Using common viruses in the treatment of cancer

Associate Professor Daren Shafren and Professor Richard Barry from the VIVA Program have used naturally occuring viruses to attack ovarian and melanoma cancer cells in the laboratory. This discovery has led to a major venture capital investment of approximately $10 million through biotechnology company Psiron Ltd for the development of anti-cancer virotherapies that are currently being tested in clinical trials.

Finding a new cause of inflammation in asthma patients

Professor Peter Gibson and Dr Peter Wark from the VIVA Program found that a primitive branch of the immune response is activated in asthmatics which is not targeted by current medication. This discovery was one of the factors that led to the establishment of the National Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Asthma, a collaborative research team which has been awarded $26.44 million over seven years for research into asthma and airways.

Developing effective approaches to reducing alcohol consumption and violence

This initiative, developed by Dr John Wiggers and his team from the Public Health Program, is improving community safety by reducing harm associated with excessive alcohol consumption. It is being rolled out throughout metropolitan NSW and New Zealand.  

Understanding brain structure and function in people with schizophrenia

A team of researchers from the Brain and Mental Health Program have determined differences in the brain structure and function of people with schizophrenia. This has led to an ongoing program which explores the biological basis of schizophrenia with the aim of identifying early diagnostic markers of the condition so that more effective intervention strategies can be developed.

Locating the biological mechanism that determines when a woman will give birth

Professor Roger Smith and his team from the Pregnancy and Reproduction Program discovered that the biological mechanism that determines when a woman will give birth is located in the placenta. This has led to an ongoing program to identify the molecular nature of the placental clock and develop drugs that will prevent premature birth.

Other recent achievements include:

• The discovery that women can take asthma medication without endangering their baby’s health which has become the basis for new American National Institute of Health guidelines for the treatment of asthma during pregnancy.
• Completion of the world’s largest prostate cancer trial showing that a hormone therapy given to men with inoperable prostate cancer four months before radiotherapy can help stop the cancer returning after treatment.
• The successful implantation of adult stem cells into heart tissue of patients with severe coronary artery disease.
• Revision of national guidelines for GP prescription of inhaled steroids to lower dosages for optimal asthma management.
• Identification of the human genes and risk factors, such as cigarette smoke, that can make an infant more susceptible to SIDS.
• Becoming lead agencies in Cooperative Research Centre for Asthma and Airways and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development (CBD).
• Developing new ways of analysing patterns of gene expression in cancer patients.
• Using properties found in tomato seeds to thin the blood rather than traditional treatments like aspirin.