteins have been identified as a potential cause of at least 15-20 per cent of these cancers, associated with poor clinical outcomes.
The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has committed $2 million to two new cancer research laboratories at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. The new facilities will enable researchers to study the biology of epithelial cancers and develop new treatments for breast, ovarian, lung, and leukemia patients.
A study by researchers from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute reveals that progenitor cells can develop into both megakaryocytes and red blood cells, rewriting the 'map' of blood cell production. The discovery has wide-ranging implications for understanding blood diseases and developing new treatments.
Scientists have identified a crucial molecule called PfSET10 that instructs malaria parasites to employ their 'invisibility cloak' to hide from the immune system. The research sheds light on how Plasmodium falciparum causes disease and evades the immune response, with implications for developing targeted treatments.
A new study has discovered that medications targeting the protein Mcl-1 can rapidly kill aggressive AML cells without harming non-cancerous blood cells. This finding provides hope for improved treatment options and potentially better patient outcomes for AML patients.
A recent study by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute found that B cells can have multiple fates, including death, division, antibody production, or changes in antibody type. The researchers proposed that cell fates are determined by internal processes rather than external cues.
Professor Doug Hilton has received the 2011 Research Australia Leadership and Innovation Award for his pioneering work on blood formation and signalling. His efforts led to thousands of Australians attending 'Rallies for Research' in support of maintaining medical research funding, ultimately protecting public health care.
Professor Andreas Strasser has been awarded the 2011 Victoria Prize for his groundbreaking research into programmed cell death, which has shown that defects in apoptosis can lead to cancer and autoimmune disease. His work aims to improve anti-cancer treatments by increasing cancer cells' propensity to die.
A new research technology is screening human blood serum samples for immunity to malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasite proteins. Researchers found that young children are more vulnerable to malaria due to limited immunity to various protein variants.
Professor Hilton's receipt of the award recognises his research into how cytokines signal between cells, including the discovery of many molecules involved in this process. He has made significant contributions to our understanding of cytokine biology and its applications in cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions.
Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have identified a 'programmed cell death' pathway in parasitic worms that could one day lead to new treatments for schistosomiasis. The discovery was made by studying programmed cell death in human cells, where the team found similarities with the process in fluke worms.
Scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have identified that pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins are essential for keeping megakaryocytes alive to produce platelets. Chemotherapy kills megakaryocytes by activating 'pro-death' Bcl-2 proteins, leading to a drop in platelet numbers.
Researchers discovered a new class of anti-cancer agent, BH3 mimetics, that target Bcl-2 proteins in cancer cells. Combining these agents with chemotherapy shows improved tumour response and survival rates for aggressive breast cancers.
Researchers are developing a new class of drugs targeting protein structures within cell membranes to treat autoimmune diseases. The 'membrane mimic' technology could provide a direct view of mechanical movements that take place during cell signalling.
Researchers found that Bim is required for anti-cancer therapies targeting tumor blood vessels to be effective. The discovery could lead to new treatments by attacking both the tumor and its blood supply.
Scientists have solved the structure of a key malaria parasite protein that controls cell movement, overturning decades-long understanding. The discovery could lead to novel anti-malarial treatments and cancer therapies targeting actin proteins.
A potential celiac disease vaccine, Nexvax2, has demonstrated safety and efficacy in a Phase I clinical trial, with the goal of treating the autoimmune disease by desensitizing patients to specific gluten peptides. The vaccine is expected to enter Phase II trials within the next year.
Scientists have discovered the CLN6 gene on chromosome 15 as the cause of inherited recessive Kufs type A disease. This breakthrough enables a rapid and simple blood test for diagnosis, screening in at-risk families, and genetic counseling.
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute will receive $21.3 million to study genetic changes in cancer and develop new diagnosis, treatment, and prevention approaches. The institute will also lead a $17.1 million program to study blood cell production and function.
Scientists have identified a distinct group of effector regulatory T cells responsible for suppressing immune responses. The discovery has significant repercussions for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, and cancer, as well as how the efficacy of newly developed drugs is measured.
A Australian researcher has been awarded a $4 million fellowship to continue her work on the origin of breast, ovarian and lung cancers. The research aims to understand the basic biology of epithelial organs and identify molecular pathways that go awry in these cancers.
Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have identified the Erg gene as crucial for blood stem cells' ability to self-renew. This discovery holds promise for developing new therapies using blood stem cells for tissue repair, transplantation, and other applications.
Australian scientists successfully cleared a HIV-like infection from mice by boosting interleukin-7's function, allowing the host to completely clear virus. This finding could lead to new therapies targeting host immune cells to fight disease.
Researchers use OMX 3D SIM super resolution microscopy to visualize malaria parasite invasion, revealing key molecular and cellular events. This technology may pave the way for developing new treatments for malaria.
Researchers have discovered how a key viral gene helps viruses evade early detection by the immune system, providing new insights into chronic infection treatments. Dendritic cells, critical for immune response, are compromised by this gene, allowing viruses to establish chronic infections.
Mr Davis McCarthy has won a $150,000 scholarship to undertake a PhD at UC Berkeley, focusing on developing statistical analysis techniques to help biologists understand the mechanisms of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. He aims to make significant scientific contributions internationally.
A study has revealed a relationship between blood cells and their stem cell 'parents', influencing gene expression and behavior. The discovery opens up new research avenues into diseases caused by stem cell disorders.
Dr. Benjamin Kile received the Science Minister's prize for his innovative research into cancer, stem cells and blood cell production. His discoveries have transformed our understanding of platelet biology and hold promise for developing new treatments for life-threatening conditions.