Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

29/09/2025

Thanks to the Emily Whitehead Foundation for sharing this short documentary following the journey of Dr Bruce Levine, co-inventor of the first FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy that gave Emily Whitehead a second chance at life and has since brought hope to countless patients and families worldwide.

This emotional short film weaves together the science, innovation and personal stories that are at the heart of the Malaghan Institute's drive to bring CAR T-cell therapy to New Zealand patients.

How can science save a life?In this first episode of "tell us your story", we meet Dr. Bruce Levine, co-inventor of the first FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapy...

28/09/2025

The Malaghan Institute's Dr Isabelle Montgomerie spoke to Alexia Russell from The Detail on RNZ/Newsroom about the viral drift of misinformation as a result of recent pronouncements on health issues coming out of the United States.

"I think among a lot of people it's kind of like a rallying cry. It strengthens people's resolve that this kind of research is really important, that vaccines do save lives.

"But at the same time a vaccine is a drug that you give to a healthy person. It needs to be taken really seriously - the decision to recommend a drug.

"I know our health agencies and our government do take this really seriously, but ultimately there needs to be a really high degree of trust between the population and the government, in order for the population to accept giving a drug to a healthy person - giving a drug to a healthy child. The issue with this... runs quite deep."

Dr Montgomerie says people are so disconnected from diseases like measles, polio - the lifelong disability, the death.

"If they're led to believe that these vaccines aren't safe, or they aren't necessary, there could be really serious public health problems, and it could also leave us less able to deal with a future pandemic. If we can't vaccinate the population, then what happens?"

You can roll your eyes all you want at the White House reckons on panadol, autism and vaccines, but the alarming truth is they are damaging and will turn up here.

23/09/2025

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and today is World Cancer Research Day, opportunities to reflect on why research and innovation are so important in the fight against cancer.

One of the most promising advances is CAR T-cell therapy, which reprogrammes a patient’s own immune cells to recognise and destroy cancer.

Here in New Zealand, the Malaghan’s CAR T-cell trials are now in phase 2, offering real hope for people with blood cancer. Behind the science are years of work building facilities, developing expertise and putting the systems in place to deliver this therapy safely.

Dr Brigitta Mester’s work and dedication has been key to making CAR T-cell therapy a reality in New Zealand and to expanding its potential for the future.

Find out more about the blood, sweat and cells that went into getting New Zealand’s first CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial off the ground at https://www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/news/blood-sweat-and-cells-the-making-of-new-zealands-first-car-t-cell-trial

22/09/2025

In a series looking into the plight of NZ blood cancer patients having to self-fund and look overseas for treatment, the Malaghan's Clinical Director Dr Robert Weinkove spoke to RNZ Checkpoint's Lisa Owen about our own CAR T-cell therapy, now in a phase 2 registration trial.

"We're having a lot of conversations at the moment with Health New Zealand, the Cancer Control Agency, Medsafe and Pharmac, about what it would take to offer this routinely here and we'd like to think we can get there in 2027.

"We hope we're providing them with a cost-effective treatment that we can easily deliver in the New Zealand health service if we have the resources to do it, because it's a one off treatment offered as an outpatient it can be highly cost-effective and potentially very deliverable.

"I'd like to think that whatever we've done we've actually set the systems up and shown that we can give this kind of treatment here and hopefully start to bring other treatments, other clinical trials here and hopefully other commercial funded treatments, not just our own."

Robert Moffitt was forced to cash up his KiwiSaver to fund $220,000 treatment for his blood cancer.

22/09/2025

**Free patient webinar this Thursday!**

Join us this Thursday, 25 September, to hear Dr Philip George and Petra Minehan speak on ‘CAR T-cell Therapy in New Zealand’. Philip is a Consultant Haematologist at Wellington Hospital and is the Principal Investigator of the Phase 2 ENABLE-2 CAR T-cell trial at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. Petra is a Clinical Trials Research Nurse and has been involved in the delivery of CAR T-cell therapy in Aotearoa.

This is the final instalment in a four-part patient webinar series held throughout September. To learn more and sign up, head to events.humanitix.com/patient-webinar-series

21/09/2025

We are so grateful to Hawke’s Bay supporters Johanna and Andrew King, who are opening up their beautiful garden in Waipawa later this month to raise funds for our research.

Says Johanna, “We have held numerous fundraisers for charities and organisations over the last 40 years, at our various homes and gardens. As Andrew has been recently diagnosed with IgG4 we would like to dedicate this, our final fundraiser, to the Malaghan Institute. Here in Waipawa we have spent the last 7 years creating a large notable garden, it is our swansong project.”

If you’re in the Hawke’s Bay, get along to the King’s Ridge Gardens, 34 Abbotsford Road, Waipawa, on Sunday 28 September 10am–4pm for a spring colour explosion. Gate tickets only. All money raised for the Malaghan Institute.

Thank you Johanna and Andrew! We are continually inspired by the creativity and passion of our supporters across New Zealand who find meaningful and personal ways to fundraise for us.

16/09/2025

In the second of her two-part series on mRNA vaccines, science blogger Melanie Newfield talks some more with the Malaghan's Dr Lisa Connor to explain why mRNA vaccines are so effective, and how they can help us prepare for the next pandemic.

Read it here 👉 https://theturnstone.substack.com/p/precision-preparation

A cancer treatment just for you (12 minute read)

15/09/2025

It’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week! Every day at the Malaghan Institute, we walk up the stairs, welcomed by the words of our karakia ‘E Ara’ (Rise Up) gifted to us by Dr Ruakere Hond.

It reminds us why we turn up every day as scientists (and support staff!) but also our responsibility and privilege as an organisation owned by and for Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to learning and embracing te reo and te ao Māori, because from darkness comes light, from the unknown comes understanding.

Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Read the full version of E Ara here:https://www.malaghan.org.nz/assets/Karakia.pdf

08/09/2025

Congratulations to PhD student Rosemary Jackson who won the poster presentation at the NZ-ASI branch meeting in Christchurch last week on her thesis work looking at how fever impacts T-cell function.

All the posters were scored by a panel of judges on clarity, quality of science, the 'elevator pitch' and how well the presenter answered questions. This resulted in a three-way tie for first place and Rosemary was one of the winners! 👏🔬

08/09/2025

mRNA vaccines are changing the game for the prevention and treatment of disease – from infectious threats to cancer. But in a turbulent global landscape, it’s more important than ever that New Zealand continues to invest in its own research and ensures people have access to clear, trustworthy information.

Science blogger Melanie Newfield spoke with the Malaghan’s Dr Lisa Connor to explore how viruses and our immune system interact, and why mRNA vaccines represent such an important frontier. This is the first in her two-part series unpacking the science and promise of mRNA vaccines.

A cancer treatment just for you (12 minute read)

05/09/2025

The Malaghan Institute has been awarded more than $5M funding in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s 2025 round of the Endeavour Fund for a collaboration with the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre based at the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau to investigate novel methods to improve patient responses to immunotherapies for lung cancers.

“We hope the scientific data generated will take our immuno-oncology product into first-in-human studies, with the ultimate goal of improving lung cancer treatment outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Professor Ian Hermans.

https://www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/news/funding-boost-to-improve-lung-cancer-treatment-outcomes-in-aotearoa-new-zealand

04/09/2025

Last Friday the Wairoa community came together at the local golf club for a day organised by Tom Lane and Mason Birrell.

As Mason explains, the objective is simple: get the cockies off the farm for a day, catch up with mates for a yarn and a beer, and strengthen community ties.

Now in its fifth year, this event has become a welcome tradition. Alongside the camaraderie, Tom and Mason also rally support for a worthy cause.

This year we were honoured that the Malaghan Institute was chosen. With strong ties to the Hawke’s Bay, we are so grateful for this generosity and the ethos behind the day.

A massive thank you to the Wairoa rural community for your support - it makes a difference. 🙌⛳🚜