St Vincent's Institute

13/04/2026

Thanks to philanthropic support, Anny (Nan) Su is creating tiny, lab-grown 3D models of heart and kidney tissue to uncover the mechanisms driving cardiorenal syndrome and test potential therapies.

Find out more: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/a-new-approach-to-heart-and-kidney-disease-donor-support-powers-anny-nan-su/

10/04/2026

Reports of substantial weight loss and improved metabolic health have fuelled enormous interest in GLP-1 medications. But are they truly a universal solution, or is the reality more complex?

SVI’s Professor John Wentworth, endocrinologist and Senior Clinical Research Fellow in Immunology & Diabetes, examines the science behind the headlines, weighing the theories against the real clinical evidence.

Find out more: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/the-truth-about-weight-loss-drugs-with-professor-john-wentworth/

10/04/2026

The 2026 SVI Discovery Fund Luncheon, graciously hosted by Discovery Fund Committee Chair Christine Tarascio AM and her family, brought together supporters, scientists and friends for an engaging afternoon celebrating the impact of philanthropy on medical research.

The event highlighted the remarkable growth and impact of the Discovery Fund, which has now reached over $8.5 million in value. Since distributions began in 2021, more than $3.3 million has been directed to support pioneering research at SVI.

Find out more: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/discovery-fund-luncheon-celebrates-multimillion-dollar-impact-on-medical-research-progress/

09/04/2026

Dementia is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, yet current treatments cannot stop the disease. At SVI, Dr Emma van der Westhuizen is determined to tackle this challenge, thanks to philanthropic generosity.

Find out more: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/donor-support-backs-bold-ideas-in-dementia-research/

25/03/2026

Researchers from the Human Genomics & Evolution Lab have helped uncover how DNA inherited from extinct human relatives continues to influence our biology today.

The study, led by Associate Professor Irene Gallego Romero, with PhD student Maddy Comerford, explores genetic variants inherited from Denisovans and Neanderthals: ancient human groups that interbred with early modern humans tens of thousands of years ago.

Find out more: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/ancient-dna-reveals-how-human-evolution-still-shapes-our-immune-system/

20/03/2026

An SVI-led research team has been awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant to tackle one of the most persistent challenges faced by people with a heritable condition called Fanconi anaemia: identifying its genetic causes to improve diagnosis and care.

Led by Associate Professor Wayne Crismani, the project investigates this rare, life-limiting condition, which increases the risk of early-onset cancers, progressive bone marrow failure and other serious health problems.

Find out more:

An SVI-led research team has been awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Grant to tackle one of the most persistent challenges faced by people with a heritable condition called Fanconi anaemia: identifying its genetic causes to improve diagnosis and care.

19/03/2026

We’re proud to announce a major step forward for AI-powered breast cancer detection in Australia.

MECCA Brands M-POWER has awarded catalytic funding to the BRAIx collaboration to accelerate the translation of its AI technology into real-world breast cancer screening programs.

This latest investment builds on MECCA’s longstanding support of BRAIx.

Led by Associate Professor Helen Frazer of St Vincent’s BreastScreen and Associate Professor Davis McCarthy, BRAIx aims to transform breast cancer screening by combining Australian‑built AI with radiologist expertise to detect cancers earlier, reduce unnecessary recalls, and tailor screening to each woman’s needs.

Recent findings published in The Lancet Digital Health highlight the tool’s ability to predict breast cancer risk more accurately than traditional measures.
Importantly, BRAIx has been developed and validated using Australian data, strengthening local capability while ensuring accuracy, transparency and trust in our healthcare system.

With this philanthropic support, the team is now moving beyond research to deliver a patient-ready solution, bringing safer, smarter screening closer to women across Australia and beyond.

BRAIx is made possible through a powerful collaboration between SVI, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, BreastScreen Victoria, the University of Melbourne and the University of Adelaide, bringing together leading clinical, research and screening expertise to drive real-world impact in breast cancer detection.

The BRAIx program would not be where it is today without the significant commitment of MECCA to advancing women’s health through bold, practical innovation.

Find out more: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/mecca-backs-braix-to-bring-ai-powered-breast-cancer-detection-into-screening-programs-across-australia/

12/03/2026

SVI's Associate Professor Jock Campbell argues that cardiovascular disease prevention needs to start in childhood, because early education can create lifelong habits, improve blood pressure and cholesterol control and ultimately add 10-15 years of healthy living.

Find out why we can't wait to protect our hearts: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/we-cant-wait-to-protect-our-hearts/

11/03/2026

Dr Prerak Trivedi from SVI’s Immunology & Diabetes Unit has been named one of seven recipients of a Breakthrough T1D Early Career Basic Researcher Fellowship. This Fellowship is designed to fast-track discoveries that could change daily life for people living with type 1 diabetes.

Prerak’s project focuses on an important challenge in the condition: protecting insulin-producing beta cells from immune attack after transplantation. If successful, this combination strategy could be transformative for beta cell replacement therapy, a key step toward reversing the effects of type 1 diabetes.

Find out more: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/dr-prerak-trivedi-awarded-two-year-fellowship-for-type-1-diabetes-immunotherapy-research/

06/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the remarkable women of SVI, past and present, whose dedication, leadership and discoveries help drive our research forward every day.

From scientists and students to professional staff and collaborators, women are at the heart of the Institute. Their work spans laboratories, clinics, operations and community engagement, all united by a shared commitment to improving human health through discovery.

Among them is Professor Louise Purton, whose research explores how blood vessels within the bone marrow help regulate the stem cells responsible for producing our blood. Her team is working to understand how disruptions to these vessels can interfere with normal blood production and contribute to bone marrow failure, with the goal of identifying new ways to restore a healthy blood system. Recently, Louise presented this work in the United States as an invited speaker at the Keystone Haematopoiesis Conference.

Today, we recognise and thank the women whose ideas, expertise and perseverance have helped build SVI into the thriving research community it is today, and the next generation who will carry that legacy into the future.

05/03/2026

On National Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome Awareness Week, SVI stands with the families and individuals affected by Fanconi anaemia, a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder that stops the body from properly repairing damaged DNA.

We know from listening to families that Fanconi anaemia does not define you, and that medicine and research needs to find ways to allow someone with a Fanconi anaemia diagnosis to live a normal life.

Fanconi anaemia can lead to bone marrow failure, increased cancer risk and a lifetime of complex medical challenges. For many families, the journey to diagnosis is long and uncertain. That’s why research matters.

One of the laboratories at SVI working to unravel the genetic mysteries of Fanconi anaemia is the DNA Repair & Recombination Lab, led by Associate Professor Wayne Crismani. The team's research is helping to identify the underlying causes of hard-to-diagnose cases, improve genetic testing and better understand why different subtypes carry different risks.

We recognise that while Fanconi anaemia is rare, its impact is profound. Through research, collaboration and community support, we are working toward earlier diagnoses, better risk prediction and brighter futures for people living with Fanconi anaemia.

National Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome Awareness Week is led by Maddie Riewoldt's Vision.

04/03/2026

An international team, including Associate Professor Davis McCarthy and colleagues, has developed a breast screening artificial intelligence (AI) tool that estimates a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer more accurately than current methods.

Published in The Lancet Digital Health, the BRAIx risk score identifies women at high risk of developing breast cancer with remarkable precision.

Find out more about the promising new technology: https://www.svi.edu.au/news-events/ai-based-tool-estimates-breast-cancer-risk-within-next-four-years/