WEHI - Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

24/01/2026

🎓𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🎓

At WEHI, the power of youth is central to how education is shaped and experienced.

From students in our work experience programs, to participants in the WEHI DeadlyScience Pathways Program, and our Honours, Masters and PhD researchers, students co-create education across the institute, contributing ideas, perspectives and energy at every stage of learning.

Through their curiosity and fresh thinking, students make important contributions to discoveries that improve health, while also helping shape WEHI’s collaborative and inclusive culture.

Learn more about education opportunities at WEHI:https://www.wehi.edu.au/education/

15/01/2026

⚡Electron beams are helping shape the future of health. Really? Yes! But there’s no Star Wars here, only brilliant researchers using the latest tech to solve decades-long mysteries.🚀

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) is a powerful way to take extremely detailed pictures of tiny biological molecules – like proteins or viruses – by freezing them and then looking at them with a beam of electrons instead of light.

CryoEM reveals worlds invisible to the eye, allowing scientists to piece together high-resolution 3D pictures never seen before.

Thanks to cryoEM, WEHI’s Parkinson's Disease Research Centre has made a huge leap forward in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.👏

For the first time, they’ve been able to visualise the structure of a key protein linked to Parkinson’s disease – the fastest growing neurodegenerative condition in the world – propelling progress toward new treatments. 🧪💊🩺

This work was possible thanks to The Hugh Christopher Middendorp Testamentary Trust, a CSL Biotechnology Centenary Fellowship and the National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC

Excellence in life-saving medical research. That’s what WEHI stands for.

Read more 👉 https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/scientists-solve-decades-long-parkinsons-mystery/

14/01/2026

Celebrating curiosity and achievement in science 🔬✨

WEHI was proud to sponsor a science award at Worawa Aboriginal College’s annual Presentation Day. Dr Nadia Kershaw presented the award to Year Seven student Colleen, recognising her outstanding dedication and achievements in science throughout 2025.

Worawa Aboriginal College has also previously participated in the WEHI DeadlyScience Pathways Program, supporting First Nations students to explore pathways in STEM 🧬

08/01/2026

A big cheer for our two WEHI-led projects awarded a combined $10 million over 5 years through the National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC Synergy grants! 👏 👏

🧠 Professor Grant Dewson is leading a team uncovering how defective mitochondria drive Parkinson’s, aiming to stop the disease in its tracks and catch it earlier.

🦟 Professor Alan Cowman AC and his team are working toward a multi-stage multi-species malaria vaccine to protect millions especially against 𝘗. 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘹, which currently has no vaccine.

Find out more about their dedicated research projects:https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/powering-progress-10m-in-synergy-grants-fuels-research-into-malaria-and-parkinsons/

06/01/2026

🦠 Are you a parasite? Do you want to infect more hosts? Here’s a tip: stop having s*x.

For 𝘎𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴, giving up s*x meant infecting more hosts – pets, livestock, wildlife and humans.

But there’s a catch: without s*x, harmful mutations build up, putting it on a slow road to extinction.

A WEHI-led study has uncovered this genetic shortcut which has implications for drug resistance and emerging infections worldwide.

𝘎𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢 parasites cause more than 600,000 cases of illness in Australia each year, and more than 280 million cases worldwide.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/how-the-parasite-that-gave-up-s*x-found-more-hosts-and-why-its-victory-wont-last/

📷 This colourised microscope image shows the 𝘎𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢 parasite dividing into two, a process that helps it spread and cause diarrhoeal illness.

Researchers have uncovered how a particular strain of a diarrhoea-causing parasite managed to infect more animal species, offering new insights into how parasitic infections emerge and spread to people.

05/01/2026

🚨 Attention🚨

Announcing that 12 WEHI researchers have been awarded a total of $14 million in National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC Ideas Grants! 📢

The new funding will drive pioneering research into Parkinson’s, coeliac disease, cancer and more, shaping the future of health.

We're beyond proud of Dr Cindy Audiger, Dr Kira Behrens, Dr Sylvie Callegari, Dr Wing F*k (Luke) Chan, Dr Melinda Hardy, Dr Miles Horton, Professor David Huang, Dr Andre Samson, Professor Kate Sutherland, Dr Tom Weber, Dr Clare Weeden and Professor Ian Wicks.

23/12/2025

Tiny artists, big festive energy 🎨✨

Huge thanks to the WEHI Parents Group for sharing some of the adorable entries from their drawing competition, capturing what their kids love most about the festive season 😍🧬🦠🧫🧪

22/12/2025

⚡ Celebrating bold ideas in research!

Blue sky ideas need a special kind of support. Thanks to a generous donor, and matched funding from WEHI, these outstanding researchers will get the funding they need to pursue their big ideas.

The Jenny Tatchell Awards for Blue Sky Research provide support the most exciting and promising research ideas from WEHI postdoctoral researchers.

We’re deeply grateful to Jenny for her generosity and commitment to curiosity-driven science.

👏 Congratulations to this year’s winners:
Team 1: Luuk Heitink, Yupei You, Dáire Gannon, Lin Liu
Team 2: Wessel Burger, Andrew Kueh (not pictured)

18/12/2025

How are we shaping the future of health?

Find out in the latest edition of our 𝐼𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 newsletter.

Read about a revolutionary blood test for detecting coeliac disease, how we’re partnering with Moderna, Inc. for mRNA drug discovery, a new malaria vaccine target – and more.

Check out the summer edition of Illuminate and sign up to receive future editions in your inbox: www.wehi.edu.au/illuminate-newsletter/

18/12/2025

Think you know your immune system? Let’s bust some myths!

Myth or Fact?
Taking lots of vitamins will “boost” your immune system.
❌ Myth!
Vitamins help, but balance is key - there’s no magic pill.

Myth or Fact?
Cold weather weakens your immune system.
❌ Myth!
It’s not the cold - it’s the dry air and indoor crowding that help viruses spread.

Myth or Fact?
Much of your immune system lives in your gut.
✅ Fact!
About 70% of immune cells are found in your gut.

Myth or Fact?
Stress doesn’t affect your immune system.
❌ Myth!
Chronic stress can suppress immune responses and make you more vulnerable.

Myth or Fact?
Vaccines “overload” your immune system.
❌ Myth!
Vaccines train your immune system safely - they don’t overwhelm it.

Want to learn more? Dive into the science at www.snowimmunehealth.org.au

17/12/2025

Malaria is a leading cause of preventable illness and death globally, killing over 600,000 people a year.

Children under 5 are the most vulnerable, and it is estimated that a child dies of malaria every minute.

The emergence of drug-resistant parasites has complicated efforts to control and eliminate the disease – but a new antimalarial drug candidate offers fresh hope.

Developed by researchers from WEHI and global biopharmaceutical company MSD Invents, the drug candidate targets the most prevalent malaria parasites in humans and blocks two essential parasite enzymes.

It’s a unique dual-action strategy that may help combat the development of drug resistance, supporting global efforts to find new ways to combat this devastating disease.

https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/new-antimalarial-drug-candidate-shows-potential-for-fighting-resistance-and-reducing-malaria-transmission/

Researchers have developed a new antimalarial drug candidate designed to address the growing challenge of drug resistance and potentially reduce malaria transmission.

16/12/2025

🔬 WEHI on ABC Radio!

Great to have Professor Len Harrison featured on the Health Report to discuss his recent study that found Indigenous babies in remote Australia are born with far healthier gut microbiomes compared to their urban counterparts.

An insightful segment that explores what this early natural health advantage means for lifelong health, and how Westernisation might be reshaping our gut bacteria in ways that matter for chronic disease risk.

🎧 Listen here:
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/healthreport/gut-microbiome-indigenous-babies/106136322

ABC Radio National