The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Discovery Magazine issue 8 is OUT NOW!🔊 In this jam-packed issue of Discovery, read about WIMR-led research that has recently been recognised with significant funding support. 🔬 A fascinating article by WIMR’s Adjunct Professor Ruby Lin and Professor Jon Iredell highlights the promise of phage therapy in tackling the global crisis of antibiotic resistance. Akeke Kavana shares his story of survival following a heart attack and stroke, and his appreciation for the research carried out at WIMR by his cardiologist, Professor James Chong. Plus, find out how you can take steps to support our vital research by participating in the WIMR Walk to save lives this June. 💡Read more in our latest Discovery Magazine here - https://lnkd.in/g4XXvEWt

Please join us in congratulating Dr Kamal Muhammad Kamruzzaman, PhD, FASM, Dr ALICIA FAJARDO LUBIÁN, Associate Professor Sally Partridge and Professor Jon Iredell from WIMR’s Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research Centre, who have been awarded $1,994,553 as part of the MRFF Global Health Initiative. The funding will be used to advance the team’s research that uses Plasmid Therapy to manage antibiotic resistance. Read more: https://lnkd.in/geXEY3RE

A paper published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases has shown that targeting the TM6SF2 gene could limit the amount of hepatitis B, C and D virus particles that are secreted from the liver. This finding opens the door for a potential treatment that inhibits the TM6SF2 gene and, as a result, stops the virus particles from leaving the liver and spreading. Chronic viral hepatitis is the long-term inflammation of the liver. It is caused by hepatitis B, C or D virus particles. Even though these viruses replicate differently, they are all use the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi pathway for replication, where the TM5SF2 gene is located. It is estimated that 450,000 Australians are currently living with chronic viral hepatitis, and approximately 1,000 Australians will lose their life to this disease each year. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/g9ibiMjQ Mark Douglas Thomas Tu National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research

In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, join us as Dr Dinny Graham shares insights from her research, discusses her journey into breast cancer research, offers advice for emerging researchers, and provides tips for improving breast cancer outcomes. To support breast cancer research or make a donation, please visit: https://lnkd.in/g5nmptkK #breastcancerawareness #wimr #research #breastcancerresearch

Show the love for your local #Westmead business! Our friends at Transport for NSW are giving you the chance to win a $100 voucher to spend at your favourite business. It’s part of ‘Love Your Local’ which aims to support businesses along the Parramatta Light Rail network. Whether it’s Keramic, Kidz Corner Café, Junction Café or somewhere else at Westmead, it’s easy to enter. Here’s how: 🤳 Step 1 – Snap a photo or selfie with your favourite Westmead business 📧 Step 2 – Email the photo and business name to activateparramatta@transport.nsw.gov.au. That’s it! But hurry, the campaign finishes this Friday (1 November)! For more information and the terms and conditions, visit the website: https://lnkd.in/gS7rncCk #Westmead City of Parramatta

What a successful ACS2024!!! A huge thank you to the amazing Organizing Committee, led by Susan Wright and Eva Orlowski-Oliver for their hard work in making the Australasian Cytometry Society ACS2024 annual conference such a memorable and impactful event, with plenty of fun. Very proud to see a big group of representatives from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Kirstie Bertram , Suat Dervish, Tom O’Neil and Edwin Lau presented at this conference👍 Congratulations to the well-deserved 2023 and 2024 Career Recognition Award recipients—Kylie Price , Adrian Smith , Neil McNamara and Sandy Smith. You are an inspiration to the entire community! 👏✨ Special thanks to Sandy's parents for joining us to celebrate this special moment. We all miss him dearly. As I step down as President, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all executive and advisory Council members—Henry Hui Joanna Roberts Robert Salomon Tina Pham Susan Wright Eva Orlowski-Oliver Sam Small Michelle Burns Helen McGuire PhD Michael Thomson and committee chairs—Matthew Linden, Bill Sewell as well as all our members for their unwavering support during my term. I also want to thank Helen McGuire PhD and Kylie Price for your support and trust. It has been an honor to serve this remarkable community, and I will continue to contribute to this amazing society as much as I can. Finally, a big congratulations to the incoming President, Robert Salomon I wish you every success as you lead ACS into an exciting future. Thank you all for making this journey so wonderful! Looking forward to seeing you all again at #CYTOConnect in Perth next year!😊

This weekend Stephanie Lynch represented Phage Australia at San Diego International Film Festival discussing our #phagetherapy initiatives and showcasing Emma Watts' documentary: Last Chance to Save a Life (on demand at Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia). https://lnkd.in/g2YbbPSq This documentary followed in real time, two teams based in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, how phage therapy was implemented. To date, >50 patients have been (are being) treated with phage/s by the Phage Australia team at Westmead and its affiliated hospital network. >25 patients are treated under the STAMP protocol (standardised therapeutic monitoring of patients treated with phage in adults and kids). Ref: Khatami, Ameneh et al. BMJ open vol. 12,12 e065401. 9 Dec. 2022, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065401 To find out more, see Dr Ruby Lin's LinkedIn article about Phage Australia's effort - https://lnkd.in/gpeYjeQn Jon Iredell Ruby Lin Ameneh Khatami Holly Sinclair Nouri Benzakour Carina Lauter Karen Swensen Rabeya Rahmatullah Jackie Chan Jenny Draper Susan Maddocks Indy Sandaradura Dr Clinton Colaco Aleksandra PETROVIC FABIJAN Kiran Bosco Fatema Safri Clare Fisher The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Joey Lai Western Sydney Local Health District Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Ruwani Dissanayake Australian Genome Research Facility (AGRF) Jeremy Barr Trevor Lithgow Centre to Impact AMR NSW Health Investment NSW NSW Medical Research Anne O'Neill Laura Collie Julia Warning, PhD MICHELLE HAVILL

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting an intimate morning tea with The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) to preview our sparkling Christmas Collection. Together with Head of Foundation, Nicola Tuck, our Owner and Managing Director, Irene Deutsch, welcomed WIMR researchers and donors to the exclusive event which showcased the new handcrafted collection that will be released ahead of the festive season. Over coffee, nibbles and champagne, our Head of Retail, Joshua Rogers, shared the stories and inspiration behind the pieces where guests were invited to immerse themselves in the world of Fairfax & Roberts and touch the magnificent pieces. The Fairfax & Roberts Christmas Collection will be released in the weeks ahead.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.🎗️🩷 At WIMR, Dr Dinny Graham and her team have developed a pioneering test called PROSPER. This innovative test uses a precision medicine approach to identify which treatment option is going to be the most effective. By increasing the chances of successful treatment from the start and reducing the risk of relapse, the team aims to improve survival rates for breast cancer. Dr. Graham emphasises, “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that women receive the optimum treatment for their specific breast cancer, so we can achieve a cure for every woman.” To learn more about the PROSPER research project or support breast cancer research, please visit www.wimr.org.au or call (02) 8627 3000. #breastcancerawarenessmonth🎗️