The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Finding cures. Saving lives. Medical Research Institute

24/04/2026

We are proud to celebrate Dr Alexandra O’Donohue following her recognition by the with a Young Investigator Award for her work on gene therapy to prevent NF2 associated vestibular schwannomas.

NF2 associated vestibular schwannomas are non cancerous tumours that grow on the hearing and balance nerves in people with NF2 related schwannomatosis.

In this video, Alexandra reflects on why research funding matters so much, giving early career researchers the support and momentum needed to pursue bold ideas and work towards better outcomes for patients.

Congratulations, Alexandra, on this important recognition.

It was a pleasure to welcome members of the Parramatta District to WIMR for a special visit, where they heard from our ...
21/04/2026

It was a pleasure to welcome members of the Parramatta District to WIMR for a special visit, where they heard from our researchers, toured our labs and facilities, and joined us for lunch.

We were especially pleased to host the visit with one of our own, Thomas Tu, who is a member of the Parramatta District Men’s Shed.

The Australian Men’s Shed Association supports more than 1,200 sheds and 50,000+ Australians across the country, doing important work to build connection, wellbeing and community.

Thank you to the Parramatta District Men’s Shed for spending time with us at WIMR.

WIMR is marking five years of integrated Sjögren’s disease research at Westmead during Sjögren’s Awareness Month. Based ...
14/04/2026

WIMR is marking five years of integrated Sjögren’s disease research at Westmead during Sjögren’s Awareness Month. Based at Centre for Immunology and Allergy Research (CIAR), the program is one of the few integrated Sjögren’s research efforts in Australia, bringing together patients, clinicians, diagnostic laboratories, consumer partners and researchers in a connected model.

The research is focused on understanding the immunological mechanisms driving Sjögren’s disease and translating those findings back to the clinic. Current work includes identifying biomarkers to support precision medicine, studying B-cell repertoires using leftover tissue, and correlating these findings with patient-reported outcomes to help improve diagnosis, monitoring and future therapeutic strategies.

As Dr Adrian Lee notes, “This research is important because Sjögren’s disease is one of the most common systemic autoimmune diseases with no cure or effective therapies available. It is also poorly diagnosed and misunderstood even amongst health professionals; therefore, WIMR is helping to raise awareness of this condition.”

This work reflects the power of collaboration, bringing together Westmead Hospital patients, clinicians, diagnostic laboratories, Oral Medicine, consumer partners, Sjogren's Australia, and researchers across the country to ensure that remains clinically meaningful and translational.

We thank Dr. Adrian Lee, A/Prof Joanne Reed, A/Prof Ming Wei Lin and researchers at CIAR for driving this important work forward.

Read more about WIMR’s Sjögren’s disease research here: https://lnkd.in/gMTSydSj

We’re proud to share that The Westmead Institute for Medical Research has signed the , becoming just the second Australi...
12/04/2026

We’re proud to share that The Westmead Institute for Medical Research has signed the , becoming just the second Australian MRI to join this global.

The Technician Commitment is a pledge to improve visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in research. For WIMR, this reflects our commitment to recognising the vital contribution of our technical workforce including Research Assistants, Research Coordinators and Scientific Platforms Specialists whose expertise helps drive discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic.

By joining this growing international community, we are strengthening our focus on technical career pathways, investing in skills and leadership, and supporting the people who underpin world-class research and positive culture at WIMR.

Read the full article on our website to learn more about what this means for WIMR 👉 https://wimr.org.au/news/wimr-becomes-latest-australian-signatory-to-join-the-technician-commitment/

Celebrating 90 years of funding health and medical research in Australia — a sustained investment that has had a profou...
09/04/2026

Celebrating 90 years of funding health and medical research in Australia — a sustained investment that has had a profound impact on improving health outcomes.

Here in Western Sydney, WIMR has been supported by NHMRC to deliver life-changing discoveries across areas including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and transplantation.

Through highly competitive Investigator Grants, NHMRC supports our researchers at all career stages to lead discovery programs that underpin future clinical advances. Ideas Grants enable innovative, investigator-led research addressing significant clinical need, while Clinical Trials funding supports translation into tangible patient outcomes.

Continued success in these nationally competitive schemes reflects the strength and reach of research at WIMR, delivering benefits for patients in Western Sydney and contributing to improved outcomes globally.

To learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/grbepQW9

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01/04/2026

In this video, Professor Jacob George speaks to the importance of the Snow Program for Liver Health, a major national program bringing together researchers and clinicians to tackle one of Australia’s fastest-growing chronic diseases.

Affecting about one in three Australian adults, fatty liver disease remains one of the least understood liver conditions, with no approved medications currently available.

That’s why programs like this matter, because long-term investment will create the foundation for earlier diagnosis, better treatments and real hope for patients and families.

WIMR is pleased to announce three new appointments to our Board Committees, strengthening the Institute’s expertise acro...
25/03/2026

WIMR is pleased to announce three new appointments to our Board Committees, strengthening the Institute’s expertise across governance, risk and commercialisation.

We are delighted to welcome Manisha Goyal to the Board Audit and Risk Committee and as inaugural Chair of the WIMR Cybersecurity Governance Board Working Group, and Dr Christian Toouli and Dr Kerstin Schütz to the IP and Commercialisation Committee.

These appointments bring deep experience across legal, governance, enterprise risk, biotechnology, commercialisation and innovation - further strengthening WIMR’s capacity to translate research into real-world impact.

As Board Chair Michael Rose AM said:
“These appointments strengthen WIMR’s governance and our capacity to translate research into real-world impact. The breadth of experience across commercialisation, risk and innovation will support the Institute’s continued growth and its contribution to Western Sydney and beyond.”

Please join us in welcoming Manisha, Christian and Kerstin to WIMR.

Read more on our website: https://wimr.org.au/news/wimr-strengthens-board-committees-with-new-appointments/

This International Women’s Day, we’re proud to celebrate the extraordinary women at Westmead Institute for Medical Resea...
07/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we’re proud to celebrate the extraordinary women at Westmead Institute for Medical Research who are advancing discovery and improving health outcomes for women everywhere.

From reproductive health and autoimmune disease to cancer, cardiovascular disease and mental health, our researchers are tackling the complex conditions that disproportionately affect women and ensuring women are better represented in medical research.

We’re continually inspired by the brilliant female scientists at Westmead who are leading breakthrough research, mentoring the next generation, and driving real change in how we understand and treat disease.

Investing in women in science is not only about equity, it leads to better research, better innovation and better health for all.

We are rolling out the welcome mat at WIMR! Today we are celebrating Snow Medical’s support for a seven‑year, $15.5m n...
04/03/2026

We are rolling out the welcome mat at WIMR!

Today we are celebrating Snow Medical’s support for a seven‑year, $15.5m national program tackling fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

From our home base at the Storr Liver Centre (WIMR), we’ll unite teams across Australia to speed up earlier diagnosis, effective treatments and prevention linking discovery science with real‑world care.

Big thanks to Snow Medical Research Foundation and to our brilliant partners Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Queensland, Monash University and more.

Equity matters: the program is embedding senior female leadership, mentoring for early- and mid-career female researchers, and female co‑leads across major program aims.

If you’re at the launch, tag us in your photos!



We are proud to launch the Snow Program for Liver Health. This is Australia’s largest philanthropic investment in liver...
04/03/2026

We are proud to launch the Snow Program for Liver Health.

This is Australia’s largest philanthropic investment in liver research, made possible by a $15.5m commitment from Snow Medical

Over seven years, this national research program will be headquartered at our Storr Liver Centre in The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and focused on fatty liver disease (MAFLD),
which affects up to one in three Australian adults and can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure and even liver cancer. This program brings together leading teams from across Australia including Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Charles Perkins Centre, Westmead Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, St Vincents Hospital, The University of Queensland, Monash University and additional partners nationwide.

Our goals:
• Earlier detection
• Improved non‑invasive diagnostics
• Better treatments and prevention turning discovery into meaningful patient impact

A major component of the program is embedding senior female leadership, structured mentoring for early- and mid-career female researchers, and female co‑leads across major research aims building long‑term balance in biomedical leadership.

Thank you, Snow Medical, for backing ambitious, collaborative science that will make a real difference for patients and families.

Learn more: wimr.org.au/snow-program-for-liver-health



As we mark Shingles Action Week 2026, WIMR is proud to highlight the important contribution of our world leading infecti...
26/02/2026

As we mark Shingles Action Week 2026, WIMR is proud to highlight the important contribution of our world leading infectious diseases and vaccine researcher, Professor Tony Cunningham. With decades of pioneering work in viral immunology, Tony continues to play a key role in helping Australians understand the real and rising impact of shingles, particularly for older adults and those with weakened immune systems. His evidence-based insights are helping cut through confusion and ensure the community has access to clear, trustworthy information about prevention, symptoms and treatment.

Shingles is far more common than most people realise, and Tony’s leadership in public education is critical to improving early diagnosis and encouraging informed and preventative health actions. At WIMR, we focus on tackling real-world health challenges through research that leads to tangible clinical outcomes and improvements for patients. We are proud of Tony’s continued contribution to the national conversation and the difference his research program makes to the growing challenge presented by Shingles.

We’re incredibly grateful for the remarkable support provided by the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, and their partn...
19/02/2026

We’re incredibly grateful for the remarkable support provided by the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, and their partners in the Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (United States), Ovarian Cancer Canada, and Ovarian Cancer Action (United Kingdom) through their AI Accelerator Grant.

This investment is a powerful boost for our Australian team at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and UNSW and an exciting moment for ovarian cancer research globally. With access to advanced AI capability and one of the world’s most comprehensive ovarian cancer datasets, this grant enables researchers to uncover new insights that could transform how we predict treatment response, personalise care, and ultimately improve survival outcomes for women everywhere.

This work has never been more important. Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal gynaecological cancers with around 2,000 Australians diagnosed each year, and nearly 1,000 lives lost annually, with a five‑year survival rate of just 49%. Symptoms are often vague, leading many to be diagnosed late. The urgent need for innovation is clear, and this grant represents a major step forward. We’re proud to be part of a global effort working toward better tools, better treatments, and better futures for everyone impacted by ovarian cancer.

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