Centenary Institute in Sydney, Australia | Medical research centre

Centenary Institute

Locality: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9565 6100

Address: Building 93 Missenden Rd 2050 Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: https://www.centenary.org.au/

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25.01.2022 At Centenary we are working on 7 out of the 10 leading causes of death world-wide as defined by the World Health Organisation. Our researchers are focused on improving the outcomes of some of the most devastating health issues affecting the community. Learn more about our approach to these diseases. https://www.centenary.org.au/research/ #medicalresearch #stroke #COPD #respiratoryinfections #alzheimers #diabetes #lungcancer #tuberculosis #centenary #centenaryinstitute

25.01.2022 Next up in our National Science Week series, where we asked our incredibly talented researchers why they loved science is Kieran! At Centenary, Kieran is focused on exploring the unique relationship between the liver and the immune system to help prevent and treat chronic liver disease. More information here: https://www.centenary.org.au/cen_program/liver-immunology/ #scienceweek #centenary #medicalresearch #liver #liverdisease

25.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: A need to support our next-generation of brightest researchers. Centenary Institute researcher Dr Claudio Counoupas has featured as a case study in a 2020 AAMRI (Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes) Budget Submission to Federal Government. The Submission highlights the need for increased support of the next generation of outstanding Australian research talentparticularly in the face of funding challenges caused by the COVID-19 economic downturn.... Four of Australias leading early to mid-career researchers were profiled in the Submission. Dr Counoupas is co-leader on a collaborative Centenary Institute and University of Sydney project in which he is focused on repurposing an existing tuberculosis vaccine for use against COVID-19. https://www.centenary.org.au//a-need-to-support-our-next-/

24.01.2022 At Centenary zebrafish are invaluable to advancing our medical research. 84 percent of human genes known to be associated with human diseases have a zebrafish counterpart. Read more. https://www.centenary.org.au/research/zebrafish/ #medicalresearch #zebrafish #tuberculosis #biology #inflammation

23.01.2022 Angela is next up in our National Science Week series where we asked our researchers why they loved science. At Centenary, Angela is our bioimaging specialist, an expert in microscopy and immunology (the study of the immune system in the fight against disease). She supports other scientists with her expertise across multiple disciplines. More information here: https://www.centenary.org.au/research/programs/ #scienceweek #centenary #medicalresearch #microscopy #immunology #womeninstem

22.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Gene discovery may explain female melanoma survival advantage. Centenary Institute scientists have discovered that genes on the X chromosome may be key to the improved survival rates of females with melanomaas compared to their male counterparts. The findings could ultimately lead to more effective treatments for what is an aggressive and potentially deadly form of skin cancer.... Lead author of the study was Dr Abdullah Al Emran (pictured). Professor Peter Hersey and Dr Jessamy Tiffen were co-senior study authors (all researchers from the Institute's Melanoma Oncology and Immunology Program). More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//gene-discovery-may-explain-/

22.01.2022 Science is Art @Centenary! The winning masterpieces in this year’s Centenary Institute Scientific Image Prize have been revealed. We are excited to share the top three entries in the judged category, along with the Staff Pic and People’s Choice Awards. View these creative pieces of science: https://www.centenary.org.au/supp/science-is-art-centenary/ #medicalresearch #centenary #centenaryinstitute #scientificimages

22.01.2022 A big congratulations and huge expression of thanks to the Bamford family, friends and all those involved with the most recent The Peter "Wally" Bamford Memorial Concert from all of us here at the Centenary Institute. For 15 years this wonderful group of individuals and companies have hosted this tribute event to the much loved Peter with proceeds being generously directed to the invaluable research of Centenary’s Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology. Your support over all these years has directly contributed to advancing knowledge and better understanding this critical area of research, ultimately enhancing diagnosis and identifying greater treatment options. Thank you all so much.

21.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Prof John Rasko AO and collaborators publish world-first clinical stem cell study. Professor John Rasko AO, Head of the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at the Centenary Institute and Head of the Department of Cell and Molecular Therapies at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital has led a world-first clinical trial into engineered stem cell treatment use. Published in the prestigious science journal Nature Medicine, Professor Rasko and a team of international collaborat...ors used human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived mesenchymal stromal cells to treat 15 patients with steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Professor Rasko says that the successful therapeutic application of these stem cells for GvHD also opens the door to their potential use for other diverse inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//prof-john-rasko-ao-and-coll/

20.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Enzyme insight could lead to new diabetes treatment. Research led by the Centenary Institute has discovered that the lack of an enzyme in the liver called sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) results in pronounced insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, both symptoms of early stage type 2 diabetes. The findings raise the possibility of a new treatment approach for diabetic patients whose glucose blood levels are dangerously high.... In the study, reported in the science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)', the researchers were able to demonstrate that the enzyme SphK2 was crucial to the blood glucose regulation process. Our findings are important as they may provide us with a completely new way to treat diabetes and to help change lives for the better, said Dr Yanfei (Jacob) Qi, senior author of the study. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//enzyme-insight-could-lead-t/

20.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Decreasing atherosclerosis risk. Co-operation between cardiovascular researchers from the University of Zurich with researchers from the Liver Enzymes in Metabolism and Inflammation Program at the Centenary Institute has produced a breakthrough in understanding how atherosclerotic plaques (fatty deposits in arteries) form and stabilise. The researchers showed that mice lacking an enzyme called FAP were healthier and developed lower rates of atherosclerosis. Th...e researchers also discovered that the atherosclerotic plaques that did form in these mice were more stable and therefore less dangerous. Drugs that target FAP are being developed for cancer therapy, heart fibrosis, liver fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Metabolic Syndrome complications, said Head of the Centenary Institutes Liver Enzymes in Metabolism and Inflammation Program, Professor Mark Gorrell who collaborated on the research. This new discovery is encouraging regarding the safety of those new drugs, and may also help people who are at risk of or have, coronary plaques, he said. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//decreasing-atherosclerosis-/

20.01.2022 Every four minutes an Australian hears the terrifying words You have cancer. Here at the Centenary Institute, our researchers are dedicated to preventing, treating and curing a range of cancers to protect you and your loved ones. Donate now, the health and wellbeing of millions of people depends upon continual medical research advances. www.centenary.org.au/families #cancer #cancerresearch #medicalresearch #centenary #centenaryinstitute

20.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: How the humble sea sponge helped scientists unravel a 700 million-year-old mystery of evolution. In a momentous breakthrough, Australian scientists have found that humans, and most likely the entire animal kingdom, share important genetic mechanisms with a jelly-like sea sponge that comes from the Great Barrier Reef. Published in one of the most prestigious journals ‘Science’, the breakthrough reveals that some elements of the human genome (an organism’s complete... set of DNA) are functioning in the same way as the prehistoric sea sponge. Incredibly this means it has been preserved across 700 million years of evolution. This mechanism drives gene expression, which is key to species diversity across the animal kingdom. The findings are a fundamental discovery in evolution and the understanding of genetic diseases, and will help drive future biomedical research activities. Pictured: Co-senior author on the paper, Associate Professor Mathias Francois from the Centenary Institute (left) and lead author, Dr Emily Wong from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (right). Read the full story here: https://www.centenary.org.au//Media-release_How-scientists

20.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: New insight into the immune system. Our DNA is like an encyclopaedia and genes are like the paragraphs. Like paragraphs, which are separated by spaces, our genes also contain spacer DNA, known scientifically as introns. For genes to be expressed properly, and to carry out biological functions, spacer DNA or introns need to be removed. A new Centenary Institute publication - from senior author Dr Justin Wong (right) and Immanuel Green (left), lead author and ...a postgraduate student in Dr Wongs lab - has provided novel insights into the role of these spacer DNA or introns in the development and function of monocytes and macrophages, essential components of the innate immune system. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//new-insight-into-the-immune/

20.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: New understanding of how proteins operate. A ground-breaking discovery by Centenary Institute scientists has provided new understanding as to the nature of proteins and how they exist and operate in the human body. The key findingthe changing state of a protein’s structural bondsis likely to have significant implications as to how proteins are targeted by medical researchers, particularly in terms of drug development and the fight against disease.... Lead author of the study: Dr Diego Butera from the ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Centre (pictured right). Senior author: Professor Philip Hogg, Head of the ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Centre (pictured left). More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//new-understanding-of-how-pr/

19.01.2022 Prime 7 News interviews Professor Phil Hansbro. Professor Phil Hansbro, Deputy Director at the Centenary Institute and Director of the Centenary UTS Centre for Inflammation has been interviewed by Prime7 News on his new study that will be focused on exploring the health impacts of peoples exposure to bushfire smoke. The study, a collaboration between the Centenary Institute and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), will assess how bushfire smoke affects the airways, lun...gs and other organs and will determine what the long-term consequences of this exposure could be. View the Prime 7 News story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch

18.01.2022 Congratulations to the winner of the Scientific Image - People's Choice Award, Dr Angelina Lay, from the ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Centre and her image Tubulin Bands. We asked you to vote for your favourite scientific image. The competition is designed to highlight the incredible research of our scientists, while showcasing their artistic and creative abilities. This years winning image depicts platelets, the key effector cells that initiate a blood clot in response to ...vessel injury. The platelets in this image have been stained for tubulin, one of the major protein's of the platelet structure. #medicalresearch #centenary #centenaryinstitute #scientificimages

18.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Human enzyme DPP4 does not enable COVID-19 infection. Research from the Centenary Institute has found that the human enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP4) does not bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and so cannot enable COVID-19 infection in our bodies. DPP4, which is known to be the key receptor for the MERS-coronavirus (Middle East respiratory syndrome), had been identified as a potential binding target of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The spike pr...otein forms the spikes of the crown after which coronaviruses are named. If DPP4 had been able to bind, it would have suggested an alternate port of entry for SARS-CoV-2 into human cells, thus exacerbating COVID-19. We already know that SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on the interaction between the virus spike and the human enzyme ACE2. We needed to find out if DPP4 was also acting as a gateway for COVID-19, said senior author on the paper, Professor Mark Gorrell, Head of the Liver Enzymes in Metabolism and Inflammation Program at the Centenary Institute. Our findings however put to rest the suggestion that DPP4 could be a co-receptor or alternate receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry. There was no binding detected between the two molecules in our study and so we can be reassured that ACE2 is the sole method for SARS infection. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//human-enzyme-dpp4-does-not-/

17.01.2022 Meet our latest 'Human of Medical Research', Professor Phil Hansbro. Phil is not only an internationally renowned researcher focused on chronic respiratory diseases, the immune system and COVID-19, he's also an avid birdwatcher who's managed to observe over 7,000 different species of birds in the wild. Use this link to read his story https://www.centenary.org.au/meet-phil-hansbro/ #asthma #copd #medical #research #birdwatchers #scientist

17.01.2022 Did you see our quick science quiz last week? What is flow cytometry? The answer is no 2! We use flow cytometry to identify, characterise and quantify cells and intracellular molecules. Using fluorescent markers this technology provides very detailed information allowing us to identify many specific cells of the immune system. Its sensitivity allows us to pick up even the smallest cell populations, providing new insights into disease and our immune system. ... First used in the 1950s to measure the volume of cells in a rapidly flowing fluid stream. These days flow cytometry measures up to 30,000 cells per second as they pass by as many as 10 lasers! Its speed and ability to look at the single-cell level offers us the power to rapidly analyse and characterise millions of cells. #sciencequiz #sciencetechnology #biotechnology #precisionmedicine #biotechnologymeme #learnaboutscience #sciencefacts

15.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Impact of bushfire smoke on health to be studied. Understanding the long-term health impacts of bushfire smoke will be the focus of a new study being undertaken at the Centenary Institute and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The true extent of bushfire smoke on people is still largely unknown, said study leader Professor Phil Hansbro. ... We just dont know the full impact on people resulting from prolonged smoke inhalation or if short term effects resolve after the exposure ends. There is a real knowledge gap as to what level of smoke exposure is likely ok and what level may lead to adverse health effects, particularly for the more vulnerable in our society. For this study, the research team will explore the short and prolonged physiological effects of bushfire smoke. Assessed will be how bushfire smoke affects the airways, lungs and other organs and what the long-term consequences of this exposure could be. Potential smoke impact on healthy individuals and those with common pre-existing respiratory disease such as asthma, emphysema and lung cancer will also be explored. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//impact-of-bushfire-smoke-on/

15.01.2022 Help us fast track our COVID-19 research! #covid19 #medicalresearch #covidresearch #treatments https://www.centenary.org.au/covid-fast

15.01.2022 Not all our scientists work in a 'wet' lab! Starting out as a systems engineer, Dr Ulf Schmitz, found his way into biomedical research. He began by providing programming support to scientific projects before uncovering a true passion for computational cancer research, and complete a PhD in Bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is a growing field in modern science brought about by the skyrocketing amount of experimental data generated. It combines biology, mathematics, and statistics... with computer science to look for patterns in the data of experiments to find new answers to pressing biomedical questions. It can assist in improving the design of experiments and in comparing experimental results with data shared by other labs around the globe. As head of the Computational BioMedicine Laboratory, Ulf leads a team of researchers looking at different aspects of cancer gene regulation. His ambition is for bioinformatics to drive biomedical research to help develop better treatments and cures for diseases such as cancer. More on bioinformatics @ https://www.centenary.org.au/cen_research/bioinformatics/ #dna #dnagenetics #dnasequencing #bioinformatics #genetics #genome #molecularbiology #cellbiology #precisionmedicine #cancer #cancerresearch #computerscience

15.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Respiratory research leader elected as Fellow. Centenary Institute Deputy Director and Director of the Centenary UTS Centre for Inflammation, Professor Phil Hansbro has been elected as a Fellow of the European Respiratory Society (ERS). The Fellow of ERS award recognises excellence in contributions to research, education and clinical leadership in respiratory medicine.... The European Respiratory Society is one of the leading respiratory health organisations globally and Im extremely proud to have been recognised with this honour, said Professor Hansbro. I look forward to acting as an ERS ambassador and providing my input as a Fellow in support of the Societys ongoing mission to promote lung health in order to alleviate suffering from disease, he said. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//respiratory-research-leader/

15.01.2022 ICYMI: Understanding the long-term health impacts of bushfire smoke will be the focus of a new study being undertaken at the Centenary Institute and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). "There is a real knowledge gap as to what level of smoke exposure is likely okay and what level may lead to adverse health effects, particularly for the more vulnerable in our society," says study leader Professor Phil Hansbro. Read more about our medical research in this article in the Canberra Times.

13.01.2022 Jon is the last of our researchers to be featured for National Science Week. We asked him why he loved science and his answer was fantastic. At Centenary, Jon uses advanced confocal and other microscopy platforms to investigate how altered lipid metabolism (fats and oils) underpins the development of Alzheimers and obesity. More information here: https://www.centenary.org.au//lipid-metabolism-and-neuroc/ #scienceweek #centenary #medicalresearch #Alzheimers #obesity #microscopy

13.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Perfect pitch prize winner. Centenary Institute PhD candidate Ms Aster Pijning has won the jurys vote for first prize - as well as the peoples choice prize - for her efforts at the Sydney Catalyst Perfect Pitch Competition. The competition was a chance for participating researchers to refine their elevator pitch and to describe their research skills and experience to a virtual audience and a panel of judges in 60 seconds.... For my PhD research Im studying the molecular mechanisms of thrombosis, and I have discovered a new regulatory pathway that fine-tunes how and when blood clots form. We now want to look into why this control mechanism is absent in cancer associated thrombosis, said Ms Pijning. In the 60 seconds I spoke about my research, as well as my passion for understanding the biological origins of disease with the goal of unravelling disease complexity for the benefit of the patient. The pitch really forced me to think about what parts of my research would be interesting for people to hear, excluding any scientific jargon, and also to think about my personal motivations for doing what I do, she said. https://www.centenary.org.au/ce/perfect-pitch-prize-winner/

13.01.2022 Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways, it impacts millions of Australians, both young and old. There's currently no cure. As this is National Asthma Week, we'd like to let you know that our specialised respiratory researchers are striving hard to better understand and find more targeted treatment options to help overcome this chronic and potentially life-threatening condition. Find out more about the crucial work we do. https://www.centenary.org.au/cen_research/asthma/ #AsthmaWeek #Centenary #UnderstandingDisease #FindingCures

13.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Pathway to eliminating antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis in the Pacific. Australian researchers, including from the Centenary Institute have been awarded funding for a major project that aims to eliminate both active and latent tuberculosis (TB) found on Kiribati, an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. The project will also support multidrug-resistant TB control education and management through the Pacific region. Led by Professor Barend Marais of the Uni...versity of Sydney, Professor Warwick Britton AO, Head of the Centenary Institutes Tuberculosis Research Program will be a Chief Investigator (CIB) on the project with colleagues from the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Tuberculosis Control. A TB hotspot, Kiribati has extremely high rates of tuberculosis. The capital Tarawa, one of the most densely populated areas in the Pacific, has a TB incidence rate among the highest in the world, said Professor Britton. Our project will ensure that every person over the age of 2 will be screened for TB disease or infection in Tarawa with appropriate treatment strategies then implemented. Our integrated project will also provide a pathway towards drug resistant TB prevention and TB elimination more broadly within the Pacific, through a program of training and mentoring. Overall, this program will be a catalyst in regional TB elimination efforts, helping save lives and overcoming a disease which has devastating impact on communities, he said. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//pathway-to-eliminating-anti/

12.01.2022 Could your legacy be a future free of chronic disease? A gift to the Centenary Institute in your Will could fund ground-breaking research and change the future of human health. Learn more about how you can leave a gift in your Will here: https://www.centenary.org.au/bequests #charityweek #centenary #bequest #charitabledonation #payitforward #YourWills #centenaryinstitute

12.01.2022 In 2018 Dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia and the leading cause of death among Australian females. 70% of dementia cases are Alzheimer’s disease. Donate now to our Alzheimer’s research. https://www.centenary.org.au/cen_resear/alzheimers-disease/ #AlzheimersDisease #medicalresearch #centenary #centenaryinstitute

12.01.2022 Meet Dr Ulf Schmitz, the latest in our profile series 'Humans of Medical Research. Ulf is a computational biologist who is focused on better understanding the processes that control the activity of genes in our cells, and how these processes can play a critical role in cancer development. He's also a musician who's played in a number of bands over the years. Read his story here: https://www.centenary.org.au/meet-ulf-schmitz #cancer #genes #medicalresearch #centenary #centenaryinstitute #musician #scientist

12.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Fighting throat cancer with T cells. Research led by the Centenary Institute has discovered that immune cells accumulating within the tumour environment, called tumour-resident T cells, are a critical determinant in survival rates of patients suffering from throat cancer. Reported in the prestigious Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, the research suggests that strategies aiming to boost these T-cells at tumour sites could be beneficial to patients.... Lead author of the study and researcher at the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney is Ms Rehana Hewavisenti (pictured left). Senior author on the research paper Dr Mainthan Palendira, Head of the Centenary Institutes Human Viral and Cancer Immunology Laboratory is pictured right. Read more about the research findings here: https://www.centenary.org.au//fighting-throat-cancer-with/

11.01.2022 Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a science student? Shatarupa Das, PhD candidate at the Centenary Institute and UTS, shares a typical day for International Day of Women and Girls in Science. She works in Prof Phil Hansbro's team looking for better outcomes for COPD patients. Her PhD investigates mitochondrial dysfunction as a possible target for treatments. Fun and smart, thanks Shatarupa! ... UTS Science Shatarupa Das #womenandgirlsinscience #womeninscience #scicomm #womeninstem #stemeducation #girlsinscience #STEM #STEMM #womenempowerment #science #scientist #sciencelife Learn more about our COPD work: https://www.centenary.org.au/cen_research/copd/

11.01.2022 Medical research is our only hope of a future free from disease. Our resources are tighter than ever before as we race to find answers to improve human health both here in Australia and globally. Donate before 30 June to make sure our researchers have every chance to find cures for some of the most chronic diseases affecting us today. https://www.centenary.org.au/donate

10.01.2022 10 News features COVID-19 vaccine project. A collaborative project between the University of Sydney and the Centenary Institute to find a COVID-19 vaccine has been featured on 10 News. The innovative research, focused on using the tuberculosis vaccine Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) together with major components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has seen promising early results in pre-clinical testing.... Lead investigator of the project Professor Jamie Triccas from the University of Sydney was interviewed for the story as was project co-lead Dr Claudio Counoupas, research scientist at the Centenary Institute. View the 10 News story here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1278957649741205506

10.01.2022 Did you know that a vital part of our funds come from generous people who leave a gift to Centenary in their Will? This week is Include a Charity Week. It is a time to consider what you want your legacy to be. At Centenary we see a future where we can all live healthier, longer lives without the pain of chronic disease. If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to improve human health for future generations or would simply like to hear more please reach out to our t...eam on [email protected] #includeacharity #centenary #bequest #charitabledonation #payitforward #YourWills #centenaryinstitute See more

09.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Reducing cirrhosis threat for high-risk drinkers. Research led by the Centenary Institute has shown that a healthy weight and coffee consumption may help lower the risk of high-risk drinkers developing alcohol-induced cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), which causes approximately 300,000 deaths globally each year. Also found by the researchers in this multi-national GenomALC Consortiumis that susceptibility to cirrhosis among high-risk drinkers is affected by a f...amily history of alcohol-induced liver disease. Clinical Associate Professor Devanshi Seth, Head of the Centenary Institute Alcoholic Liver Disease Research Program and senior author of the published study said, The best way to reduce harm from alcohol (including cirrhosis) is by reducing or cutting out alcohol. High-risk drinking is chronic alcohol use above the recommended guidelines that may result in cirrhosis. Unfortunately, individuals may not be aware of the dangers that heavy drinking entails. The aim of our study was to identify risks associated with cirrhosis in heavy drinkers and to gain insights into additional measures that could help in preventing or reducing cirrhosis in patients whose drinking places them at risk, she said. Clinical Associate Professor Seth believes that their findings may have major public health consequences. Measures such as maintaining a healthy bodyweight, intensive treatment of diabetes or pre-diabetic states, and encouragement of coffee consumption may be useful lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of alcohol-induced cirrhosis for high-risk drinkers. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//reducing-cirrhosis-threat-f/

09.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Sydney researchers test tuberculosis vaccine combination for COVID-19. Researchers at the University of Sydney and the Centenary Institute are repurposing an existing tuberculosis vaccine to see if it can be used in a new way against COVID-19 to develop a novel vaccine. The vaccine candidate, which Australian researchers have called BCG:CoVac, combines the vaccine for tuberculosis, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) with major components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The S...ARS-CoV-2 virus is the pathogen that causes the COVID-19 disease. The study is part of a collaboration between the University of Sydney and the Centenary Institute to examine the immune response created by new vaccine candidates, including BCG:CoVac. Lead investigator Professor Jamie Triccas, from the University of Sydney School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, and the Charles Perkins Centre (pictured left) said the team was motivated to apply their expertise in studying vaccines to assess the effectiveness of this new formulation. We have over two decades of experience in the development and testing of tuberculosis vaccines, which will be applied for the assessment of BCG:CoVac, said Professor Triccas. Dr Claudio Counoupas, research scientist at the Centenary Institute and co-lead on the project, said: Combining a part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with BCG is key to this new vaccine. This provides a specific memory immune response against the virus that could provide long-term protection against disease." More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//sydney-researchers-test-tub/

08.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: New treatment discovery for vascular disorder. Researchers from the Centenary Institute have discovered a potential new therapy for cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs), a devastating disease that often affects young people and can result in stroke and seizures. CCMs are vascular lesions comprising clusters of abnormally thin and leaky blood vessels. Stroke or seizures can occur when blood from these vessels leaks into the surrounding brain tissue. We cant ...predict when this will happen or how frequently, said senior researcher on the study Professor Jennifer Gamble, Head of the Vascular Biology Program at the Centenary Institute. Most often, people dont realise they have the disease until they have an event such as a seizure. Currently, there is little in the way of effective medical treatment for CCMs except for surgical removal of the most dangerous lesions which is limited by the size and depth of the lesions, she said. In the study, Professor Gamble and collaborators were able to show that use of the drug, CD5-2 helped normalise the vascular disorders, and inhibited the development and reduced the size of existing lesions. "This discovery could lead to the first effective, non-invasive treatment option for CCMs which would be truly heartening for sufferers. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//new-treatment-discovery-for/

07.01.2022 International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Introducing the Centenary Institute’s Laura Yeates. Laura Yeates leads a science-centric life. She’s a cardiac genetic counsellor at the Centenary Institute, Chair of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors and is one year into a PhD which is focused on caring for families affected by sudden cardiac death (SCD) of a young relative. This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we recognise Laura for her continui...ng dedication to science, celebrate her achievements as a successful woman in STEMM and show how rewarding a career in science can be. Click the link to read more about Laura, her passion for science, her tips for aspiring young female scientists and her experiences as a cardiac genetic counsellor working at Centenary. https://www.centenary.org.au//international-day-of-women-/

07.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: Gene discovery linked to alcohol-induced liver disease. The findings of an international study led by the Centenary Institute suggests that the possibility of high-risk drinkers developing alcohol-induced cirrhosis is in part related to genetic factors. Only a small proportion of high-risk drinkers, about 15 percent, actually develop cirrhosis but those who do are at high risk of death and require substantial health-care support, said senior author of the publ...ished study Clinical Associate Professor Devanshi Seth, Head of the Centenary Institute Alcoholic Liver Disease Research Program and also affiliated with Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District. We wanted to see if certain high-risk drinkers had a genetic predisposition for alcohol-induced cirrhosis. High-risk drinking is chronic alcohol use above recommended guidelines, said Clinical Associate Professor Seth. Identified by the study researchers is a new gene associated with alcohol-induced cirrhosis. The novel FAF2 gene is associated with a reduced cirrhosis risk for heavy drinkers. Also confirmed by the study were four additional genes, three previously found to be associated with an increased risk and one with reduced risk of cirrhosis in heavy drinkers. This new understanding opens the door to the future development of exciting new drug treatments that can potentially target these specific genes. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//gene-discovery-linked-to-al/

07.01.2022 Do you think our scientists are also artists? We do! Created by Mira from our Molecular Cardiology Program this striking image - Mending a broken heart - shows patient derived heart stem cells as Mira looks to better understand inherited heart disease. Learn more on our Cardiovascular research here: www.centenary.org.au/molec #geneticheartdisease #stemcells #centenary #medicalresearch #centenaryinstitute

06.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: New treatment hope for asthma and COPD. An international study led by the University of Glasgow, including collaborators from the Centenary Institute, has identified a new class of drugs that could pave the way to a new treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The breakthrough findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, found that the drugs were able to reverse the symptoms of asthma in animal models.... Researchers also found that the same drugs, when applied to lung samples obtained from human donors, showed effects similar to those seen in the animal models. Scientists believe that these combined findings offer new hope that these drugs could provide new medicines for human inflammatory lung disease. More here: https://www.centenary.org.au//new-treatment-hope-for-asth/

05.01.2022 LATEST NEWS: COVID-19 reinfection case raises questions. The first case of COVID-19 reinfection has been documented by scientists from Hong Kong who report that a 33 year old man has been infected by two different strains of the virus. The second infection occurred more than four months after recovery from the first episode of the disease. The finding raises questions as to the duration of human immunity to the virus and may have implications for COVID-19 vaccines if immuni...ty to the virus is short-lived. Dr Mainthan Palendira, Head of the Human Viral and Cancer Immunology Laboratory at the Centenary Institute comments, "We should be careful in interpreting too much out of a single case of reinfection, however, it is the first lab-confirmed case of reinfection that we know of. This case is interesting because the person had a mild infection the first time and remained asymptomatic the second time. The virus that caused the infection the second time appears to be different from the original virus. Interestingly there were no detectable antibody responses after the first infection, however, a boosting of antibody response was seen after the second infection. I would look at the positive side of the story. He was asymptomatic and there was a boosting of his antibody responses. This tells us that immunity can be enhanced by reinfection and that could potentially mitigate the severity of the disease when we get it the second time. This is good news for vaccine development and this is what we would expect vaccines to do." https://www.centenary.org.au//covid-19-reinfection-case-r/

05.01.2022 Fantastic to see this research breakthrough featuring on 7 News! Scientists from the Centenary Institute, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, University of Queensland plus other collaborators found that humans, and most likely the entire animal kingdom, share important genetic mechanisms with a sea sponge. The findings are not only a fundamental evolutionary discovery, they will help deepen our understanding of genetic diseases, potentially leading to exciting future tr...eatments and cures. Keep an eye out for our very own Associate Professor Mathias Francois in the news item. He heads up our David Richmond Laboratory for Cardiovascular Development: Gene Regulation and Editing Program.

04.01.2022 As a part of National Science Week, we asked our incredibly talented researchers why they loved science. Their answers were truly inspiring. At Centenary, Seakcheng is focused on better understanding the genetic basis of inherited heart disease using stem cells to help improve and save lives. More information here: https://www.centenary.org.au/cen_prog/molecular-cardiology/

02.01.2022 Take our quick science quiz! Science technology can make a huge difference in what a scientist can explore in their work. One particular piece of technology we use is called Flow Cytometry. It uses a series of lasers in its measurement and analysis. What do you think it measures?... 1. Function of cells in blood vessels 2. Identify and measure cells 3. Determine lung function Answer is coming next week! #sciencequiz #sciencetechnology #biotechnology #precisionmedicine #biotechnologymeme

02.01.2022 Do you think our scientists are also artists? We do! Created by Jonathan from our Lipid Metabolism and Neurochemistry Laboratory this intriguing image is titled ‘Communication Highway’. It shows neurons (nerve cells) in the brain and their long trailing axons and dendrites which transmit information throughout the central nervous system of the body. Jonathan seeks to better understand the brain and its functions to further our knowledge in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. https://www.centenary.org.au//lipid-metabolism-and-neuroc/ #AlzheimersDisease #multiplesclerosis #ms #medicalresearch #neurons #centenary #centenaryinstitute

02.01.2022 ABC News article features Professor Mathew Vadas. The Centenary Institutes Executive Director, Professor Mathew Vadas, together with other leading Australian researchers, has featured in a recent ABC News article, explaining that COVID-19 appears to be far more than just a respiratory disease. The article notes that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in severe cases, has been shown to invade blood vessels both in the lungs, and in other parts of the body as well as to cause cardiovascul...ar complications. "At this stage of knowledge I think we can say that [COVID-19] is also a vascular disease because the virus has been demonstrated to be in these linings of blood vessel cells, and has been demonstrated to cause damage there," Professor Vadas says. Fully understanding the properties of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is critical to developing new treatments as well as for potentially repurposing existing therapeutics. Read the full ABC News story here: https://www.abc.net.au//coronavirus-covid-19-resp/12410684

01.01.2022 We're celebrating Genetic Counsellor Awareness Day with our very own #Centenary Genetic Counsellors. Genetic Counsellors play a vital role in helping and supporting families understand the implications of genetic conditions. "We get to be there for families at some of their most difficult and challenging times, to answer their questions and to be a positive force," says Associate Professor Jodie Ingles, Head of our Cardio Genomics Program. Read more about her research https://www.centenary.org.au/cen_program/cardio-genomics/ #GCAwarenessDay #MakingADifference #FamilyFocus