Wesley Research Institute

“I think we’re looking at a future in which cancer becomes a chronic disease, where we can outlive it." TRI-based Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe from The University of Queensland #FrazerInstUQ has been featured in The Australian, exploring cancer, research breakthroughs and the future of treatment. A/Prof Kulasinghe is combining cancer biology, high-speed imaging, advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence processing power to better understand cancer at a cellular level. He is one of the leaders of the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC), alongside Professor John Fraser AO. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gtZppNg6

Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe from Wesley Research Institute's Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC), featured in The Australian's Weekend Magazine. A/Prof Kulasinghe unpacks the advanced imaging techniques utilised by the QSBC team, that provide unprecedented insight into immune cells’ responses to cancers. Read the article - https://lnkd.in/gm85QMGJ Online article - https://lnkd.in/g6V-mesc'. #spatialmapping #spatialbiology #cancerresearch

An estimated 1 in 70 Australians have coeliac disease, with more than 80 percent of all Australian coeliac disease sufferers remain undiagnosed. Aidan, a coeliac disease clinical trial participant at Wesley Research Institute, was part of that statistic remaining undiagnosed for a lengthy period of time, despite experiencing symptoms. Diagnosed at the end of 2019, Aidan had been experiencing symptoms for about 3-5 years prior. He had long struggled with fatigue and had visited his doctors multiple times. However, many of the doctors dismissed his symptoms as stress-related tiredness. Aidan decided to get a second opinion from a new GP, who took a more thorough approach, starting with a blood test to investigate the underlying cause of his fatigue. This visit marked the beginning of Aidan’s diagnosis journey, which eventually led to an endoscopy and a gluten challenge. Since switching to a gluten-free diet, his quality of life has improved significantly. The benefits of this diet outweigh the logistical hurdles for Aidan. Now Aidan is accelerating medical research for coeliac disease by participating in clinical trials at WRI. "By participating in a clinical trial, I am opening the possibilities for new treatments, medicines and options for others with coeliac disease. Being part of the very select few that may reap the potential benefits right now is great", says Aidan. There is still a long way to go to reduce these statistics. This #CoeliacAwarenessWeek, we encourage health professionals to stay curious and continuously educate themselves about the symptoms and signs of coeliac disease. Keeping up-to-date with the latest research is key to improving diagnosis and care for those affected by this condition. Be the first to know about new research findings and be invited to in-person and online events, by joining our Coeliac Research Network. This network unites experts, including gastroenterologists, dieticians, nutritionists, nurses, immunologists and patients to drive forward the multidisciplinary research agenda. Join 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDFTg3x7 #coeliacdisease #coelaic #coeliacawarenessweek #coeliacaus

Ahead of #InternationalWomensDay tomorrow, we spotlight the incredible women who challenge systems and drive innovation at Wesley Research Institute!   From biomedical science to clinical research, implementation science to health economics, leadership to support roles—these women are trailblazers in their respective fields.   Whether it's investing in women-led research, encouraging women to take up a career in science or advocating for the equality and empowerment of all women and girls, we can all do our part to champion women in health and medical research.   Let’s continue to support women in research and create pathways for future generations.   Featured are a handful of the incredible women who form part of the Wesley Research Institute team. #IWD2025 #WomenInScience #Leadership #HealthInnovation #WomeninHealth #WomeninScience 📸 Venita Bali, Linda Pearce, Meg Donovan, PhD, Emma Craig, Paula Sparling OLY, Anne Tremellen, Bronwen Field, Alison Everitt, Belinda Moshi, Shayma M.  

We welcome Dr John Rivers, Professor Janet Hardy, Professor Jennifer Byrne, Professor John Prins, Professor Steven Lane, Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos and Professor Jill Francis to our Research Advisory Board.   Our Research Advisory Board spans representatives in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, bringing diverse perspectives and deep expertise. They generously lend their collective experience to provide strategic insight and guidance in relation to the institute’s research strategy, the responsible stewardship of donated funds and much more, ensuring that our organisation remains nationally and internationally competitive into the future.   "As we continue to implement our 2024-2026 strategy, we are charting an exciting new direction that will underpin our growth over the next few years. Our focus on innovation, research engagement, and our people will ensure we are positioned for future impact and long-term sustainability", Andrew Barron, WRI CEO.   This advisory board allows us to move forward in our strategy and enable our researchers to carry out high-impact strategically-aligned health and medical research at UnitingCare Health, UnitingCare Queensland and with our growing community of university and industry partners. This advisory board also enables us to best position our organisation and researchers to continue to do what they do best, in conducting high-value real-world research to benefit future generations to come.   Learn more about the Research Advisory Board and our innovative research at Wesley Research Institute by heading to https://lnkd.in/grZQMHYD #research #healthresearch #medicalresearch #researchaustralia

Pulmonary Hypertension physician and researcher Dr John Feenstra, alongside Clinical Trial Coordinator Bronwen Field, recently had the privilege of attending the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Saudi Arabia Pulmonary Hypertension Society.   Their trip to Riyadh began with a tour of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center to meet with experts who are advancing research into Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) and paving the way for PAH medical advancements and clinical trials.   Dr Feenstra had the privilege of delivering a presentation on the management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) in Australia and New Zealand, sharing insights and experiences from our region with an engaged audience. As their time in Saudi Arabia drew to a close, they left with a deeper appreciation for the expertise and dedication of their Saudi colleagues. The visit underscored the importance of international collaboration in the field of pulmonary hypertension and set the foundation for future partnerships aimed at advancing clinical trials and improving patient care. "The connections we forged and the insights we gained will undoubtedly shape our approach to Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension research, reinforcing our shared mission of making a meaningful impact on the lives of patients worldwide" - Dr John Feenstra Learn more about their visit at https://lnkd.in/gRzHhV8X #research #pulmonaryhypertension #PAH #PAHresearch #researcher #clinicaltrials #globalresearch

📢 Exciting opportunity for UnitingCare Queensland hospital staff 🩺 Are you interested in progressing your career in health and medical research? Do you have an idea for a groundbreaking research project that can impact the future of patient care? If yes, Wesley Research Institute’s 2025 Grant Round may be of interest to you.  Celebrating 30 years of contributions to health and medical research, we're excited to announce that the 2025 Research Grant Round is open for initial expressions of interest.    This year, we’re funding innovative projects led by healthcare professionals —including, but not limited to, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals— who are employed at any of the four UnitingCare Hospitals: The Wesley Hospital, St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital and St Stephen's Hospital. This enables research to be undertaken of direct relevance to the areas of excellence at our UnitingCare Health hospitals, where the research project is often in an early stage requiring initial investment before further research funds can be secured.  Clinicians like you, who experience patient management firsthand, are uniquely positioned to lead research that enhances everyday care. Don’t miss your chance to apply, expressions of interest close 10 March 2025. To learn more and to submit your interest visit https://lnkd.in/gnP-tE2x Have a research project in mind but don’t know where to start? Email research@wesleyresearch.org.au or call (07) 3721 1500 for more information or to discuss an application.      #research #researchopporunity #clinicians #researchinstitute #researchgrant

The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, UQCCR are looking for healthy people and people with Parkinson’s Disease who would like to help with a clinical study, which is looking at Immune and Inflammatory responses in Parkinson’s Disease. In Parkinson’s Disease, the brain’s immune cells can become persistently activated. This constant immune activation can lead to a cycle of ongoing inflammation in the brain, which can contribute to disease progression through the gradual death of brain cells. Emerging evidence suggests that the ongoing inflammation in the brain contributes to an inflammatory response in the gut also. Can halting the cycle of inflammation and cell death prevent the worsening of Parkinson’s disease symptoms? If you can help email or phone UQCCR research staff, to discuss the study and hopefully consent to participate. This research project is proudly supported by the The University of Queensland, QUT (Queensland University of Technology) and the Wesley Research Institute & approved by the UnitingCare Health Ethics Committee. For more information contact parkinson-research@uq.edu.au or phone 07 33465584 #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #research #parkinsonsresearch #clinicaltrials

Head and neck cancer is an aggressive disease often diagnosed at advanced stages. Each year, nearly one million new cases are reported worldwide.   In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Wesley Research Institute’s Queensland Spatial Biology Centre (QSBC), along with researchers from The University of Queensland’s Frazer Institute, the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital, have uncovered a crucial factor that determines whether patients with head and neck cancer will respond to immunotherapy - a finding that could pave the way for more effective treatments and improved survival rates.  Using the QSBC’s advanced imaging techniques, the research team closely examined immune interactions in tumour samples from 35 patients with head and neck cancer.  The new study has revealed that the presence of dense layers of macrophages - immune cells that typically engulf and destroy harmful invaders - may actually create a barrier that prevents immune cells from attacking the tumour. This immune blockade appears to be a key factor in why some patients fail to respond to ICI therapy.  The study’s findings suggest that future immunotherapy approaches could involve strategies to break down these immune barriers, either through new drug combinations or techniques that enhance immune cell penetration into the tumour. Additionally, the implications of this research extend beyond head and neck cancer, with potential applications for lung, bladder, colorectal and melanoma.  Read the publication - https://lnkd.in/gGiiTgjM #research #spatialmapping #spatialbiology #headandneckcancer Arutha Kulasinghe Meg Donovan, PhD Rafael Tubelleza University of Technology Sydney The University of Queensland Navinci Akoya Biosciences, Inc. Metro North Health Metro South Health

🌟 Virtual Hospital Research Program PhD Scholarship 🌟 🩺 Join our cutting-edge research program focused on virtual healthcare! Wesley Research Institute and UnitingCare Queensland have partnered on a long-term program of virtual hospital research. The program of research is now expanding. In this student project, we aim to develop a broader understanding of the demand and preferences of patients, carers and clinicians for virtual healthcare. 🔍 Health Services Research Focus - Study patient, carer, clinician and other stakeholder perspectives for virtual healthcare. - Develop, pilot and evaluate new models of care delivery. - Contribute to a program aimed at filling a significant research gap in virtual healthcare. 🎓 PhD Opportunity - Enrol in a PhD course at Charles Darwin University. - Gain skills in research methods from qualitative interviews to health economic evaluation - Work alongside experts in the Health Services Research team at The Wesley Research Institute For more information and eligibility requirements visit - https://lnkd.in/gi6UhtxN   If this opportunity interests you, send your application (Cover Letter + CV) to: enquiries@wesleyresearch.org.au by 10th March 2025. Be sure to mention "Virtual Healthcare PhD EOI" in the subject. Olivia Fisher Elizabeth Martin #VirtualHospital #PhDScholarship #HealthcareInnovation #ResearchOpportunities #HealthTech #VirtualHealthcare #WesleyResearch