Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

27/02/2026

In part 4 of our five-part series on CAR T-cell therapy, David Downs addresses the question of why we need to fundraise for our ENABLE clinical trials. As our director, Professor Kjesten Wiig explains, the Malaghan is an independent research institute but also a charity, so we need to be able to fund ourselves.

“Clinical trials aren’t typically funded by government … the rationale for that originally was that a clinical trial would be a commercial type of activity and that a company would come along and fund it. But unfortunately, companies now require clinical data in order to make an investment or to make a partnership with somebody like us. So in this case, nobody is paying for the clinical trial … so we have to find the money ourselves.”

Missed part 1, 2 or 3? Watch them here: www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/news/car-t-cell-therapy-5-part-series 👀

Donate here: www.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer 🫶

25/02/2026

Dr Rachel Perret is not shy talking about her love of T-cells. They’ve been the common thread in her journey as a researcher.

“The immune system is our guardian or protector, and for me T-cells are easily the most interesting type of immune cell, as they are the warriors that defend us from attack.”

It’s Rachel’s passion for T-cells that has propelled her to lead the research team in the Malaghan’s CAR T-cell programme, focused on improving CAR T-cells and extending this revolutionary technology to other cancers and diseases.

“We're aiming to shorten the amount of time that the T-cells spend in the lab, and also to switch off the exhaustion signals, so that we can return fitter CAR T-cells to the patients faster.”

24/02/2026

In part 3 of our five-part series on CAR T-cell therapy, David Downs talks about the role of clinical trials in bringing new treatments to market. With Malaghan Clinical Director Prof Robert Weinkove and Director Prof Kjesten Wiig, he explores why our clinical trial for a novel CAR T-cell therapy is helping break ground in New Zealand for this and other advanced therapies.

Missed part 1 or 2? Watch them here: www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/news/car-t-cell-therapy-5-part-series

🎬 Katherine Downs

https://donate.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer

23/02/2026

Our warmest congratulations to the Malaghan's Dr Tom Mules for two recent accolades! 🏅🏅

Tom received an Emerging Researcher Award from Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley. The award recognises an outstanding early-career investigator and forms part of their Research Excellence Awards, which highlight excellence, impact and innovation across the region.

He was also recently awarded a New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology Johnson & Johnson Research Fellowship for his work aiming to uncover how gut microbes and bile acids interact to drive inflammation in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Assessors commended Tom's project proposal for its originality and potential impact, calling it “a significant step forward in understanding PSC–IBD and improving outcomes for patients.”

23/02/2026

From Onehunga to Christchurch, Lower Hutt to Levin, Taranaki to Porirua, Wellington to the MetService app, we've loved seeing our CAR-T vs CANCER campaign out in the world! 🌏📍

Thanks to everyone for sharing the love! 💜💚💙 Keep 'em coming! 📸

And thanks again to OMD New Zealand and media suppliers across Aotearoa, including Go Media, oOh Media, JCDecaux NZ, MediaWorks New Zealand, Scentre Group, MetService New Zealand, Val Morgan and Stuff for generously supporting us to spread the word and raise funds to help give Kiwis a fighting chance. for generously supporting us to spread the word and raise funds to help give Kiwis a fighting chance.

www.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer

20/02/2026

After explaining what CAR T-cell therapy is in part 1 of our five-part series, David now turns to the Malaghan’s ground-breaking CAR T-cell trials.

In part 2 he explores what a clinical trial is, the Malaghan's unique CAR-T construct, what early results have shown and have led to, and what this could mean for New Zealand.

www.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer

19/02/2026

Last week, Pūhoro STEMM Academy hosted their Summer Studentship closing event, Pō Whakanui.

Pūhoro is a by Māori, for Māori and with Māori capability pipeline that increases Māori participation in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and Mātauranga Māori).

Over the summer, five Pūhoro students – Axel, Ihaia, Ashley, Kaia and Memphis – completed their studentships at the Malaghan and presented their research posters at Pō Whakanui. Each student did an incredible job showcasing the knowledge and skills they gained during their time at the Malaghan.

Ihaia Mulholland’s poster, Te Whakamahi i te Maimoatanga Mate Pukupuku Auaha hei Hopu i te Rā: Harnessing Innovative Cancer Treatment to Seize the Day, was recognised for its incorporation of Mātauranga Māori and clear explanation of the research for non-scientific audiences. Using eye-catching imagery and colour, his poster won the Best Poster Design Award.

Kaia Sheehy-Wikio was also invited to present at the event, delivering an excellent explanation of his mRNA technology project in a way that made it accessible to non-specialist audiences.

A huge congratulations to all the students for their dedication to Malaghan’s research and for their outstanding presentations at Pō Whakanui.

17/02/2026

Spotted in Christchurch! Thanks for sharing, Char! 📸📍

17/02/2026

In a five-part series, Malaghan ambassador, trustee – and living proof of the power of CAR T-cell therapy – David Downs, takes us on a CAR-T journey.

He answers some of the common questions Kiwis are asking about this ground-breaking treatment and the Malaghan's efforts to bring it to New Zealand.

Part 1: What is CAR T-cell therapy?

www.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer

15/02/2026

LISTEN 🎧 Our clinical director, Professor Rob Weinkove, speaks to Newstalk ZB's Francesca Rudkin about our efforts to bring CAR T-cell therapy to New Zealand and the opportunities and challenges ahead.

www.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer

There's growing calls to find pathways to bring CAR-T cell therapy to New Zealand.

12/02/2026

Our thanks to Chris for sharing his journey navigating multiple myeloma and the complexities of cost and travel to China – twice – to receive CAR T-cell therapy.

In the latest of Stuff’s series on CAR-T, Nicholas Jones looks at what this has involved for Chris and his family, how the Malaghan’s trial for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma is paving the way for future immunotherapies and CAR Ts, for other conditions including multiple myeloma, and what’s needed from government for this to happen.

In today’s piece, Health Minister Simeon Brown says there is significant work underway to build local capability. “I valued meeting with the Malaghan Institute last year to discuss their programme and the opportunities and challenges ahead. The Cancer Control Agency is leading coordinated cross‑agency work on the adoption of CAR T-cell therapy to ensure the system is aligned and ready.”

Our aim is simple: to make CAR T-cell therapies available through the public health system so New Zealanders don’t have to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars or travel overseas to access them.

www.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer

A Bay of Plenty man has stayed alive through return trips to China for breakthrough cancer treatment.

12/02/2026

So exciting to see our CAR-T vs CANCER billboards out in the wild! Thanks to OMD New Zealand and media suppliers across Aotearoa for generously supporting us to spread the word and raise funds to help give Kiwis a fighting chance.

Please share a pic and tag us if you spot a CAR-T vs CANCER billboard in your corner of the country! 📷 🙏

www.malaghan.org.nz/cartvscancer