2015 - centenary institute · australia and new zealand 2013-2015. professor jenny gamble head,...

centenary.org.au/centenaryinstitute /centenaryinst

2015Understanding DISEASE...Finding a CURE

OUR VisionTo improve human health through excellence in medical research

OURMissionTo discover and bring to use innovative therapeutics and diagnostics

OURFocusCancer, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases

OURApproachUnderstanding disease and finding a cure

OUR ValuesEXCELLENCE We continue to achieve high levels of productivity, generating useful and lasting knowledge that will impact on how we see and treat diseases in the years to come

COMMITMENTWe work tirelessly to identify the underlying factors of how diseases operate and ways in which we can control and cure them

RELEVANCE We continually refine our work to ensure it is applicable to clinical problems and treatment for patients

Being a medical researcher is a labour of love. This love is constantly tested, but driven by the dream of making a difference.

– Professor Mathew Vadas AO, Executive Director

2 Centenary Institute

WHAT Defines us

PROFESSOR THE HONOURABLE DAME MARIE BASHIR AD CVO CENTENARY PATRON

“As a trained medical doctor, I am deeply aware of the contribution scientific research makes towards the continued advancement in new treatments and diagnosis of disease. If it was not for the work undertaken by the Centenary Institute, we would not have new cancer therapies targeting molecules in cancer cells that drive tumour growth. We would not be as advanced in our knowledge of immunology, infectious and liver disease, and genetic abnormalities underlying cardiovascular disease, which is causing sudden death in young people in Australia and around the world. This world-class research is the badge of honour worn by the Centenary Institute, and the outstanding work I applaud.”

The Centenary Institute (CI) is a world-leading independent medical research institute located at the centre of the University of Sydney – Royal Prince Alfred Hospital precinct. Many of our senior researchers are specialist clinicians at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and lecturers at the University of Sydney. Their direct, personal experience with patients inspires their work to improve and save lives. Our close ties with the University and Hospital mean our scientists are not isolated from the people who are affected by the major diseases we are working to overcome. Centenary has gained international recognition for the quality of its work and the development and application of state of the art complex technologies in cytometry, imaging and bioinformatics to our research.

Our strength is uncovering disease mechanisms and applying obtained knowledge to treat patients. Our research spans from investigating molecular mechanisms of disease at the single cell level to translational disease models in complex organisms and to clinical trials. We will continue to build on

these skills by focusing on and enlarging our research efforts in the three critical areas of cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular disease research.

We possess the scientific excellence and technological skills to allow us to understand the cellular and molecular drivers of inflammation, placing us in an outstanding position to make significant advances to overcome the prevalent diseases (cancer and cardiovascular) of our society.

Inflammation is the most important fundamental mechanism by which the body reacts to injury, such as infection or trauma. Inflammation also underlies a number of prevalent chronic conditions, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases, and drives the initiation and progression of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

With 1 in 2 Australian men and 1 in 3 Australian women set to be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85 years old, and cardiovascular disease killing an Australian every 12 minutes, the need for new diagnostics, treatments and cures has never been more urgent.

“With ...cardiovascular disease killing an Australian every 12 minutes, the need

for new diagnostics, treatments and cures has never been more urgent.”

Understanding Disease... Finding a Cure 3

“My team is helping to understand how prostate cells transport nutrients. This has revealed a new link between nutrition and prostate cancer.”

Associate Professor Jeff Holst Head of Origins of Cancer Program

“My team has discovered that inflammation in arteries is prevented by increasing a cell molecule. This has allowed the design and test of a first-of-its-kind drug for arterial blockage and blindness.”

Professor Jenny Gamble Head of Vascular Biology Program

“My team discovered that some cardiac genes cause sudden death in young people. This has helped us identify patients at risk and prevent fatal arrhythmias.”

Professor Chris Semsarian Head of Molecular Cardiology Program


OUR StrengthsOur strength is understanding disease mechanisms and applying this knowledge to patient outcomes.

We build on these skills and enhanced knowledge by focusing on and enlarging our research efforts in three critical areas: cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular research.

Centenary will continue to be a leader in the field through new competencies and use our strengths to help, support and synergise with our stakeholders and promote the importance of innovation and creativity for Australia’s future.

OUR FocusCANCER In cancer, we have projects specific to leukemia, melanoma, prostate, liver, breast and lung cancer that stand to improve treatment and diagnostics for all solid cancers by altering their blood supply.

INFLAMMATIONWe excel at understanding how inflammation drives disease processes. Through studying the chief cellular components of inflammation, the blood’s white cells and the lining of blood vessels and how they react to injury, we have defined new mechanisms and devised new drug candidates.

CARDIOVASCULARIn cardiovascular disease we have projects identifying the genes causing sudden death in the young, aortic aneurysms in the middle years and atheroma (causing stroke and heart attacks) in the elderly.

“What do heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, stroke and cancer have in common? Scientists have linked each of these to a condition known as chronic inflammation” – The Wall Street Journal.


FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, Centenary’s scientists have demonstrated their passion for research through creativity and excellence by discovering improved diagnostics, treatments and cures for cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. In 2014, we produced over 100 publications in top world-recognised journals such as Nature, Nature Immunology, Nature Reviews Immunology, Nature Communications, Immunity, Cell, Developmental Cell, Ageing Cell, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, PNAS and Current Biology.

We are located on the border of the University of Sydney Campus and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. With many of our Faculty being professors and clinicians, we are well positioned to ensure a virtuous cycle of bed to bench to bed and translate our cutting edge research into practice. We capitalise on this geographical advantage and build these relationships with a focus on multi-disciplinary collaboration to ensure that the Australian population receives the greatest possible benefit.

ANNIVERSARYYear30

Our Faculty has access to some of the brightest minds with students being energised by the synergies created with our affiliated stakeholders.

CENTENARY’S


Professor Sir Marc Feldman (Chair)FMedSci, FAA, FRSHead, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics,Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences,University of Oxford

Professor Michael Good AOInstitute of GlycomicsGriffith University, Gold Coast Campus

Professor Richard Flavell FRSDepartment of ImmunobiologyYale School of MedicineConnecticut, USA

Professor Matthias W. Hentze, M.D.DirectorEuropean Molecular Biology LaboratoryGermany

Professor Ian FrazerTRI Ambassador and Chair of TRI Foundation BoardTranslational Research InstituteThe University of Queensland Diamantina Institute

Professor Axel UllrichMax Planck Institute for BiochemistryDepartment of Molecular BiologyGermany

Scientific ADVISORY BOARD


CENTENARY INSTITUTE Faculty

Professor Mathew Vadas, AO AAHMS MB BS, FRACP, FRCPA, PhD, DSc

Executive Director, Head, Vascular Biology Program, The Centenary Institute

Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Professor Mathew Vadas trained in medicine (with First Class Honours) at the University of Sydney and as a physician at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney before completing a doctorate at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne. He was a chief initiator and Inaugural Director of the Hanson Centre for Cancer Research in Adelaide (now Hanson Institute). He took up the position of Executive Director of the Centenary Institute in 2007 and has seen the size and output of the Institute almost double since that time.

He is one of Australia’s most highly cited scientists with citations in excess of 25,500, a Hirsch index of 85, he is one of Australia’s Inaugural ISI-Thompson Citation Laureates, and on the current ISI Thompson ‘Highly Cited’ list. He has over 270 publications and 20 patents. Professor Vadas has contributed strongly to the Australian biotechnology sector, being involved variously as founder, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and acting CEO in two ASX listed biotechnology companies. He has also served as consultant to several international pharmaceutical companies as well as national biotechnology enterprises. In 2012 he was awarded an Officer in the general division of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to medical and biotechnological research, particularly in the area of human immunology, to higher education, and through contributions to professional organisations. In 2015 he is an inaugural Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

His current pro bono work includes the Medical Research Advisory Board of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, serving on NH&MRC committees, the Board of Governors of the Institute for Creative Health and supporting the Contemporary Collection Benefactors of the Art Gallery of NSW.

Professor Vadas’ research embodies a multi-disciplinary approach to discover new molecules or pathways that may uncover fundamental phenomena of nature and/or lead to novel therapeutics. Using techniques of cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics and genomics, he has primarily focused on endothelial biology and inflammation recently with special interest on angiogenesis and ageing.

Professor Wolfgang Weninger

Assistant Director, Head, Immune Imaging, The Centenary Institute

Raymond E. Purves Professor

Discipline of Dermatology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Head, Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Professor Weninger is a preeminent clinician scientist in the fields of dermatology and immunology. Professor Weninger is a pioneer in the uncovering of immune cell behaviour during anti-pathogen and anti-tumour immune responses in the skin using intravital imaging technology. He is recognised for discovering several unique immune cell subsets and determining their function in the context of immune-mediated pathology. His ongoing work is aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying skin allergies, and the pathways resulting in successful immunity against skin infections as well as melanoma.


Professor Geoff McCaughan

Head, Liver Injury and Cancer Program, The Centenary Institute

A.W Morrow Professor of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Co Director Australian National Liver Transplant Unit,

Director A.W Morrow GE/Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Professor Geoff McCaughan is a physician scientist in the fields of Liver Transplantation, Liver disease and Liver pathobiology. At a basic research level he has lead a team that has made fundamental discoveries in understanding liver transplant tolerance, gene expression in human liver diseases and the biology of the Dipeptidyl Peptidase Gene family. Current research is aimed at new therapies for liver cancer and understanding the liver Stem cell response. At a clinical level he is involved in clinical studies in Liver Transplantation, HCC, End stage Liver Disease and clinical trials in HCV. He has published over 400 papers in basic research and clinical medicine. He was President of the International Liver Transplant Society 2007-2008 and President of the Transplant Society of Australia and New Zealand 2013-2015.

Professor Jenny Gamble

Head, Vascular Program, The Centenary Institute

Wenkart Chair of Endothelium, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Professor Jennifer Gamble is an internationally recognised research leader in the field of endothelial cell function with her interests lying in understanding endothelial cell function, particularly in the area of inflammation, and how dysfunction can influence disease. Her initial publication in this area established the endothelium as a dynamic organ, central to the control of inflammatory processes.

Professor Gamble has authored more than 100 articles together with > 13,000 citations, with a history of commercial development of her projects. She has made major discoveries that impact on our understanding of the role of the blood vessels and in particular the endothelial cell lining of the vessels in the development of disease. Since inflammation underlies all chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms, diabetes, they have focussed on the endothelium and inflammation. She has identified at least four negative regulators that impact on the endothelium to control the inflammatory response exposing the concept that chronic inflammation maybe mediated through the imbalance of positive and negative regulators.

Professor Philip Hogg

Chair in Translational Cancer Research, Sydney Catalyst

NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney

Head, ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Program, The Centenary Institute

Professor Hogg is biochemist and NHMRC Senior Principle Research Fellow. He graduated with a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Queensland, Australia in 1987. His post-doctoral training was in the USA and Sweden followed by sabbaticals at Harvard and Oxford universities.

Prof Hogg has won 19 awards, prizes or fellowships for his research.

His most prominent awards are the 2001 Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research, the 2001 GlaxoSmithKline Australia Award for Research Excellence, the 2009 Oscar Ratnoff Prize from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and the 2010 Eureka Prize for Medical Research Translation.

Professor Hogg has served on numerous NHMRC, Cancer Council NSW, Cancer Council Victoria and Cancer Institute NSW scientific and grant review committees.

He has organised a number of scientific meetings, including Chair of ComBio2007. His currently serves on the Medical Research Advisory Committee of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and the Cancer Research Advisory Committee of the Cancer Institute NSW.


Professor Chris Semsarian

Head, Molecular Cardiology Program, The Centenary Institute

Professor of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Cardiologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

NHMRC Practitioner Fellow

Professor Semsarian is a cardiologist with a specific research focus in the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease. He trained at the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. A focus area of his research is in the investigation and prevention of sudden cardiac death in the young, particularly amongst children and young adults. Prof Semsarian has an established research program at the Centenary Institute, which is at the interface of basic science, clinical research and public health, with the ultimate goal to prevent the complications of genetic heart diseases in our community. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications, in the highest-ranking cardiovascular and general medical journals. He is also been the primary supervisor of over 30 PhD, honours, and medical honours students since 2003, and is an active member of the mentoring program at the University of Sydney.

Professor Warwick Britton AO

Head, TB Program, The Centenary Institute

Bosch Professor of Medicine and Professor of Immunology Medicine (Immunology & Infectious Diseases)


Clinical Immunologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Professor Britton is a leader in the studies of the immunological control of tuberculosis and new vaccine strategies to control this major human infection.

As a clinical immunologist who is recognised as an international authority on the immunology of infectious diseases, Professor Britton has made extensive contributions to the study of mycobacterial infections over the last 20 years. After graduating from the University of Sydney, he worked in a rural hospital in Nepal, where he became fascinated by leprosy and tuberculosis. After completing a PhD on the immunology of leprosy, he established the Mycobacterial Research Laboratory in Kathmandu from 1986-89 for the study of human immune responses to Mycobacterium leprae. This continues as a major field centre for the study of leprosy. He then joined Faculty of Medicine and is currently the Bosch Chair of Medicine and the Head of the Disciplines of Medicine and Infectious Diseases & Immunology in the Central Clinical School.

Having been at The Centenary Institute for more than 15 years, there has been an emphasis on the study of M. tuberculosis infection. Additional research interests in the cellular immune responses in allergic disease, and the epidemiology of asthma. In 2002-03 he was recipient of one of two Fulbright Senior Scholar Awards for Australia to work at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda MD. This has led to a number of ongoing collaborative research projects. In 2004 he was the recipient of the RPAH Research Foundation medal for medical research.



Professor Barbara Fazekas de St. Groth

Head, T Cell Program, The Centenary Institute


Professor Barbara Fazekas de St Groth graduated in medicine with first class honours from the University of Sydney in 1981 and worked as a Professorial Intern and RMO at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney before completing a PhD with JFAP Miller at WEHI and postdoctoral studies with Mark Davis at Stanford.

Professor Barbara Fazekas de St Groth is internationally recognised for her work in understanding how the immune system is regulated. Using T cell receptor preclinical models and multi parameter flow cytometry, she has made significant contributions to the understanding of many fundamental immune processes.

She has developed novel techniques for analysing the role of regulatory T cells in human disease. She discovered the gold standard method for regulatory T cell identification now used in over 400 clinical trials in the areas of graft versus host disease, organ graft rejection, autoimmune disease and allergy. She founded the Ramaciotti Facility for Human Systems Biology to enable the application of advanced cytometry and bioinformatic technology to the analysis of the human immune system and its contribution to cancer and chronic inflammatory disease.

Professor John Rasko AO

Head, Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, The Centenary Institute

Professor of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Head, Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Professor John Rasko AO is a clinical haematologist, pathologist and scientist with a productive track record in gene and stem cell therapy, experimental haematology and molecular biology. In over 150 publications he has contributed to the understanding of stem cells and haemopoiesis, gene transfer technologies, oncogenesis, human aminoacidurias and non-coding RNAs.

He serves on Hospital, state and national bodies including Chair of GTTAC, Office of the Gene Technology Regulator – responsible for regulating all genetically-modified organisms in Australia - and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Biologicals, Therapeutic Goods Administration. Contributions to scientific organisations include co-founding (2000) and past-President (2003-5) of the Australasian Gene Therapy Society; Vice President, International Society for Cellular Therapy (2008-12) and founder (2009) ISCT-Australia; Scientific Advisory Committees and Board member for philanthropic foundations; and several Ethics Committees. He is the recipient of national (RCPA, RACP, ASBMB) and international awards in recognition of his commitment to excellence in medical research, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia.



Dr Patrick Bertolino

Head, Liver Immunology Program, The Centenary Institute

Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney

Dr Bertolino is an immunologist internationally recognised for his expertise on the interactions between the liver and the immune system. Dr Bertolino completed his PhD in immunology in Lyon (France) before undertaking post-doctoral studies at the WEHI (where he was mentored by Prof Jacques Miller), at the Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon (France) and at the Centenary Institute in Sydney where he established the Liver Immunology Group in 2001.

Dr Bertolino has made seminal discoveries in Liver Immunology and is recognised as one of the leading experts in this field worldwide. He is certainly the leader in Australia, where he drives the main group working in this new and expanding discipline. Dr Bertolino was awarded a prestigious NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship in 2008-2013 and was the first associate faculty member to be promoted to the level of Faculty in 2011.

His group uses transgenic models, advanced imaging technology and flow cytometry to understand how subsets of white blood cells interact and are instructed by liver cells in both the healthy and diseased or transplanted liver. This research is important in several clinical settings, including transplantation, malaria and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Professor Peter Hersey

Head, Melanoma Oncology and Immunology, The Centenary Institute


Professor Peter Hersey has extensive experience in both clinical and laboratory based research on melanoma, as a staff specialist and as research director at the Newcastle melanoma unit and professor of Oncology in the University of Newcastle and the inaugural chair of Melanoma Biology in the University of Sydney from 2011. His translational research has involved phase I-III trials of immunotherapy in melanoma, with modified peptide antigens and dendritic cell vaccines. He is recognised in Australia as a pioneer of immunotherapy for melanoma and his studies on how particular melanoma cells make them resistant to treatment and new treatment approaches to overcome certain properties. He has participated in most of the key clinical trials on immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. He is a member of the Melanoma Research Institute of Australia. He is a joint holder of a prestigious NHMRC program grant since 2005, which has been renewed for a third 5-year period. Current interest centres on the role of epigenetic regulators in progression and treatment of melanoma.


Associate Professor Mika Jormakka

Head, Structural Biology Program, The Centenary Institute


Associate Professor Jormakka is head of the structural biology group at Centenary Institute. He completed his Masters Degree at Stockholm University and PhD at Imperial College London under the supervision of Professor So Iwata. During this time he had a particular focus on structure-function studies of membrane bound respiratory complexes. He subsequently obtained the prestigious EMBO Fellowship and trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New South Wales, where he also determined the first membrane protein structure in Australia. In 2008, he relocated to the Centenary Institute and established the Structural Biology group, which today is focused on membrane transport in health and disease. He is currently a NHMRC Career Development Fellow and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney.

Associate Professor Jeff Holst

Head, Origins of Cancer Program, The Centenary Institute


Jeff completed his PhD (UNSW; 2003) before undertaking a postdoc at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the USA. He returned to Australia in 2006, shifting his focus from immunology to cancer research. His laboratory has uncovered how amino acid transporters regulate nutrient uptake in different cancers and cancer subtypes, and is supported by Movember/PCFA, NBCF and CCNSW. His work has shown that blocking nutrient pumps in prostate cancer cells reduces tumour growth (Cancer Res, 2011; JNCI, 2013; J Pathology, 2015), and he is now developing novel therapeutics aimed at blocking these nutrient pumps, thereby starving the cancer cells.


IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES• Focus our scientific efforts on

discovering how diseases work and in particular how inflammation drives disease processes

• Focus our clinical efforts on cancer and cardiovascular diseases – two classes of chronic diseases that are the leading cause of mortality around the globe

• Optimise our strong affiliations with The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Sydney Health District to maximise interactions with clinicians and encourage the exchange of knowledge and samples

ENSURE SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE• Recruit world-recognised and

accomplished scientists that have exemplified prominence within their area of research

• Support rising scientists to thrive in their career paths

• Build strong mentorship and leadership programs that will up-skill our scientists and offer continuous development

• Measure scientific excellence by a number of key performance indicators including the impact of the research, citations of papers, the recognition of our scientists

• Ensure innovation and creativity by attracting young, talented and motivated researchers to start their career at Centenary through studying opportunities, summer scholarships and the Lawrence Creative Prize

• Develop New Program Grants that will offer new opportunities for cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular research

FOSTER INNOVATION• Catalyse advancements in

medical research and discover life saving discoveries by multi-disciplinary collaboration via Sydney Research, Sydney Catalyst and the Sydney Health Partners

• Support early career scientists with start-up funds to collect their preliminary data and increase opportunities for government grants and awards (Innovation Awards and the Centenary Institute Lawrene Creative Prize)

• Promote the development of new technologies and foster communication of our discoveries

OUR Strategic Goals

Understanding DISEASE...Finding a CURE FOR CANCER, INFLAMMATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES


OPTIMISE SYNERGIES• Explore new partnerships

with key players in the fields of medical research and higher education

• Enhance existing collaborations; Centenary will be moving a fleet of cancer researchers into the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre

• Strengthen collaborations between institutes that bring people, facilities and resources together to fuel more powerful and advanced research

• Share resources and equipment to encourage development and collaborations on research projects and fast track findings

ENSURE ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY • Modernise and diversify

funding streams to increase fundraising capabilities and achieve a sustainable model through smart investment, diversity, income generation and the development of staff

• Undergo two major fundraising campaigns; $23.6 million to support the two Sydney Research Buildings, and $10 million to support the ACRF Centenary Cancer Research Centre

• Build a $30million Endowment Fund over ten years that will sustain our vital research in times of financial difficulty, and reduce reliance on government funding

• Seek new collaborations with fellow medical research institutes, universities and similar-minded organisations to share knowledge, resources and ensure efficiency

• Encourage collaborations with peer institutes to share resources and reduce costs of fundraising, increasing revenue for scientists

...cancer and cardiovascular diseases – two classes of chronic diseases that

are the leading cause of mortality around the globe


OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO Patients & Future Generations

1989 DISCOVERED CRITICAL INSIGHTS INTO THE ROLE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN DISEASE

B Cell Program

(chronic inflammatory conditions)

1997 GENERATION OF TNF KNOCK MICE, A CRITICAL RESEARCH TOOL FOR IMPROVING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS MOLECULE IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

Immunopathology Program

(autoimmune diseases)

2001 DISCOVERED THAT THE LIVER LIKE A LYMPHOID TISSUE, CAN DIRECTLY INSTRUCT IMMUNE CELLS

Liver Injury and Cancer Program

(liver cancer, cirrhosis and hepatitis)

2005 ANTI TNF THERAPY INCREASES THE RISK OF REACTIVATION OF TB

Tuberculosis Program

(development vaccines and drugs to improve

global control of Tuberculosis)

2005 IMPROVED THE IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REGULATORY T CELLS, A DISCOVERY USED WIDELY IN CLINICAL AND RESEARCH SETTINGS

T Cell Biology Program (chronic inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and diabetes)

2009 DISCOVERED MICRO RNA CAN BE USED TO TREAT DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH VASCULAR LEAK E.G., STROKE, MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Vascular Biology Program (ageing, which increases risk cardiovascular disease & cancer)

2011 DISCOVERY OF A NEW MECHANISM BY WHICH THE LIVER KILLS IMMUNE CELLS RESPONSIBLE FOR GRAFT REJECTION AND VIRAL CLEARANCE

Liver Immunology Program (chronic liver disease, including liver cancer, cirrhosis and liver transplant)


2011 DEVELOPED AN INTEGRATED GENETIC AND CLINICAL APPROACH FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH

Molecular Cardiology Program (genetic cardio disease and sudden cardiac death)

2012 DISCOVERED NEW DRUG CANDIDATES FOR PROSTATE AND BREAST CANCER

Origins of Cancer Program

2013 DISCOVERED NEW IMMUNE CELL TYPE THAT CAUSES SKIN DISEASES

Immune Imaging Program (melanoma, skin allergies and autoimmune disease)

2015 MOLECULAR CHANGE DRIVING BLOOD CELL DEVELOPMENT (ONE OF THE LEADING CONTRIBUTORS TO PROJECT GRANDIOSE: DEFINITION OF NEW STEM CELLS)

Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program and Bioinformatics Program (cancer, cardiovascular and genetic diseases)


WHY WE CHOSE Centenary

“As a training clinician scientist, I balance a busy research load on top of my clinical duties at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Centenary Institute houses an exceptional core facility with inhouse state-of-the-art multiphoton microscopy that produces images and time-lapse videos for which the Immune Imaging laboratory has gained international recognition

The Scientific Support staff have helped me immensely over the years and are always approachable and welcoming with their open door policy.”PHILLIP TONG

PhD Student Immune Imaging

“The Centenary Institute is a great environment to study in.

I was initially attracted to the Centenary Institute because of its excellent academic record and location.

Centenary has state of the art Flow Cytometry and Imaging equipment, and an impressive animal facility. Along with skilled technicians who go out of their way to train and provide as much assistance as possible.

Centenary provides it’s students with access to a variety of cutting edge techniques and equipment.”

JAMES HENDERSON PhD Scholar Liver Injury and Cancer

ELLIE POWTER Research Assistant Vascular Biology

“Centenary is the whole package: a world class research facility with state of the art equipment, weekly seminars from brilliant national and international researchers, staff who are leaders of their field and fun social events.

To top it off, Centenary is nestled between RPA Hospital and the University of Sydney so there is always a mix of clinicians, scientists and students to collaborate with and learn from.

So, fascinating novel research? Check. State of the art facilities? Check. Brilliant and supportive staff? Check. Opportunities to present and publish? Check. Great Location? Check.

Centenary Institute? Check!”


The Hon Michael Egan AO (Chairman)Appointed Chair in October 2005

Mr Egan, a former Treasurer of NSW (1995-2005), is Chancellor of Macquarie University, former Chairman of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority Commission, Chairman of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd and a former member of the Council of NHMRC. During his 25-year parliamentary career Mr Egan held several ministerial positions.

Mr John Samaha (Deputy Chairman)Appointed Governor in 2003

Mr Samaha leads the Australian litigation and contentious regulatory practice of global law firm Allen & Overy. He has represented many leading financial institutions and corporations, as well as executives, from a wide range of sectors, especially banking, wealth management, financial markets, resources, real estate, IT and telecommunications.

Dr Teresa AndersonAppointed Governor in 2007

Dr Anderson is Chief Executive of the Sydney Local Health District with over 30 years experience in the public health system as a clinician and manager. Dr Anderson is a Board member for eight organisations including the Anzac Research Institute, Ingham Institute, Inner West Sydney Medicare Local and Health Research Institute.

Mr Alastair DavidsonAppointed Governor in October 2004

Mr Davidson has held executive positions in the banking and financial services industry for over 30 years in the UK, US and Australia and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland. He is an Executive of Australasian Wealth Limited, a listed asset manager, in Sydney, and a non- executive Director of Biotech Capital.

Mr Graham KellyAppointed Governor in October 2006

Mr Kelly is non-executive Chairman of listed GDI Property Group and a Director of Harness Racing NSW. He has been non-executive Chairman of various other listed companies, including TAB Limited. He was formally a Partner of law firm Freehills and was an Inspector of ICAC, and a Director of the Medical Research and Compensation Foundation.

Professor Mathew Vadas AOAppointed Governor in October 2007

Professor Vadas followed his medical training with a PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne and postdoctoral work at Harvard. He was the Inaugural Director of the Hanson Centre for Cancer Research (now Hanson Institute) in Adelaide and has been the Executive Director of Centenary Institute since 2007.

Ms Josephine SukkarAppointed Governor in October 2011

Ms Sukkar is co-owner and Principal of construction company Buildcorp. She is a Director of YWCA NSW, Opera Australia and the Sydney University Football Club Foundation. She served as a Director of The Trust Company from 2010-2013, and is also involved with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sir John Monash Foundation and Australian Rugby Union.

Ms Deborah WillcoxAppointed Governor in October 2013

Ms Willcox is the Acting Director of Operations, Sydney Local Health District and General Manager, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She has held senior positions in NSW Health and NSW Government, both as an advisor to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and later as Chief of Staff in the portfolios of Planning, Housing and Aboriginal Affairs.

BOARD OF Governors

Mr Joseph CarrozziAppointed Governor in 2008

Mr Carrozzi is a Managing Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). He is admitted as a Barrister at Law in NSW, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia. Joseph is also Chairman of Australia’s Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a 2015 Asian Cup Board member.

Professor John Horvath AOAppointed Governor in October 2007

Professor Horvath was the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer from 2003 to 2009 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Professor Horvath recently oversaw the Australian Government’s review of Medicare Locals and sits on the boards of Crown Limited and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

Professor Bruce Robinson AMAppointed Governor in October 2007

Professor Robinson is Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, and Head of the Cancer Genetic Laboratory at the Kolling Institute. In 2003, he was awarded the Daiichi Prize by the Asia and Oceania Thyroid Association. Professor Robinson is the Founding Chairman of the Hoc Mai Australia Vietnam Medical Foundation.

Ms Elizabeth DibbsAppointed Governor in October 2013

Ms Dibbs held senior legal positions throughout her career, including General Counsel of PricewaterhouseCoopers prior to her retirement. Ms Dibbs now focuses her energy on the not-for-profit sector. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Western Sydney, a Director of United Way Australia, a Council member of Chief Executive Women.

Dr Chris RobertsAppointed Governor in March 2015

Dr Roberts is Chief Executive Officer/President of Cochlear Limited. He has served as a Director of ResMed Inc since 1992 and Chairman of Research Australia (2004 - 2010). Dr Roberts has worked in the medical device industry for more than 35 years in a number of senior management positions.


Building 93, RPA HospitalMissenden RdCamperdown, NSW 2050Phone: 1800 677 977

Centenary Institute Medical Research Foundation ABN 85 778 244 012 (DGR 2)Centenary Institute ABN 22 654 201 090 (DGR 1)

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2015 - centenary institute · australia and new zealand 2013-2015. professor jenny gamble head,...

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