monash institute of medical research

74 Pages·2013·6.11 MB·English

MONASH
INSTITUTE OF
MEDICAL
RESEARCH
2012 Annual Report
0011
MONASH INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH 2012 Annual Report
ABOUT MIMR 03 RESEARCH 14 SUPPORTING 38 PUBLICATIONS 59
OUR RESEARCH
Vision 04 Centre for Cancer 15 Book Chapters 60
Research
History 05 Monash Health Translation 39 Journal Articles 60
Centre for Innate Immunity 18 Precinct Core Facilities
Organisational Structure 06 Review Articles 70
and Infectious Diseases
Chief Operating Officer 42
Centre for Reproduction 21 Report
DIRECTOR’S 07 and Development Human Resources 43 FINANCIAL 72
MESSAGE The Ritchie Centre 24 REPORT
Staff Support 44
Philanthropy, Fundraising 45
Cash Flow Statement 73
and Community
EDUCATION 28
CHAIRMAN’S 10
Engagement
MESSAGE
Visiting Speakers 29 Grant Funding Awarded 47
and Received
MIMR Postgraduate 32
GOVERNANCE 12 Committee Supporters 57
Community Education 33
MIMR Advisory Board 13 and Education Events
Andrology Australia 35
2012 Graduates 36
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MONASH INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH 2012 Annual Report
ABOUT
MIMR
Vision
History
Organisational Structure
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AABBOOUUTT MMIIMMRR
VISION
As a major medical research
institute, MIMR will enhance
human health and quality of life
through research, innovation
and discovery in biology, medicine
and biotechnology.
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ABOUT MIMR
HISTORY
Emeritus Professor David de Kretser AC established the
Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development in 1991.
The Institute originally brought Recognising that its research had evolved
together scientists and clinicians beyond reproduction and development,
undertaking research into conception, the Institute became the Monash Institute
birth and development at the Centre of Medical Research in 2005.
for Early Human Development, Monash
Following Professor de Kretser’s
Medical Centre, with scientists working
retirement in 2005, Professor Bryan
in the field of male reproductive health
Williams, an internationally recognised
within the Department of Anatomy,
cancer researcher, commenced as
Monash University.
Institute Director.
Over the years, the research conducted Today, under Professor Williams’
at the Monash Institute of Reproduction leadership, more than 300 scientists
and Development benefited people and students carry out research into fetal
worldwide, including infertile young and child health, cancer, inflammation,
people, premature babies and their infectious diseases, women’s health,
families, and men with prostate cancer. genetic diseases and stem cells.
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ABOUT MIMR
ORGANISATIONAL
STRUCTURE
MONASH UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF MEDICINE, NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
MONASH INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
Fundraising, Marketing
Administration Research Centres
and Communications
Centre for Centre for
Centre for
Reproduction Innate Immunity and The Ritchie Centre
Cancer Research
and Development Infectious Diseases
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DIRECTOR’S
MESSAGE
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DIRECTOR’S
MESSAGE
This year saw the major announcement in April by the Federal Member for Chisholm,
Ms Anna Burke MP, of $71 million in Federal Government funding to build the State’s
first multidisciplinary translational research building as part of the Monash Health
Translation Precinct (MHTP).
The MHTP is a partnership between The centre is a part of the MHTP Medical The Scientific Review identified positives The committee also highlighted the
Monash University, MIMR, Prince Henry’s Genomics Facility based at MIMR. and challenges for the Institute and opportunities of the MHTP building and the
Institute and Monash Health. This new each of the Centres, and provided importance of strong leadership and support
facility will include a series of linked, This year MIMR visited San Remo for an recommendations that are in the process from the University during this development,
disease-themed laboratories and clinical Institute retreat during April. For two of being implemented. as well as the problems posed by restrictions
research units, and will expand to days researchers presented their work, on growth due to financial imposts.
800 the number of laboratory and providing a perfect opportunity to expand
continued...
clinical researchers accommodated our knowledge on the research being
on the campus. carried out within the Institute, and
secondly, to promote collaborative projects
Our second major highlight this year was the between the Centres.
“The Institute was very successful
launch of the Australian Cancer Research
Foundation (ACRF) Centre for Cancer In May the Institute held a review of its
in attracting National Health
Genomic Medicine in October, conducted research, conducted by five international
by the Federal Member for Hotham, the and national scientists, chaired by US
and Medical Research Council
Hon Simon Crean MP. The ACRF provided National Academy of Sciences member
$1.6 million in funds for vital next generation Professor George Stark.
(NHMRC) funding this year, with
sequencing equipment for the centre, which
will give researchers access to genetic
profiles of specific cancers. a success rate of 31 per cent
for project grants.”
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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (CONTINUED)
MIMR was in the spotlight several times The team discovered that they may be Our annual Ron Evans Golf Day was a
this year for ground-breaking research able to block the spread and growth of resounding success in raising vital funds
publications. stomach tumours. They found that a for our bowel cancer research programs.
gene that creates a protein called Toll-like More than 100 golfers took part in the
Research led by Drs Anthony Sadler
receptor 2 (TLR2), is over-produced in the event at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club,
and Aaron Irving, members of my team stomachs of gastric cancer patients, and to honour the memory of Ron Evans AM.
in the Centre for Cancer Research, identified why this happens. My thanks go to the Evans family for
was published in the top rating journal
their continuing generous support of
Immunity in May. Our discovery reported The Institute was very successful in
this special event.
a way to block infection from a range attracting National Health and Medical
of viruses, including the agent of the Research Council (NHMRC) funding this We are also grateful to have had the
common cold, rhinovirus, another agent year, with a success rate of 31 per cent ongoing support of our Patrons Club
of respiratory infection, adenovirus, and for project grants. members in 2012. In particular, the
the human herpes simplex virus 1. contribution of Patrons Club Chairman
There were also a number of fellowships
and long time MIMR supporter, Robert
Director of the Centre for Innate Immunity awarded, in particular to Dr Tim Moss Smorgon AM, has been invaluable both
and Infectious Diseases (CIIID), Professor and Associate Professor Caroline Gargett, through his philanthropic support and
Paul Hertzog, was joint lead author of who broke into the prestigious NHMRC his involvement in the organisation over
a publication with Dr Belinda Parker, Fellowship system with the award of the years.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, in the Senior Research Fellowships.
prestigious journal Nature Medicine in July.
Success was also notable for MIMR
They discovered an immune signal early career researchers, with three
in breast cancer cells that regulates awarded NHMRC Biomedical Fellowships
metastasis. This new process could be and many awarded their first grants as
targeted with an existing treatment to Chief Investigator A. This resulted in
PROFESSOR BRYAN WILLIAMS
complement current therapy and wipe out more than $10 million of NHMRC funding
INSTITUTE DIRECTOR
cancerous cells that spread to the bone. being brought into the Institute.
In October, research by Associate Professor This success was no doubt aided by the
Brendan Jenkins’ team in CIIID, including rigorous grant review systems that were
PhD student Hazel Yuet Tye, was published introduced by MIMR a number of years
in another top rating journal, Cancer Cell. ago and that have now been expanded
Faculty wide.
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CHAIRMAN’S
MESSAGE
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