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Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Gillies McIndoe Research Institute

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Gillies McIndoe Research Institute

A biomedical research charity creating accessible treatments by repurposing medications to ease suffering from devastating conditions.

In our work, we test medications using spheroids and organoids. Your generous support makes this happen. The Gillies McIndoe Research Institute (GMRI) is seeking to achieve a paradigm shift in the way numerous diseases, including cancer, are treated. Our goal is to develop low cost and widely available treatments without the need for invasive and expensive surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Our research has already underpinned paradigm shifts in the treatments for deformational ear anomalies and strawberry birthmarks. These successes have won widespread recognition and are now used internationally. Now, we are applying our knowledge, understanding and innovation to address cancer, fibrotic conditions, vascular birthmarks and regenerative medicine.

04/03/2026

🔬 Research
🧫 Experiments
🧠 Science
👩‍🔬 Life in the lab

At the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, our scientists study diseases such as
glioblastoma, meningioma, infantile haemangioma, and keloid scars.

Every experiment brings us closer to new treatments that could change patients’ lives.

Follow along on Facebook to see our science in action.

Thanks to Hip Hop Science for creative input.

27/02/2026

🧠 Charity Pub Quiz Night – Win prizes & support our research

Looking for a genuinely fun night out in Wellington?

Join us for Charity Pub Quiz Nights on Tuesday's at Mean Doses during the month of March and support Gillies McIndoe Research Institute! Every donation will go to helping fund research happening right here in our city.

🎟 Raffles on the night:
$2 entries: For every $2 donated, you gain 1 entry to WIN prizes! Including some of the items photographed, such as nutella, hand creams and cute chopsticks!
⭐ $10 entry: On top of 5 raffle tickets, for every $10 donated, you could be in to WIN a private, personalised behind-the-scenes tour inside the Gillies McIndoe research labs, including performing an experiment! Not something you can normally buy.

Bring friends. Form a team.
Have a laugh, be in to win something great, and help fund research that changes lives.

📍 Mean Doses, Level 1, 66 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington
📅 Every Tuesday in March (3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st)
⏰ 6pm - 9pm

18/02/2026

This summer we were lucky to welcome Ellie Morrison to the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute.

Working alongside PhD student Freya Weth, Ellie contributed to research using patient-derived 3D glioblastoma spheroids. These are “mini tumours” grown from real patient glioblastoma samples. These advanced 3D models help us better understand one of the most aggressive brain cancers and explore how tumours respond to treatment in a way that more closely reflects what happens in patients.

Over the summer, Ellie:
🔬 Learned new laboratory techniques like immunofluorescence, cell culture and learned how to use a confocal microscope
🧫 Worked with patient-derived tumour samples
💊 Contributed to early drug response experiments
📝 Will be a co-author on a manuscript in preparation

Glioblastoma remains extremely difficult to treat, in part due to cancer stem cells that are thought to drive therapy resistance and recurrence. By developing reliable patient-derived 3D models, our team is building a foundation for more personalised and effective treatment strategies in the future.

More than anything, Ellie brought curiosity, enthusiasm, and thoughtfulness to the lab. We will genuinely miss her.

We wish her all the very best as she begins her Honours year in the Physiology Department at the University of Otago. We have no doubt she has a bright future ahead.

15/02/2026

What a day to remember! 🌧️💨

Huge congratulations to our incredible team from the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute who took on the Round the Bays, braving wild winds and an incoming storm to cross that finish line!

We’re so proud of our students Dr. Sam Siljee, Jasmine White, and Clara Lopez, alongside our amazing volunteer Rachel Mackintosh and our dedicated ambassador Nick White. Your determination, resilience, and team spirit truly reflect what our community is all about.

Despite the crazy weather, you showed up, supported each other, and ran with heart. 💙 That’s what teamwork looks like.

Here’s to courage, camaraderie, and building strength together, both on and off the course.

12/02/2026

Happy Friday 🧫🦋

You might have seen this photo before.
Have you ever wondered what our PhD students, Jaz and Freya, are looking at?

They’re checking on living tumour cells, grown carefully in controlled conditions so we can understand how they behave and how to stop them.

Under each microscope view is:
• A patient in mind
• An experiment carefully run
• Cells counted and monitored
• A student building skill and confidence
• A hypothesis being tested

Science isn’t one dramatic breakthrough. It’s careful observation. Repeated experiments. Small, steady steps forward.

And this week, we grew a few more answers.

11/02/2026

🧠🤝 Sharing knowledge today, to help patients tomorrow

Yesterday, PhD student Freya Weth presented her glioblastoma research to Neurosurgeons at Wellington Hospital.

By working alongside clinicians and sharing medical insights early, we can ensure discoveries made in the lab are shaped by real patient needs.

Freya shared that while treatment responses with individual drugs varied between different patient-derived organoids, one four-drug combination was effective across all 10 patient organoids. Her work reinforces the potential of repurposed medications to deliver faster, more accessible treatment options for patients with cancer.

Collaboration like this- between scientists and surgeons- is how medical knowledge moves forward: sharing information today, in the hope of improving outcomes for patients tomorrow.

🦋 Local science. Worldwide hope.

09/02/2026

Interested in hearing about our research and understanding the impact our research has had on our community? Come along to see Dr. Gray and Erin Paterson tonight at the Rotary Club of Plimmerton! Details below.

04/02/2026

Recently, our summer student Ellie Morrison told us one of her highlights of being in our lab was using the confocal microscope. The image shared here is an example of what this microscope can reveal when combined with a technique called immunofluorescence, and honestly, it’s hard not to stop and admire it. It’s no wonder Ellie found it so inspiring.

So what is immunofluorescence?
It’s a staining technique that uses antibodies, like those used by our immune system, to specifically bind to proteins inside cells. These antibodies are tagged with fluorescent markers, allowing us to see exactly where different proteins are located.

This powerful (and very cool) technique can be used to visualise many things, from identifying cancer biomarkers to detecting misfolded proteins- all while creating images that remind us just how magical working in science can be 💙🧬

📷 From the Gillies McIndoe files
👉See Ellie performing immunofluorescence techniques here https://www.instagram.com/p/DUWqIuIDyeY/

03/02/2026

Today is World Cancer Day. It is a reminder that behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a future worth fighting for.

We wish to acknowledge everyone affected by cancer today and reaffirm our commitment to work for better outcomes for all.

Our work would not be possible without the trust from our patients. Every tissue sample received represents the trust people have given us. We take this responsibility seriously, respectfully and sincerely. Thank you for your trust. 💙

02/02/2026

🌞 Supporting the next generation of scientists 🦋

At Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, our summer studentships are made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors, giving students the chance to gain hands-on experience in real cancer research.

This summer Ellie Morrison joined our lab to investigate how repurposed medications could be used to treat glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive brain cancers. During her studentship, Ellie was able to carry out experiments independently while also learning from others across the lab, gaining confidence, new skills, and insight into how research teams work together.

Ellie particularly valued working in a smaller research environment where she had the space and time to learn, ask questions, and make the most of advanced equipment- including the confocal microscope (a standout experience!). Working in cell culture alongside our Master’s and PhD students was also a highlight, allowing her to follow their projects and discover the many different approaches scientists can take to tackle the same problem.

💬 Here’s what Ellie had to say:
“This studentship has been an incredible bridge into my Honours year. It has shown me how meaningful and collaborative research can be, and it has been inspiring to see the entire process from start to finish. I'm excited about the future of my science career and am extremely grateful for this opportunity.”

💙 Opportunities like this are only possible because of our donors. Your support helps young researchers grow in confidence, skills, and curiosity, while contributing to research that aims to improve outcomes for patients.

📩 Interested in a summer studentship? DM us to learn more.

🦋

28/01/2026

Today, we reflect on the words of Sir Archibald McIndoe, our namesake and a pioneering plastic surgeon who worked alongside his uncle, Sir Harold Gillies.

Sir Archibald believed that while gifted individuals exist in medicine,

“Real progress is only made when patients, staff, and the community work towards a common goal.”

As a charity and not-for-profit research institute, this philosophy guides us every day. We are inspired by the people we work with: our patients, researchers, clinicians, supporters, and wider community, all moving together towards better healing.

That belief in shared progress also drives our research. From cancer to keloid scars, we are focused on innovating treatments that are effective, accessible, and affordable.

Progress happens when we work together, and we are proud to be part of that journey. 🦋

Quote taken from: "The reconstruction of warriors: Archibold McIndoe, the Royal Airforce and the Guinea Pig Club" by A.H.S. Peach
📸From our website, https://www.gmri.org.nz/history

26/01/2026

🧠 New Research Publication: Exploring an Existing Drug, Mebendazole, for Meningioma

We’re excited to share our newly published study in Oncology Research investigating mebendazole, a drug that has been safely used for decades to treat parasitic infections, as a treatment for meningioma.

Meningioma is the most common type of primary brain tumour. While many grow slowly, some can invade surrounding brain tissue, making them harder to treat and more likely to return.

Using tumour cells donated by patients and grown in 3D models, the team found that mebendazole prevented tumour invasion in the majority of samples.

The drug appears to work by disrupting the internal structure that cancer cells use to move, effectively slowing their ability to spread.

While more research is needed before this could be used in patients, mebendazole’s low cost, known safety profile, and wide availability make it a promising candidate for future treatment development.

The study was conducted by Dr. Matthew Munro, Clara López Vásquez, Dr. Alex Chan and Dr. Gray in collaboration with Wellington Neurosurgeon Dr. Agadha Wickremesekera. This work adds to growing efforts to find smarter, safer ways to improve outcomes for people affected by brain tumours.

🔬 Progress like this is only possible through patient-supported research, and it brings us one step closer to better outcomes for people with brain tumours.
👉 Link to the paper https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2026.074958

Address

7 Hospital Road
Wellington
6021

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Website

https://www.gmri.org.nz/, https://linktr.ee/gilliesmcindoe

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