St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research

SVI had the honour of hosting Professor Sir Philip Cohen, a scientist whose discoveries have shaped modern biology, for a special seminar this week. Addressing a full house at the ACMD auditorium, Professor Cohen shared insights into how mutations in the kinase ALPK1 can lead to rare genetic diseases, like ROSAH Syndrome and rare skin tumours called spiradenocarcinomas. Find out how Professor Cohen’s breakthroughs in cell signalling are guiding new scientific advances: https://lnkd.in/gYSXqFz2

PhD student Kezia Gitareja is studying a new way to stop multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects the cells in our bone marrow. In a recent study, Kezia showed that certain drugs that target ribosome production kill myeloma cells, even in cases where the disease has come back after treatment. Now, she’s using advanced tools to find out how these drugs work and how they could be improved for future treatments. Find out how Kezia is working to shut down cancer's protein factories: https://lnkd.in/g5NfFHUh

As we celebrate World Diabetes Day, SVI Director Professor Thomas Kay is proud to share how your support is helping give life back to people with diabetes. Tom and the Immunology team are working towards therapies that protect and restore the body’s natural processes for insulin production and blood glucose management, alongside insulin therapy when needed. See how their research is reshaping the landscape of diabetes care and prevention: https://lnkd.in/gcV3rPNx #WorldDiabetesDay2025

A/Prof Davis McCarthy heads SVI’s Bioinformatics and Cellular Genomics lab and is part of the talented BRAIx team. https://lnkd.in/g_Z7DQXs

Scientists studying the fat-tailed dunnart, a tiny Australian marsupial, have uncovered genetic clues that explain how different mammals develop their facial features. Marsupials like the dunnart are born extremely early and must quickly develop the muscles and senses needed to crawl into their mother’s pouch, while placental mammals, such as humans and mice, complete most of their development before birth. The findings offer new insight into how faces evolved across mammals, providing an invaluable reference for future mammalian evolution studies. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gcYANqun

Through her raffle fundraiser, Jedda Hindmarsh is helping to drive awareness, advance scientific discovery, and give hope to others living with lipoedema. Every raffle ticket purchased will help fund life-changing research into the chronic and painful condition that affects about 11% of women and remains under-diagnosed. Find out how Jedda is helping change the future for women with lipoedema: https://lnkd.in/gYuXqfbx Buy a raffle ticket: https://lnkd.in/ggYZyJAA

SVI is proud to be a foundation partner. Special thanks to our staff, supporters and board members — past and present — for your contributions over many years. https://lnkd.in/gWjRYgwJ

Our next Tuesday Seminar will be presented by Professor Sir Philip Cohen from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee. The seminar will investigate diseases caused by altered specificity of the kinase ALPK1 for its allosteric activator. Join us for this special in-person event 12pm Tuesday 18 November at the ACMD Auditorium, Level 1, 27 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy.

Building on SVI research from the BANDIT trial, Eli Lilly and Company has announced the launch of the BARICADE Phase 3 trials. This next stage of research will give people living with type 1 diabetes across 20 countries the opportunity to access this promising new therapy. Professor Thomas Kay led the groundbreaking BANDIT trial at SVI, in which baricitinib preserved pancreatic insulin production in people with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Professor John Wentworth, a pioneer of early screening for the disease, is now working to extend these discoveries to people at risk before symptoms appear. Find out more about the clinical trials: https://lnkd.in/gEQangyW