WEHI - Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

16/03/2026

It’s Charity Wills Week and we’ve partnered with Safewill to offer friends of WEHI a chance to make a legally reviewed Will for FREE.

Whether it’s your loved ones, your pets, or even your digital identity, we all have something worth protecting.

Many Australians also choose to leave a gift to medical research, helping fund breakthroughs in cancer, immune disorders, degenerative diseases and more.

Offer ends 30 March

Learn more: https://safewill.com/wehi?utm_campaign=wehi_mar2026_organic-socials_1

13/03/2026

WEHI marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a seminar exploring practical strategies to advance women in scientific leadership and reflect on progress achieved so far.

Following a deep dive into the data on gender equality at WEHI, a panel facilitated by Professor Joanna Groom and including Dr Meg Taylor, Dr Rachel Joyce, Dr Farzaneh Shojaee and Professor Stephen Nutt discussed practical actions to strengthen diversity in leadership, alongside personal experiences and insights from their own careers.

The discussion highlighted the importance of equitable workloads, supportive leadership and practical initiatives that help women thrive in their careers.

A very warm thank you to our panel for sharing their perspectives and helping drive the conversation forward.

Learn more:https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/international-womens-day-2026-advancing-women-in-stemm-leadership/

📸 Image one L-R: Dr Rachel Joyce, Dr Meg Taylor, Farzaneh Shojaee, Professor Stephen Nutt, Jacqui Olney, Professor Ken Smith, Associate Professor Joanna Groom.

📸 Image two L-R: Dr Meg Taylor, Dr Rachel Joyce, Farzaneh Shojaee, Professor Stephen Nutt, Professor Ken Smith, Associate Professor Joanna Groom.

📸 Image three: Jacqui Olney

10/03/2026

The 2026 Snow Centre for Immune Health Annual Symposium was a powerful salute to science, collaboration and community - uniting researchers, clinicians, and consumers to accelerate immune health breakthroughs.

"The symposium is more than a scientific gathering - it’s a celebration of bold ideas, collaboration, and the power of research to transform lives.”
- Tom Snow, Chair, Snow Medical Research Foundation

Read more: https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/symposium-celebrates-science-collaboration-and-community/

Snow Medical | The Royal Melbourne Hospital

09/03/2026

Could cancer really be detected with a blood test? 🩸

WEHI researchers Dr Eddie La Marca, Dr Sarah Diepstraten and Dr Cameron Lewis unpack the science behind emerging blood-based cancer detection and what it could mean for the future of diagnosis.

Read more:

If you’re feeling worn out or have suddenly lost some weight, your doctor might send you for a blood test.

07/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day!

We’re celebrating the talented women across WEHI — scientists, students and professional staff — whose passion and expertise help power discoveries that change lives. 👩‍🔬🔬🧬✨

📸 L-R: Jill Chmielewski, Research Officer and Frankie Lyons, PhD student

04/03/2026

Meet the WEHI researcher changing what we know about multiple sclerosis (MS) 🔬

Dr Hamish King is leading a project supported by MS Australia to address a long-standing gap in MS genetics.

In people with MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, vision problems and difficulties with movement or cognition.

Although current treatments can reduce relapses and slow progression, there is no cure.

For 20 years, researchers have known that that there are many genetic markers linked to risk of developing MS but haven’t been able to fully explain how they alter immune cell behaviour.

Dr King’s team will now introduce and test these genetic risk factors in human immune cells, measuring how they alter gene activity and immune behaviour both individually and in combination.

Read more: https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/major-step-toward-changing-the-course-of-multiple-sclerosis/

03/03/2026

A new study has found a blood test can help identify the early-stage testicular cancer patients who are most at-risk of cancer relapse.

The CLIMATE study, led by Associate Professor Ben Tran, showed a blood-based marker can detect tiny amounts of remaining cancer after surgery – potentially allowing doctors to personalise care and identify the patients who can be spared unnecessary treatment.

The findings are a collaboration with the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) and were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

A new study co-led by WEHI has found a simple blood test can help identify the early-stage testicular cancer patients who are most at-risk of cancer relapse.

27/02/2026

Today, on Rare Disease Day, we recognise the millions of Australians living with conditions that are individually uncommon but collectively impact around 8% of our population, approximately two million people.

A disease is considered rare if it affects fewer than or equal to five in 10,000 people. These numbers reflect individuals and families managing complex conditions, often with limited treatment options and many unanswered questions.

That’s why investing in rare disease research is so important. Your donation will help fuel research that provides hope for patients and their families. Donate today at https://www.wehi.edu.au/support-us/donate-online/

Pictured: Professor Marnie Blewitt leads research into Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder.

26/02/2026

A new study has solved a longstanding mystery that could lead to the first vaccine to target the most common form of malaria across the world: Plasmodium vivax.

A major obstacle to developing a Plasmodium vivax vaccine has been limited understanding into how the human immune system fights Plasmodium vivax infections.

Co-led by WEHI and Burnet Institute, the new research addresses this knowledge gap, providing critical evidence to guide vaccine design.

Brilliant research co-led led by Professor Ivo Mueller and Dr Rhea Longley, published in Immunity (Cell Press).

PNG Institute of Medical Research | Ehime University Japan

https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/study-reveals-immune-blueprint-for-next-generation-malaria-vaccine/

25/02/2026

🧬 Undergraduate Scholarships – Now Accepting Applications

Are you an undergraduate student thinking about a future in biomedical research?

The Metcalf Scholarships at WEHI offer the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, working alongside world-class scientists across cancer, immunology, infectious diseases, developmental disorders and healthy ageing research.

This is an excellent opportunity to build practical lab skills, contribute to meaningful discoveries and experience life inside a leading medical research institute.

📌 Eligibility
Open to students in their 2nd or 3rd year of an undergraduate degree (or equivalent stage for part-time or double-degree students) at an Australian university.

⏰ Applications close: 22 March 2026, 5pm

🔗 Find out more and apply: https://www.wehi.edu.au/education/undergraduate/metcalf-scholarships/

24/02/2026

“This is a collaboration that is changing the lives of girls and women in Bangladesh.”
- Dr Mohammad (Imrul) Hasan

For a decade, scientists from icddr,b (a Bangladeshi research institute) and WEHI have worked side-by-side to tackle anaemia in Bangladesh.

Now, Dr Imrul Hasan and Dr Eliza Davidson collaborate across continents on a clinical trial to improve the health of Bangladeshi girls and women.

In his dual role as assistant scientist and deputy project coordinator, Imrul oversees the trial assessing tranexamic acid as a potential way to reduce anaemia and enhance the wellbeing of adolescents experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding.

The team works closely with Eliza who brings expertise in trial coordination and keeps everything connected between Dhaka and Melbourne.

Learn more about their collaboration: https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/a-global-partnership-for-womens-health/

📸Dr Eliza Davidson and Dr Mohammad (Imrul) Hasan in Bangladesh.

20/02/2026

This Ovarian Cancer Month, we’re spotlighting a collaborative study that could lead to more personalised treatments for the disease.

The trial, co-led by WEHI, University of Sydney NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre and RMIT University and coordinated by the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG) has identified a simple blood test that could better predict the women who are more likely to benefit from a key ovarian cancer treatment known as PARP inhibitor therapy.

Learn more about what this study means for the future of ovarian cancer research and treatments: https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/blood-test-offers-hope-for-more-effective-ovarian-cancer-treatment/

WomenCan Fundraising

📸 L to R: WEHI study leads Professor Clare Scott AM, Associate Professor Matthew Wakefield Dr Cassandra Vandenberg