WEHI (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

Could cancer really be detected with a blood test? 🩸

WEHI researchers Dr Eddie La Marca, Dr Sarah Diepstraten and Dr Cameron Lewis unpack the science behind emerging blood-based cancer detection and what it could mean for the future of diagnosis.

Read more: www.wehi.edu.au/news/can-blo...

Happy International Women’s Day!

We’re celebrating the talented women across WEHI — scientists, students and professional staff — whose passion and expertise help power discoveries that change lives. 🧪

📸 L-R: Jill Chmielewski, Research Officer and Frankie Lyons, PhD student

Dr Hamis King looking at the camera

Dr Hamish King is leading a MS Australia-funded project to close gaps in multiple sclerosis genetics by testing risk factors in human immune cells and measuring how they alter gene activity and immune behaviour.

More: www.wehi.edu.au/news/major-s...

Patient's hand in their lap and doctor in background with clipboard

A study co-led by WEHI finds a blood test may predict testicular cancer relapse - helping doctors personalise care and reduce unnecessary treatment.

Findings presented at the ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (@ascocancer.bsky.social)

@anzuptrials.bsky.social

www.wehi.edu.au/news/early-r...

The findings are led by WEHI’s Professor Ivo Mueller and Dr Rhea Longley (pictured) and Dr Herber Opi and Professor James Beeson from Burnet Institute.

The study also involved a collaboration with the PNG Institute of Medical Research and Ehime University Japan.

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New research co-led by WEHI and @burnetinstitute.bsky.social has identified important mechanisms and target antigens of protective P. vivax immunity in children, revealing pathways for vaccine development.

Published in @cp-immunity.bsky.social

www.wehi.edu.au/news/study-r...

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Three students in lab coats, female student sitting down holding a pipette while the other two watch on

🧬 Undergraduate Scholarships – Now Open.

Our Metcalf Scholarships are an excellent opportunity to build practical lab skills, contribute to meaningful discoveries and experience life inside a leading medical research institute.

Learn more: www.wehi.edu.au/education/un...

Dr Eliza Davidson and Dr Mohammad (Imrul) Hasan in Bangladesh.

For a decade, scientists from icddr_b and WEHI have collaborated to tackle anaemia in Bangladesh.

Dr Imrul Hasan and Dr Eliza Davidson are working across continents on a clinical trial to improve the health of girls and women.

🔗 www.wehi.edu.au/news/a-globa...

The inaugural Sir Gustav Nossal Professor of Immunology, Professor Laura Mackay.

We’re proud to welcome Prof Laura Mackay as our first Sir Gustav Nossal Professor of Immunology – advancing Sir Gus’ remarkable legacy, thanks to the generosity and vision of the Nossal family.

More: www.wehi.edu.au/news/world-r...

🔬🌏 Today, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate the women, girls, trans and gender-diverse people at WEHI whose curiosity, leadership and creativity are shaping the future of medical research.

Spatial proteomic image of a lung tumour depicting the immune niche (blue, pink, purple cells) in which CD14+CD4+ T cells reside within the tumour. Tumour cells are coloured in grey.

Using spatial multi‑omics, WEHI scientists have uncovered an unusual population of CD14⁺CD4⁺ T cells in lung tumours, with higher levels linked to poorer patient outcomes.

New study out in @cp-cellrepmed.bsky.social

👉 www.cell.com/cell-reports...

#Cancer #SpatialOmics #TCells

The research is co‑led by Professor Ethan Goddard‑Borger and co-first author Dr Niccolay Madiedo Soler  (WEHI), along with Professor Richard Payne (University of Sydney) and Associate Professor Nichollas Scott (University of Melbourne/Doherty Institute).

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A fluorescence microscopy image showing the antibody-mediated engulfment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria by macrophage immune cells. The red/blue depict the macrophage cell and nucleus, while the bacteria is shown in green.

WEHI researchers have helped to engineer an antibody that can clear otherwise lethal multidrug‑resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in mice by homing in on the bacterial sugar pseudaminic acid.

Brilliant findings, published in Nature Chemical Biology

www.wehi.edu.au/news/sugar-m...
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Say hello to our incoming lab heads! 👋 Excited to announce Dr Danika Hill, Dr Jacki Heraud-Farlow and Dr Sylvie Callegari will soon be establishing new labs at WEHI.

More info:
www.wehi.edu.au/news/excepti...

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Fusing future science tech with complex genetic data for faster, more precise diagnostics at the Colonial Foundation Diagnostics Centre with The Royal Melbourne Hospital💡🧬🚀

👇
www.wehi.edu.au/news/ending-...

#Diagnostics #ScienceTech #AI #ML #SpatialOmics #InflammatoryDiseases

💡Solving decades-long mysteries with cryoEM. 💥Brilliant science + best tech = life-saving medical research. Shaping the future of health through bold new approaches.

#ParkinsonsDisease

L-R: Professor Grant Dewson and Professor Alan Cowman AC

🎉 and 👏 for two WEHI-led projects awarded $10m in NHMRC Synergy Grants! Prof Dewson’s team tackles Parkinson’s via mitochondria research. Prof Cowman’s team targets malaria with a multi-stage multi-species vaccine.

Curious?
More here: www.wehi.edu.au/news/powerin...

This colourised microscope image shows the Giardia parasite dividing into two, a process that helps it spread and cause diarrhoeal illness.

A WEHI-led study in Nature Communications has revealed how an asexual strain of Giardia duodenalis expanded its host range – a shortcut that could drive drug resistance and help anticipate zoonotic spillover.

🔗 www.wehi.edu.au/news/how-the...

Congrats to our researchers: Dr Cindy Audiger, Dr Kira Behrens, Dr Sylvie Callegari, Dr Wing Fuk (Luke) Chan, Dr Melinda Hardy, Dr Miles Horton, Prof David Huang, Dr Andre Samson, Professor Kate Sutherland, Dr Tom Weber, Dr Clare Weeden and Professor Ian Wicks.

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L-R 1st row:Dr Cindy Audiger, Dr Kira Behrens, Dr Sylvie Callegari, Dr Wing Fuk (Luke) Chan L-R 2nd row: Dr Melinda Hardy, Dr Miles Horton, Professor David Huang, Dr Andre Samson L-R 3rd row: Professor Kate Sutherland, Dr Tom Weber, Dr Clare Weeden and Professor Ian Wicks

Big cheers to our 12 researchers awarded $14M in NHMRC Ideas Grants!

Funding will drive pioneering research into #Parkinson’s, #coeliac disease, #cancer and more, shaping the future of health.

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Find out how we’re shaping the future of health in our 𝐼𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 newsletter.

Read about a revolutionary blood test for detecting coeliac disease, a new malaria vaccine target – and more.

Sign up to receive future editions in your inbox: www.wehi.edu.au/illuminate-newsletter/

A mosquito is pictured in silhouette. The headline reads "First-in-class drug candidate offers hope in malaria fight"

A new study by WEHI and MSD researchers has unveiled a first-in-class antimalarial drug candidate that targets two essential parasite enzymes across multiple life stages.

Published in @ebiomedicine.bsky.social

www.wehi.edu.au/news/new-ant...

Indigenous infants have healthier gut microbiomes - ABC listen A study has found Indigenous babies in remote Australia are born with more diverse gut bacteria.  While this is a key marker of health, it's still unclear why these babies will grow up to have an inc...

🔬 WEHI on ABC Radio

Great to have Professor Len Harrison on the Health Report to discuss his latest study that's found Indigenous infants in remote Australia start life with a natural health advantage: a rich gut microbiome.

🎧 Listen: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Pancreatic cancer researchers Dr Belinda Lee and Associate Professor Tracy Putoczki are photographed standing in front of a tall wall of windows

By 2030 pancreatic cancer is expected to be Australia’s second most lethal cancer.

Assoc Prof Tracy Putoczki and Dr Belinda Lee are pioneering patient-focused research to turn the tide on this devastating disease.

🔗 www.wehi.edu.au/news/promisi...

A photo shows a woman holding a baby, in silhouette. A headline reads "Potential blueprint to help close the gap".

A landmark study by WEHI and @thedohertyinst.bsky.social finds Indigenous infants in remote Australia are born with high gut microbial diversity, including fibre-degrading taxa lost in urban populations.

www.wehi.edu.au/news/gut-hea...

A group of seven researchers are photographed on a footpath. A heading reads "Finding the genetic clues behind a leading cause of blindness"

WEHI, Centre for Eye Research Australia & @unimelb.bsky.social uncover genetic clues to severe age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness.

A discovery in @natcomms.nature.com that could lead to earlier intervention & new treatments.

🔗 www.wehi.edu.au/news/austral...

Co-led by Professor Misty Jenkins AO and Dr Jim Whittle, the program hopes to accelerate drug discovery for high-grade gliomas, the most aggressive and deadly brain cancers in both children and adults.

Led by The Brain Cancer Centre, in collaboration with WEHI and petermaccc.bsky.social

A photo shows Dr Jim Whittle and Professor Misty Jenkins AO standing side by side. A headline reads "Supercharging research into lethal brain cancers".

We’ve received a $2.5 million grant from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation to launch the ACRF BRAIINSTORM Program – a landmark initiative fast-tracking new personalised treatments for some of the deadliest brain cancers 👏

www.wehi.edu.au/news/acrf-gr...

Photo of Professor Sir Stephen O'Rahilly and promotion of his upcoming seminar at WEHI on Thursday 4 December at 2:30pm. Join with SLIDO using code #WEHISeminar

Join us for the next in our Director's Special Seminar Series:

🧑‍🔬 Professor Sir Stephen O'Rahilly, University of Cambridge
💬 "Insights into human metabolic and endocrine phenotypes from rare genetic variants"

Online access via Slido using the code #WEHISeminar

www.wehi.edu.au/event/profes...

Bold plan: supercharge dendritic cells (aka ‘James Bond’ cells) and give them a licence to kill cancer. Hope to revolutionise treatment for bowel + other solid cancers, thanks to $17m from the #MRFF.

Shalin H. Naik

https://bit.ly/4rntcSz